Snow Pond Symphony 2016 Season

Our 80th Summer at Snow Pond
Matthew Wiggin
This summer New England Music
Camp is celebrating its 80th summer
along the shores of Lake Messalonskee.
It is hard to believe what this place
has become and how many lives have
been changed by the magic found at
Snow Pond. While thinking about
the number of musicians that have
stepped onto the Bowl stage for a
weekend concert, or performed in a
recital at Alumni Hall, or jumped off the
dock to cool off in the summer air, it is hard
not to think about what my great-grandfather
would think if he could see the place that Snow Pond
Center for the Arts has become today.
When Paul Wiggin first started New England Music
Camp in 1937, he was trying to open a summer music
camp that was not only about cultivating young musician’s
talents, but also giving students an outlet to grow socially.
Today, if you walk onto the Snow Pond campus on any
given day, you will see students, young and old, that are
still flourishing under my great-grandfather’s original
mission. However, it is not just NEMC that is carrying
out that same mission, there are now three summer
programs: The Snow Pond Music Festival, New England
Music Camp, and the New England Adult Music Camp,
as well as two additional year-round programs: The Snow
Pond Community Music School and the new Snow Pond
Arts Academy. Over the course of my life, I have watched
this place grow to a place where now, artists of all ages are
being exposed to the magic of
Snow Pond.
The Snow Pond Music
Festival, now in its fourth
summer, has become an
unbelievable opportunity for
college and graduate level
musicians to cultivate their
talents with some of the
worlds’ top musical artists
from around the world during
the month of June. Under
the direction of longtime
NEMC Faculty Member, Artistic Director
Gail Levinsky has helped SPMF blossom
to include over one hundred students,
spanning four distinct programs.
Original SPMF programs, The
Frederick L. Hemke Saxophone
Institute and the Maine Chamber
Music Seminar, are now joined by the
Snow Pond Composers Workshop
and the Ted Atkatz Percussion Seminar.
As one SPMF participant said, “Three
months later, I am still in awe of the lifechanging
experience I had at SPMF this last
summer. Playing alongside such dedicated and talented
professionals and students was absolutely incredible.” This
summer, SPMF runs from June 5th to June 19th.
New England Music Camp continues to be the
centerpiece and crown jewel of Snow Pond Center for
the Arts. Now in its 80th season, NEMC continues to
offer opportunities for talented students ages 11-18, in
orchestra, band, choir, jazz, voice, musical theater, piano,
guitar, and chamber music. Mornings continue to be
filled with rigorous music lessons, classes, workshops,
and rehearsals, while the afternoon is spent enjoying the
Maine outdoors with various recreational activities like
sailing, swimming, basketball, tennis, and ultimate Frisbee.
Students continue to be the focal point of our summer
performances, having the opportunity to perform every
weekend in our free concerts at the Bowl In The Pines,
and also on weekly honor recitals at Alumni Hall. Summer
Music Series events, The 37th Annual NEMC POPS
Concert and Little Women,
The Broadway Musical all
feature NEMC students as
well. I think one NEMC
camper said it best: “Not
only does does it give me the
opportunity to develop my
skills in music, but it allows
me to do it surrounded by
some of the best people I
have ever met… It is my
second home.”
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