A Day at LMC
8am: Breakfast
9am: Warm up/ Group classes
10am: Chamber Music / Lessons
11am: Chamber Music / Lessons
12pm: Lunch break
1pm: Orchestra & Piano Class
3pm: Elective Class
4pm: Recreation / Waterfront
6pm: Dinner
7:30pm: Concerts / Evening activities
Music
Each year, Luzerne Music Center invites more than 150 talented musicians from all over the world to its campus. The Junior and Senior sessions are divided primarily by age, and each make up one full orchestra and a small department of eight to 12 pianists. The intimate size lends itself to an 8:1 student to staff ratio, and guarantees significant personal attention for each attendee. The schedule at LMC is rigorous, enriching and designed in such a way that students can easily immerse themselves in music studies.
Students are engaged in steady musical activity from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Mornings often begin with warm-up classes and lessons, followed by a faculty-coached small ensemble rehearsals. After lunch, most students head to the orchestra and pianists go to repertoire class, followed by music theory and rhythm classes. LMC offers optional coursework in composition, conducting, chorus and jazz studies.
In August, the Senior Session trains with musicians from The Philadelphia Orchestra for one week, which includes master classes, optional lessons, a side-by-side reading and/or sectionals.
Recreation
While training at Luzerne Music Center, you simultaneously take in the great outdoors of the Adirondack Park. To release from the intense musical day, LMC offers recreational activities such as softball, ping-pong, badminton, basketball, soccer, and arts and crafts.
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Maybe you’ll want to cool down from the hot summer day in Lake Luzerne. We have a private beachfront complete with canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and sailboats. Not a strong swimmer? No problem; book lessons with our certified swimming instructor and you’ll be doing laps in no time! The waters of Lake Luzerne are pristine, soft and spring fed.
After dinner, the counselors lead organized group activities such as kickball, ice cream socials, movie night, games of Capture the Flag, and the LMC Olympics, a campus favorite in 2019.
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Mondays are personal days away from music and dedicated to recreation. Students take day trips that include fun activities unique to the region, including white-water rafting, miniature golf, a steamboat tour
and Six Flags Great Escape!
Both sessions conclude with a camper dance and Luzie awards ceremony.
In August, the LMC Chipmunks will host the mighty Philadelphia Orchestra Firebirds for the 39th annual 'friendly' softball game. In 2016, the game was suspended after three innings in a 1-1 tie due to inclement weather. After a defeat in 2017, 2018, and 2019, LMC will aim to capture its second win in 39 tries! Calling all baseball/softball players, please inquire about softball scholarships with info@luzernemusic.org.
Concerts
LMC presents more than 30 concerts each summer, and most feature our student body. Students might perform solo or with a small ensemble in the Lodge or on the Shed stage with the full Orchestra or Jazz Ensemble. Four-week students are eligible to audition for the annual concerto competition, and winners invited to perform with the orchestra. LMC also organizes off-campus concerts at local public spaces and at the SPAC gazebo stage. The combination of these opportunities enable students to build confidence with performing, and they leave a more complete musician.
Students also learn by watching and listening to professionals on campus. Each week, LMC presents two chamber music concerts featuring the faculty and world renowned guest artists as part of the Luzerne Chamber Music Festival, a six concert series curated by President and Artistic Director Elizabeth Pitcairn.
Off-campus trips to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center are quite popular among the community. Junior Session experiences the New York City Ballet or Saratoga Opera, and the Senior Session watches The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Housing
Matched with peers of similar age, students will stay in brand new wooden cabins equipped with bunk beds, electricity, storage shelves, bathrooms, and air conditioning. Counselors live in a room within the camper cabin and work around the clock to keep steady supervision at all times. A weekly ‘wash and fold’ laundry service is $2.00 per pound, and available for purchase through the camp store.​
Facilities
Kitchen
Our kitchen staff brings to LMC years of food service experience. Head Chef Donnah Digan Lewis is known for her well balanced and delicious menus. LMC aims to provide all natural foods and farm to table cuisine. LMC adjusts menus for restrictive dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and food allergies.
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Music Library
LMC's Music Library is filled with chamber music, solo repertoire and orchestral scores. From baroque music to modern works, the library is an important resource for our faculty and students!
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Health Center
LMC has a fully equipped health center and medical staff that is available 24 hours per day. Due to the camp's modest size, our medical staff is able to respond to any call within seconds.
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Administrative Building
In season, LMC's administrative offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, please email info@luzernemusic.org with any questions or concerns. Visitors are welcome; however, please call or email in advance to schedule a meeting.
Rehearsal Spaces
The campus is equipped with two teaching villages that contain 15 small practice cottages and house upright Yamaha pianos. These cabins are available for private lessons, small ensemble rehearsing, or individual practice. Many students elect to practice outside where they can be one with nature.
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The pianists hold daily classes in the Piano Pavilion, a small recital room that houses two Yamaha grand pianos. Most lessons are taught here, and master classes are held in this space.
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Performance Spaces
With 125 seats, the charming "Lodge" is home each summer for more than 30 recitals, chamber music concerts, and master classes. It is also the home of "Heinrich," LMC's Steinway Model B grand piano, a generous donation made possible by The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation in 2016. Each week, the Lodge stage presents students, faculty, and guest artists. Monday evening's are reserved for the Luzerne Chamber Music Festival, a concert series curated by President and Artistic Director Elizabeth Pitcairn that features musicians from all over the world, including musicians from The Philadelphia Orchestra.
With generous support from donors, and significant support from the Stewart's Shops chairman Bill Dake and his family, LMC built a gorgeous outdoor "Shed" concert stage in 2015. The stage is large enough to accommodate a full orchestra with a concert grand piano.
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Both the Lodge and Shed are wired for recording concerts using the highest quality microphones and equipment. All students pay a nominal $25 fee to have access to unlimited streaming and download of any on-campus student performance.
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