Camp Information

Tuition/Financial Aid
Admission is open to college-age oboists, professionals, teachers who desire a "refresher course" and a limited number of advanced high school oboists. There are two types of attendees: participants and auditors. Participants perform twice in the master class setting; auditors observe all classes and receive a 30-minute private lesson. High school students interested in attending as participants should be taking private lessons, have started the Barret Oboe Method, play in musical ensembles outside of school and have a general idea of reed making.

A $595 fee covers room and board and all instructional charges. A limited number of auditors will be accepted for a $525 fee, which covers room and board as well as instructional charges.

A confirmation email will be sent following receipt of the online application. A $100 deposit is required to reserve your spot, please mail it after you receive a confirmation email. Until your deposit is received, your application is considered pending.

At this time we only accept checks and money orders; please make all checks payable to the John Mack Oboe Camp. All fees must be paid in US dollars.

The remaining balance is due by April 15. THERE IS A $30 CHARGE FOR CHECKS RETURNED BY THE BANK.

Deposits from accepted candidates cannot be returned after May 1. 

Please mail all checks to:   

Danna Sundet, Assistant Professor of Oboe
Kent State University
Hugh Glauser School of Music
1325 Theatre Drive
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, Ohio   44242-0001

We have a limited number of work scholarships available for students. Requests for scholarship consideration must be made in writing (or by email) and should outline musical background and any other relevant information to support the request. Your private teacher must send a note of request to the oboecamp@kent.edu address.  Please make all requests to the director of camp, Danna Sundet.

If you are unsure of your balance, please email Andria Brennan Hoy at oboecamp@kent.edu and put BALANCE INQUIRY in the subject line.

General Information
Camp officially begins at dinner on the arrival day at 6:30 PM. Registration and housing check-in is in the Wildacres North Lodge from 2-5 PM. A recital (open to the public) will follow dinner at 8:30 PM with a reception afterwards. Camp officially ends after breakfast (8:30 AM) on the departure day. See the travel section for more information.

All campers under the age of 18 are REQUIRED to mail in the parental consent form in advance. This form can be found at http://dept.kent.edu/OboeCamp/resources.cfm

There are only three rules for participants at camp other than obvious courtesy and common sense.
 
1. No tape recorders please
 
2. No practicing or reed making after midnight or before 7:30 AM!!! Although it is sometimes hard to contain our excitement and passion about the oboe, the schedule is very full and everyone needs some rest. This rule is also in effect to help preserve the sanity of those among us at Wildacres who are not oboists.
   
3. No pets.

What to Bring to Camp:   
Plan to travel like you are staying at a hotel except all the guests are oboists. Linens (sheets and towels) are provided. Toiletries and blow dryers are not. 

Don't forget to bring the following essentials:  
all reed making supplies
a reed lamp
an alarm clock (the rooms don't have them)
a music stand
music
an umbrella or rain jacket (it can really pour in NC!)
a sweatshirt or jacket since nights can be chilly
comfortable, casual clothes & hiking shoes  (no need for dressing up)

Additional suggested materials:
any ensemble music you might like to play for fun
bug repellent
earplugs
Credit card for purchasing items at RDG
Cash for purchasing items from JMOC
English horn if you want to play ensemble music

Travel
Registration and housing check-in is in the Wildacres North Lodge from 2-5 PM. Camp officially ends after breakfast on the departure day (8:30AM). Whether you are driving or flying, all rooms must be empty by 10:00 AM.

Flying to Camp
If you are flying to camp, you will fly into the Ashville, NC regional airport. (If you fly into Charlotte, you will need to rent a car.) We ask everyone to arrive before 3:00 PM on arrival day and to not book flights out before 10:00AM on the day we leave. Be aware that we are an hour away from the airport up in the mountains.

We will help provide transportation service for you to and from Wildacres from the Asheville airport for a small fee. If you arrive or depart on other days, you will be responsible for your own transportation. If you plan to use the shuttle service, we MUST have your travel schedule as soon as possible.

**Please note:  If you are flying from Texas or a state further West, we recommend coming the night before as delayed flights due to weather are frequently a problem. Our travel coordinator will be staying in an airport hotel prior to camp. If there are several requests for hotel information, we will do our best to get a group rate at the same airport hotel.
   
As soon as you know your flight arrangements, please email Andria Brennan Hoy at oboecamp@kent.edu with your flight number, airline and arrival time for BOTH your arrival and departure days. DO NOT forward your flight itinerary and put Flight Schedule in the subject line of your email. This email must be received NO LATER than May 22. If you are driving, there is no need to send any information.
 
Early and Late Arrival/Departure:
Please do not arrive early at Wildacres. Latecomers need to provide their own transportation. Keep in mind that a single cab fare from the Ashville, NC airport (1 hr. away) is approximately $150.  If for some reason you need to leave camp early, you will be responsible for your own transportation. Please inform the director of camp of an early departure before camp begins.

Driving Directions to Wildacres:
Wildacres is a private facility located near Little Switzerland, NC on state road 226-A. It may be approached via the Blue Ridge Parkway (exit at Gooch Gap elevation sign, near mile marker 336, just North of the Wildacres Tunnel, turn right on the narrow gravel road for .7 miles, then left into Wildacres); or via I-40 exit #85, then North on US 221 for 1.7 mi, then left on US 221 North by-pass for 12 mi (it is not necessary to take business route 221 through downtown Marion) then left on NB 226 for 1.3 mi, then straight ahead on NC 226-A for 6.9 miles up at the winding mountain road. Near the top of the mountain, turn left at the Wildacres sign and follow the gravel road for 1.2 miles before making the right turn at the next Wildacres sign.
  
Additional directions and a map to Wildacres from Asheville and Charlotte are available on the Wildacres website at http://www.wildacres.org/Map.htm

It is sometimes possible to arrange a ride with another camper from your area. Please contact us by email to request names and contact information of people coming from your area.

Wildacres/Housing

Wildacres
All of us at the John Mack Oboe Camp will be guests at Wildacres of Mr. Philip Blumenthal of Charlotte, NC and of Mr. Mike House, who is the resident director. The Blumenthal family has owned and operated Wildacres for charitable purposes since 1946 and we are privileged to have use of this excellent facility in one of the world’s most beautiful settings. The Wildacres staff will help make us comfortable, and medical assistance, in the event of an emergency, is available in nearby Spruce Pine, NC. Please see the Travel section for directions to Wildacres.

Mailing address:  
Wildacres
P.O. Box 280
Little Switzerland, NC  28749-0280
  
Telephone: (828) 756-4573
Fax: (828) 756-4586

Cell phone reception is not the greatest at Wildacres. We suggest bringing a phone card. Ask camp staff about their recommended areas for cell phone signals. Yes, you can bring a laptop. Service is only available in the main lodge. We do not recommend using a laptop to take notes during class. Please bring a notebook instead.

More Wildacres information can be found at www.wildacres.org

Housing and Roommates
Housing is in two dormitories, double occupancy. All linens, blankets, towels and pillows are provided at Wildacres.  We make every effort to match people of the same age in rooms together. If you have a roommate request, please send an email to oboecamp@kent.edu. This must be done at least one week before camp begins.

Private rooms are generally only available to those with medical issues that require additional privacy or equipment. Private rooms require an additional fee and are subject to availability. Please contact the director to request a private room.

Schedule
Camp officially begins at dinner on the arrival day at 6:30 PM. Registration and housing check-in is in the Wildacres North Lodge from 2-5 PM. A recital (open to the public) will follow dinner at 8:30 PM with a reception afterwards. Camp officially ends after breakfast (8:30 AM) on the departure day. See the travel section for more information.
 
Daily Schedule:
   
Meal times at Wildacres are as follows:
Breakfast   8:00 AM
Lunch       12:30 PM
Dinner       6:30 PM
Refreshments are served following the evening master classes.
   
Work sessions are planned for the following times:
Morning session: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Early afternoon sessions times vary, usually they are 1:30 PM- 3:30 PM
Afternoon workshops times also vary, see schedule provided upon check-in
Evening Class 7:45 PM- 10:15 PM

Optional Solo Reading Sessions
Our collaborative pianist is happy to sight-read through literature that you bring to camp. There is a sign up at the beginning of the week so go ahead and bring your music.

Instrument Repair
We are pleased to have oboe repairman John Symer with us again this summer. Mr. Symer will be available to provide adjustments and minor repairs to the instrument you play in class. There is no charge to campers for this service. There will also be a seminar in oboe adjustment.

Assignments/Listening

Assignments
We do our best to have all assignments made by May 5 in order for you to prepare. You will receive your assignment via email. All participants play twice. Please prepare your assignment ahead of time, before you come to camp. If you are not familiar with the excerpt that has been assigned to you, it is recommended that you listen to a recording of the work. Please see the detailed instructions below.

If you are a returning camper and have requested to play a solo please don’t forget your piano music!
Please hand it in at registration for our staff accompanist. Rehearsal times will be made available, please check the bulletin board for the schedule.

All campers need the Barret and Ferling method books. The orchestral excerpt assignments can be printed from our Resource page to help prepare for class. For students planning on a career in music, it is always best to have complete orchestral parts.  For solo material to be covered in class, bring the music you own.

Listening
All the excerpts covered at camp can be found on our website. We cannot post the full part but it is recommended that you try to play from the full part. Your teacher can be of assistance in this area.

Instructions:
Go to the oboe camp website. Click on Resources. Click on the Orchestral Excerpt Assignment link. You will then be directed to a Kent State University Library page that requires a login I.D. and password. This information is provided as part of your assignment email. Once you are logged in, the excerpts are listed alphabetically by composer. To download the printable music, click on the PDF symbol. To listen, click on the speaker symbol.

To be fully prepared to perform in class, please read through the “How to Prepare Orchestral Excerpts” found at http://dept.kent.edu/OboeCamp/resources.cfm. This is a great guide on studying orchestral repertoire.
 
Store 
Our store vendor brings a wide variety of materials. This includes but is not limited to: music performed at camp, etude books and supplemental materials, reed making supplies, cane, some instrument repair items, instrument maintenance supplies, and of course, oboes and English horns! Please be advised that if you are a participant and need a Barret or Ferling to learn your assignment, you will need to have these items BEFORE you get to camp. Our vendor accepts Personal Checks and Credit Cards, no cash.

The Camp also has things for sale, including: John Mack CDs, the John Mack Memorial Concert CD, CDs of former JMOC teachers, and t-shirts. The Camp only accepts Personal Checks and Cash.