About the Junior Artist Intensive
Summer Music Camp in the Colorado Rockies || Ages 13 – 18
Video auditions required of all applicants, with the exception of returning Jazz majors.
Accepting applications for Violin; Viola; Cello; Double Bass; Piano; Composition; and Jazz (any Instrument).
In this two-week summer music camp for advanced high school Classical and Jazz musicians, students improve their musical skills and develop their unique voices through chamber ensembles, orchestra, combos, performance classes, private lessons, audition preparation and composition/theory classes, workshops, musician wellness activities, and nature-based explorations.
Additionally, students collaborate to compose and premiere an original multi-disciplinary group composition for their final concert.
Jazz Track:
Ever wanted to know more about how Jazz music works, but never had the opportunity? Ever wanted to explore different types and styles of Jazz music to see what you might like? This intensive class will give you the basics of jazz composition, including forms, harmonic movement and scale usage as well as an overview of many of the different styles of jazz music from big band to small group, from swing to mambo. The class is intended to be an introductory class that moves quickly.
For the more advanced student of Jazz, the intensive will bring opportunities to play in ensembles, transcribe solos of the giants of Jazz and progress in the art of improvisation and composition in. We will perform student compositions as well as discover new and exciting standards of the Jazz book. Each Jazz student will get four 45-minute private lessons to concentrate on individual sound, soloing or composition.
More Info
Tuition and Fees
Tuition (includes lodging and meals):
$3,600
Application Fee:
Early-Bird Deadline: $85 (non-refundable)
After Feb. 15th: $95 (non-refundable)
Piano Usage Fee:
$75 (only for Piano majors, Jazz or Classical)
Optional Fees:
Secondary area of study: $175.
Bedding: $150 (includes fitted and flat sheets; comforter; pillow and pillowcase; towel set). Please note that laundry services are NOT available during this program.
Concert Pass: $185 (this covers in-person or online concert attendance for one Adult for ALL concerts throughout the season; note that family attendance at recitals is not included in the tuition)
Rocky Ridge may be able to rent an instrument for your student, if needed. We typically pass the rental fees (usually less than $100) on to families. Please contact us at rrmc@rockyridge.org or 970-586-4031 if you are interested in this option.
This year, we are offering the following recruitment incentive:
*IMPORTANT NOTE: We accept the following forms of payment:
- Check (no extra fees)
- Please make checks out to Rocky Ridge Music and mail to 1128 Pine St., Boulder CO. 80302.
- An ACH Bank Transfer will incur a processing fee of 1% (not more than $10).
- Credit or Debit cards payments will incur a processing fee of 2.9% + $0.25.
Audition Requirements & Deadlines
Junior Artist Intensive applicants must submit an audition (or a portfolio for Composition majors) to complete their application for admission and be considered for merit scholarship or other financial aid. Only returning Jazz majors are exempt, although a video showing progress over the past year is still recommended. An audition should consist of two contrasting pieces or movements that best represent the applicant’s level and accomplishment.
It is recommended that composition applicants submit a recording on their preferred instrument, as well. Composition portfolios may consist of live or MIDI recordings, .pdf’s of scores (manuscript or computer-engraved) or works created in digital audio workstations.
**Parents – it is always best practice to consult with your child’s private lesson teacher during this process. Please contact us at rrmc@rockyridge.org if you have any further questions.
- Violin:
The student has had 3-4 years of private lessons.
- Viola:
At least three years of private lessons.
Understanding of three octave major and minor scales and is comfortable with shifting to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th positions and with reading alto and treble clef.
Studying repertoire equivalent to Suzuki books 4 and up or the following pieces: Hoffmeister Concerto, Telemann Concerto, or any of the Bach Cello Suites.
- Cello:
At least three years of private lessons.
Understanding of three octave major and minor scales and is comfortable with shifting up to 4th-6th positions, with the ability to read tenor clef.
Studying repertoire equivalent to Suzuki books 4 and up or the following pieces: Dvorak Humoresque, Breval Sonata in C Major, Faure Elegy, or any of the Bach Cello Suites.
- Double Bass:
At least three years of private lessons
Understanding of two and/or three octave major and minor scales from at least 4 sharps to 4 flats and is comfortable with shifting up to thumb position, with the ability to read tenor clef.
Studying repertoire equivalent to Suzuki books 4 or 5 or movement of following pieces: Bottesini Concerto or Elegy, Dragonetti Concerto, Koussevitzky Concerto, etc (pieces of similar ability).
- Piano
At this level, the student has ideally had performance experience in recitals, and has some sight reading practice. They should be able to play scales hands together in both major and minor keys four octaves, and have learned to play arpeggios and chromatic scales. It is helpful if they are able to reach and comfortably play octaves and chords within an octave position.
The following repertoire is equivalent but not limited in difficulty to the following suggestions:
Bach: a movement from a French Suite
Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata Op. 27 #2 First movement
Chopin: Prelude op. 28 #9 in Db “Raindrop”
Mendelssohn: Songs without Words Op. 30 #6 in f# min.“Venetian Gondola Song”
Mozart: Fantasie in d minor KV. 397
Tcherepnin: Bagatelles op. 5
Debussy: Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum from Children’s Corner Suite, Arabesque, Claire de Lune
Audition tips for all instruments:
- Try to avoid using excerpts from orchestral music. Instead, select pieces that are part of the accepted repertoire for your instrument.
- As much as possible, your two pieces should contrast in tempo.
- Please submit a video recording or a YouTube link; audio-only recordings will not be accepted. Please ensure your links are viewable by other parties before submitting.
Daily Schedule
Please check back for 2027’s schedule!
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Location and Transportation
Rocky Ridge Music is located near the base of Long’s Peak at Rocky Mountain National Park. It is just off of Highway 7, about 4 miles south of Estes Park and 6 miles north of Allenspark.
Driving from Denver: From Denver, take I-25 North. Exit onto Highway 66 West until you get to Lyons. See below for further instructions.
Driving from Boulder: Take Highway 36 North until you get to Lyons. See below for further instructions.
At Lyons, take Highway 7 to Allenspark (left). From Highway 7, turn west onto Longs Peak Road, which is at mile marker 9. There is a sign there that says, “Longs Peak Area.” Drive about 1/3 mile to our entrance on the right. Total drive time from Denver International Airport to RRM is about 1.5 hours.
Driving from Northern Colorado: Driving west on Highway 34, you’ll drive through the Big Thompson Canyon and into Estes Park. At the big intersection, take Highway 7 South. At the sign that says “Longs Peak Area,” you will turn right onto Longs Peak Rd. Drive about 1/3 mile to our entrance on the right.
The Estes Park Shuttle is available from Denver International Airport to RRM. Students should contact the shuttle directly at 970-586-5151 or visit their website www.estesparkshuttle.com for current information and to make a reservation.
Junior Artist FAQ
Will my child have a counselor during this program?
Yes! Counselors are selected from our College Intensive program. Counselors supervise, reside with, and mentor up to eight students during the Junior Artist Immersion.
When should I arrive for this program?
For youth programs, registration will take place until 1 p.m. We will provide lunch and parents are invited to stay for a brief orientation from 1pm-2pm.
Rocky Ridge offers optional airport assistance at Denver International for students in order to reach their shuttle to Estes Park. Please call our office (970-586-4031) or email rrmc@rockyridge.org with any travel or transportation questions or concerns.
Where will I live on campus?
Our residential cabins are dorm-style with bunk beds; youth program students will reside with their counselor and 3-6 roommates. Bathhouses with showers are just a short walk away.
Check out our campus building gallery using the button below to see what our residential cabins look like.
Rocky Ridge welcomes and supports all Trans and Gender Non-Conforming students. If you are interested in optional alternative housing for your student, please contact us at rrmc@rockyridge.org or 970-586-4031.
Will I receive music in advance?
Each student will be assigned to a chamber ensemble and the program orchestra. It’s likely you will receive chamber music assignments in advance, however you may only receive your orchestra music on the first or second day of the program.
Do I need to bring bedding?
Rocky Ridge can provide you with bedding and towels for a $150 fee. Please indicate your interest in this option on your application. Otherwise, you are free to bring your own bedding or sleeping bag and towels. Please note that laundry services are NOT available during this program.
Do you screen your teachers before they work one-on-one with my child?
All of our teachers are professionally background-checked.
Sign Up!
Deadline
Applications open: November 15, 2026
February 15, 2027: Early Bird Deadline (priority consideration for program spots and merit scholarships)
March 15, 2027: Final Deadline
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Faculty
Ken Marrs
Master's in Choral Conducting at the University of Arizona
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Ken Marrs studied the double bass with Derek Weller, Stuart Sankey, Bruce Bransby and Lawrence Hurst. He holds a bachelor’s degree in choral and instrumental music education from Indiana University and a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Arizona. Ken has performed with the Ann Arbor, Flint, Saginaw Bay, Toledo, and Tucson Symphony Orchestras, the Arizona Opera Company as well as with True Concord. Ken has taught and performed with orchestras on four continents.
He teaches orchestra, concert band, and jazz band at Mica Mountain HS in Vail, AZ and directs the Vail Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Maggie Polk Olivo
Maggie Polk Olivo is a musical collaborator, creative, and educator. She holds degrees in music composition and music education from IU Jacobs School of Music and is a certified Kodaly educator and arts integration specialist. She works alongside Dr. Brenda Brenner at the Jacobs Fairview Violin Project, also directing Jacobs Academy’s Musical Beginnings and Bloomington’s Bridges Musical Arts Youth Organization.
She’s presented sessions at the American String Teachers Association, Indiana Music Educators Association, and the South Central Indiana Early Youth and Childhood. Olivo’s been recognized as the 2021 Greater Chamber of Commerce’s “Outstanding Educator of the Year,” Jacobs OECD’s “Entrepreneur of the Month,” IMEA Music Teacher of the Year finalist, and presented her district’s Star of Excellence and Equity and Inclusion Spotlight Award. As a composer, her works have been performed by faculty from Jacobs School of Music, University of New Mexico, Willamette University, and University of Arizona, with commissions from the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and Amity Trio. Recently, she’s authored interactive music lessons for Peter Burkholder’s “Charles Ives at 150” festival, Amity Trio’s “Illuminating Apologues,” and F-flat Books.
Mari Tomizuka
B.M., Arizona State University
Mari Tomizuka was raised in Tucson. As a student of Eugene Pridonoff, she received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance degree from Arizona State University. After a year studying and teaching undergraduate piano at the University of Miami, Florida, she accepted a teaching assistantship at New England Conservatory. Following the completion of her “modern piano” studies and Master’s Degree in Boston, she migrated to Europe to study with Stanley Hoogland and specialize in performance on historical instruments.
Since completing the post-graduate Certificate in Fortepiano from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, Netherlands, Ms. Tomizuka has appeared as both a soloist and in chamber music with principal players from the Concertgebouw Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic of Flanders, Opera Orchestra of Antwerp, Stavanger Symphony of Norway, Amsterdam Ballet Orchestra, Residentie Orchestra of the Hague, and the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century. She has been invited as a soloist to appear in festivals such as York Early Music (England), the Holland Festival of Early Music, Festival of Flanders (Belgium), and the International Music Festival of Granollers (Spain). Ms. Tomizuka has been featured in countless recital series in Holland, and after 17 years of living abroad in the Netherlands, she returned to her native Tucson. Her CD with classical mandolin virtuoso Richard Walz, “Mandolin Treasures from the Golden Era”, is available at Amazon.com. Current projects include promoting music by Haitian composers.
As a member of the Tucson Music Teachers Association, she owns and manages the 17th Street Ear Palace – a space dedicated to soirees, lessons and masterclasses, sound recordings, recitals, and public explorations of other genres of music.
Timothy De Prey
B.M., University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Timothy De Prey, pianist, is excited to join the Rocky Ridge Music team. He has been a piano instructor at the faculty of MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis Minnesota since 1997. MacPhail is the largest community music school in the United States.
Timothy’s students participate in MacPhail’s Crescendo for Piano Program and throughout his teaching career his students have won many competitions including the Junior Honor’s Competition, the Honor’s Competition and the prestigious Concerto and Aria Competition. Timothy enjoys working with students of all ages and levels, but specifically enjoys students who are interested in a variety of repertoire and technical challenges. Although he teaches through traditional methods, Timothy incorporates pop and jazz genres if the students are interested. Nearly half of his students are beginning adults or adults who have returned to music. He incorporates technology into his teaching with video tutorials and YouTube samples. He also has students who take lessons exclusively OnLine. This year, (2024) Timothy was awarded the James Ericksen Professional Development Grant administered through MacPhail. The grant financially supports his new project of composing teaching repertoire for his students from age 5 – 75.
Timothy is an active performer in the Twin Cities and has performed on six MacPhail Faculty Spotlight Performances including “By George” – the music of George Gershwin, “Flirting with Sondheim” and most recently “It Takes Two” – a review of Broadway’s most celebrated duets. In addition to his work at MacPhail, Timothy has been the principal accompanist for the well-respected Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus since 1991. As pianist for the chorus Timothy has had the opportunity to work with Michael Feinstein, Ann Hampton Callaway, Holly Near and Harvey Fierstein. Timothy can be heard on all 16 of TCGMC’s CD’s, on “Proud and Peaceful”- a CD of solo piano music from the pianists within GALA (Gay and Lesbian Choruses of America) and on his own CD’s, “in the evening air” – a collection of nocturnes, lullabies and night songs and “I Love a Piano” – a recording commemorating his 20th year accompanying the Twin Cities’ Gay Men’s Chorus and “this is the wonder” a holiday CD celebrating his 25th anniversary with the chorus.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges proclaimed December 5, 2015 as Timothy De Prey Day in the City of Minneapolis honoring his work with MacPhail Center for Music and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Timothy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Minnesota.
Timothy Jones
M.M., University of Texas-Austin
B.M., The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University
Timothy Jones is an American pianist, collaborative artist, and educator. He has been appointed Visiting Lecturer in Chamber and Collaborative Music at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music beginning in Fall 2026. Prior to joining Indiana University, he served as a Guest Artist Staff Pianist and Teaching Assistant in Collaborative Piano at the University of Texas at Austin, where he completed his Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees under the guidance of Anton Nel.
A prizewinner in both solo and collaborative piano competitions, Jones was the 2025 First Prize winner of the Sydney Wright Collaborative Piano Competition and the First Prize winner of the 2017 National MTNA Young Artists Competition as their youngest entrant. He also was a semifinalist of the 2020 National Chopin Competition of the United States and a participant in the 2022 Dublin International Piano Competition. His training includes participation in the Aspen Music Festival and School, Chautauqua Institution, Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Virtuoso e Bel Canto.
An active teacher since 2016, Jones has taught hundreds of students and coached musicians ranging from beginners to emerging professionals. At Rocky Ridge, he enjoys fostering a supportive environment where young musicians can challenge themselves, connect with their peers, and deepen their enjoyment of the artistic process.
Dave Hammond
Dave Hammond performed professionally in Boston, South America and Denver before becoming one of the founding music instructors at the Denver School of the Arts (DSA). Under the direction of Mr. Hammond DSA bands have performed at 13 of the last 16 Colorado Music Educators Association conferences, performed 14 times at the CBA State Concert Band Finals, won many awards and accolades including Downbeat Magazine Student Awards: Best Chamber Group, Best Classical Symphonic Band, Best Big Band and Best Studio Orchestra. The Denver School of the Arts Jazz Workshop Orchestra is one of the top high school big bands nationwide selected to compete at the Swing Central Jazz Festival in Savannah, GA (2015, 2014 and 2013), Wynton Marsalis’ Essentially Ellington High School Competition and Festival in New York (2004, 1998). Hammond received his Master of Music degree from the University of Denver and his Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music.
Greg Harris
Multi-Instrumentalist Greg Tanner Harris leads the “Greg Harris Vibe Quintet,” and is a member of Bluegrass legend Pete Wernick’s Flexigrass, hip-hop/jazz/soul group Future Jazz Project, New World Citizen Band, 9th & Lincoln Orchestra, and SuperCollider. Among his work as a studio musician, he has released 5 albums- Greg Harris Vibe Quintet “Glass Gold,” “Open Space,” “Frames Live,” Prospector “Memory of Pilots” featuring trumpeter Ron Miles, and “World Citizen” with West African master xylophonist Aaron Bebe Sukura. The Greg Harris Vibe Quintet’s new album ‘Glass Gold’ was recently released on Dazzle Records.
Greg has a great interest in the West African Xylophone called the Gyil (pronounced JEE-lee), the national instrument of the Lobi and Dagara people of Ghana, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. He has performed with Baaba Maal, Aaron Bebe Sukura, SK Kakraba, as the musical director for Prudence Mabhena from Zimbabwe, and also does regular fundraising performances for the Whole Planet Foundation. He also plays an assortment of Frame Drums from around the world, exploring the Bodhran of Ireland and the Doyra of Uzbekistan.
He received an D.M.A. in Jazz Studies and an M.M. in Music Performance, Percussion at the University of Colorado, Boulder and a Music Education and Music Performance Bachelor of Arts degree from Fort Lewis College. Greg is a private instructor, high school teacher, and freelance musician in the Denver/Boulder area and has performed nationally and internationally. Greg teaches Ethnomusicology, music theory, at Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts, is a board member of the non-profit Gift of Jazz, and as a Practicing Artist at the Denver School of the Arts.
