Before arrival, students will receive a request to submit a video of themselves performing a song of their choice. Please note that this video will not impact your child’s admission to the program; this is an open-admission program for students of all skill levels. Rather, the video will be utilized to help with planning for the program.

• Water bottle
• Laptop or phone (voice memo capable recommended)
• Several pens/pencils
• Notebook or journal
• Portable instruments if applicable (guitar or smaller)

• Concert attire:
  Black clothing is preferred, but anything tasteful will be fine.

A typical day starts off with a morning of classes, taught by acclaimed industry professionals and educators. Students will start the day warming up the voice, exploring various vocal techniques, and working on solo and ensemble singing. This is also the time where students may have their private lessons.

As the day progresses into lunch and afternoon classes, students will expand their performance skills across a variety of vocal styles while exploring creativity through foundational studies in music theory, arranging and transposition, music business and branding, songwriting, composition, and music production. 

After lunch, students will get onto the stage to workshop their art and dive into their performance techniques, stage presence, expression, mic technique, sound production, and other topics that center around performing live and in the studio. Evenings may include performances, masterclasses, and other activities, and time will be provided throughout the day for personal practice and collaboration. The week ends with a showcase performance of the songs worked on throughout the week.

Few can say their love for music came to them through an air vent. Canadian Country singer/songwriter Danielle Todd can. In her childhood bedroom, complete with pastel sponge paint and horse wallpaper, Danielle would fall asleep to the sound of her father’s music coming through the air vent from his basement studio.

In the years since, Danielle has done everything in her power to make music her mainstay— everything from uprooting her life in Canada to move to Nashville, to working successive shifts on Nashville’s acclaimed Broadway.

Danielle has continued to hone her sound, resulting in a pop-country mix infused with undeniable Stevie Knicks-esque inspiration. With the pop sensibilities of the likes of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, a touch of edginess, and a little bit of quirk that Danielle finds indicative of her sound, songs like her debut single, “Crazy,” came to be.

Released in early 2019, “Crazy,” co-penned with Bobbi Holliday and Caitie Thompson, took Danielle to higher heights, achieving accolades like Ontario’s Artist of the Month in April 2019 and winning Country 104’s “Women in Country March Madness” with Carrie Underwood as the competition. The fresh, upbeat tune even went so far as to enjoy a spot at #80 on Canada’s TRAX Report, #28 on Sirius XM’s CBC Country, and #34 on Australia’s Top 50.

Her subsequent singles, “Backburner,” “Heat of the Moment” and “Over You” were similarly high impact in both Canada and Australia, landing a spot at #23 on the Music Network Hottest Country Charts and introducing the “soft edge” that is indicative of Danielle’s sound.

Danielle continues to write, perform and engage with her followers on a weekly basis.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

Students must submit a video audition for acceptance.

Please submit a 1-2 minute video showing you dancing in contemporary, jazz, or hip hop.  This can be a performance video or something made in a dance studio. If it is a video of a group dance, please make sure you are visible for us to see and be clear as to which dancer you are.

Once you have submitted the Camper Application, we will send you information on how to submit your dance video.

Dance Experience:
It is suggested that applicants have at least 2 years of dance training in contemporary or jazz dance technique.  The training is rigorous—dancers will be in class and rehearsals for up to 6 hours per day.

Complete an online Camper application through CampInTouch.

Once you have completed the Camper Application, your application will be reviewed within 5 days by a member of the Enrollment team. At this time, you will be charged the $50 application fee and receive an email with a link to the Submittable audition application for you to submit your audition. Complete the Submittable audition application and provide an email address for your teacher recommendation form within Submittable.

We use the platform Submittable to receive all auditions for the ����ֱ�� Program (a universal platform utilized for exhibitions, contests and even university and job applications). It is very easy to use. You will be prompted to set up a free Submittable account with your email. This account can be used for any future open calls you apply to at ����ֱ�� and beyond!

Priority Audition Deadline: February 15, 2026
First round evaluation will take place shortly after this date. You will be notified of acceptance as soon as evaluations are complete. Auditions will be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 15. Please allow up to two weeks for a response to allow time for faculty evaluation. Auditions will be accepted until the program is full.

All Students:

• Water bottle, Thera-band, yoga mat

All Dancers: 

• Short or open-toe tights, preferably black
• T-shirts or leotards (no writing/graphics)
• Black Dance shorts or pants
• Jazz Shoes
• Colorful street clothes
• Sneakers that can be worn in the dance studio
• Ballet shoes

A typical day will follow this guideline:

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Conditioning for dance
• 10:15 am – 11:45 am: Contemporary Dance Technique
• 11:45 am – 12:15 pm: Musical Theater Dance
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch
• 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm: Jazz or Ballet technique
• 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm: Hip Hop
• 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Rehearsal

Ellen Rosa-Taylor is currently the Chair of the Dance Department at ����ֱ��, as well as the Director of the ����ֱ�� Children’s Dance Program. She received her BS in Ballet from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her MFA in Dance from Florida State University where she was the recipient of a Dean’s Teaching Fellowship and a University Fellowship. Ellen has performed with the Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, and San Diego Opera; she has performed as principal dancer with City Ballet of Los Angeles, Media City Ballet (now Pacific Ballet Theater), La Danserie, and Chattanooga Ballet. She has also performed with Louise Reichlin and Dancers, Charleston Ballet Theater, Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware, and was featured as the Bluebird in Disney’s Snow White at Disneyland. As a choreographer, Ellen has had her works presented across the U.S. The LA Times has referred to her as having “a unique jazz ballet style.” As a dance educator, Ellen is an ABT Affiliate Teacher for levels Primary – 7 and has received the distinction of ABT NTC Fellow, which has been awarded to only 50 ABT Certified teachers worldwide.

Born and raised in Orange County, Alexandra Yonkovich trained in all styles while competing on Rosary High School’s nationally ranked Varsity dance team. She earned her BFA from the University of Arizona and shortly after performed as a full-time ensemble and soloist with The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil from 2015 – 2020. While with Cirque, Alexandra led as dance captain and Artist Coach, additionally performing principal roles with artists such as Hans Zimmer, Jewel, and Walk The Moon in several events presented by Cirque Du Soleil.

Now based in Los Angeles, Alexandra most recently performed as a principal in Russall S. Beattie’s “Batette Follies of 1939“ at Hollywood’s Ricardo Montalban Theatre where she assumed Dance Captain and eventually Associate Director.  She has performed with artists Paris Jackson, Jordin Sparks and Lainey Wilson, Francesca Zambello’s Aida with LA Opera, and national commercials for Burger King and Target. Alexandra continues to work in TV/Film appearing as a performer in Freeform’s Good Trouble, LIVE! with Kelly & Ryan, and Dancing With The Stars: Showstoppers while assisting choreographers Galen Hooks, Tommy Tonge, and Marguerite Derricks.

Serving in all aspects of the dance industry, Alexandra is focused on connecting with the younger generation of dancers where she can focus heavily on teaching both technique and performance quality in tandem. She continues to set choreography both in the professional industry and academies across the country.  She is currently on faculty for Celebrity Dance Conventions while being on faculty at ����ֱ�� while based in Los Angeles.

Justin Epstein is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in Los Angeles, CA with over 17 years of experience in hip hop, tap, jazz, ballet, modern, musical theatre, contemporary, and partnering. Justin has performed live for the Los Angeles Avengers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Pac-12 Championship Halftime Shows and can be seen dancing in music videos with Brooklyn Jai, MNEK, Matoma, and Kiana Lede. Justin graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance as a member of the inaugural class at the brand new USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance where he had the opportunity to perform the work of Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, George Balanchine, Jiri Kylian, and Dwight Rhoden, including original works by William Forsythe, d. Sabela Grimes, and Jodie Gates. Since graduating Justin has co-founded RYBG, a multidisciplinary creative production studio rooted in choreography.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

Ideally students will have at least 1 year of tap dance experience. However, if you have tap shoes and are willing to try, learn, and grow, we will make it available for the student to develop over the course of the week.

There is no audition needed to be accepted to the program. However, we will do placement auditions for tap dance and break up into levels of experience so no actor is in over their heads and advanced students are being challenged.

• TAP SHOES
• Water bottle (very important to stay hydrated)
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• A backpack or bag to carry your script and personal items to and from rehearsals
• Closed-toed shoes/tennis shoes to rehearse in (no flip flops, sandals, or Crocs)
• Black/dark dress or skirt, or black/dark leggings, pants, and/or jeans
• Black dress, character, or jazz shoes, closed-toe dress shoes, or black sneakers
• Black socks
• Comfortable clothes you can move in
• Hair ties or clips for long hair
• White tank tops/undershirts/tee shirts

This is an anticipated list of items needed for this theatre workshop. You may be required to bring additional items for the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs prior to the program.

Each day, you will come together as an ensemble to do group warm-up work. We will then have various breakout sessions of tap dance, vocalization/singing, and acting development. At the end of each day, we will come together to debrief the day’s work.

Jeanette Knight is an award-winning actor, director, choreographer, playwright and producer.

As a member of SAG/AFTRA and Actors Equity Association, she has portrayed over twenty roles, ranging from Rose in The Woolgatherer at the Tony award winning Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago, to Shen Te/Shui Ta in Bertolt Brecht’s Good Person of Szechwan to Roberta in Going to a Place Where You Already Are. But her most demanding role was Louise in Always, Patsy Cline, which played to sold out audiences in 2011 and 2013. 

She began her stage career as a dancer, garnering adjectives like “superb” from Variety and studying with icons like the legendary Broadway tap choreographer Henry LeTang. She has been teaching acting, directing and improvisation at the ����ֱ�� since 2006, where she has also directed several highly-lauded productions, including Stepping Out and A Chorus Line. Previously, she was the Education Program Director for the McCallum Theater, supervising a faculty of fourteen teaching artists, working as a master teaching artist, and developing the Aesthetic Education Program partnering with New York’s Lincoln Center Institute. During that same period, she served as the Executive Director for the cutting-edge Beaumont Actors Studio. Other theaters/venues she has directed for include the Indian Wells Theater, California State University San Bernardino in Palm Desert, Arthur Newman Theater, Palm Canyon Theater, Truckee Meadows Community College, Brewery Arts Center, and Coachella Valley Repertory.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

This is an open-admission program for all interested students who have at least 2 years of experience with songwriting and/or music production. Students will be asked to provide a video or audio sample of their work before the program begins. Instructions for submitting this recording will be provided after the application is received.

• Laptop or phone with recording software downloaded (Garage Band, Logic, or similar)
• Notebook or journal
• Several pens/pencils
• Portable instruments (guitar or smaller)
• Instrument Tuner (labeled with your name)
• Capos, extra strings, guitar picks, or other accessories necessary for your instrument
• Optional – Midi Keyboard

The morning session breakouts include presentations on songwriting techniques, live performance, vocals, music production, recording, music business and other special topics. After lunch, students work on assignment prompts alone and in groups to create tracks with faculty mentors. The day ends with students presenting their new material for group feedback. Each week culminates with an informal showcase of new material from that week.

Don Reed, an award-winning multi-instrumentalist, has been performing, composing, teaching and recording music for over 40 years. Don’s playing and compositions have been featured on hundreds of recording projects, television and film soundtracks and more. Don has performed with, produced and managed numerous bands and solo artists throughout his career. He excels in diverse genres, including punk, bluegrass, hard rock, classic rock, jazz, folk, blues and more. Don currently heads up Pop Music & Songwriting at ����ֱ�� and chairs Songwriting for ����ֱ�� ����ֱ�� & Auxiliary Programs.

Website:

Josh Hogan has been songwriting and playing guitar for over 20 years. He has played lead guitar, sang, and wrote songs for The Mowgli’s since their inception in 2012. His newest project, ‘Modern Original’, has been releasing new songs since 2021 to rave reviews. He lives in Los Angeles, CA where he co-writes for other artists and is currently producing up and coming bands.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs.

Antoinette K. Perry has appeared throughout the US, Europe and China as a soloist and chamber musician, collaborating with many of the world’s greatest artists. Distinguishing herself also as a pedagogue, Perry served for 12 years on the UCLA piano faculty before joining the faculty of the USC Thornton School of Music in 1996. She frequently gives master classes and serves as an adjudicator. Former students are enjoying successful careers as performers and pedagogues throughout the US and Asia.

More details about Antoinette Perry can be read here:

Diane Hidy made her Carnegie Hall debut after completing her studies with John Perry and Leon Fleisher. She was the first woman to become a Fellow of the American Pianist Association. Diane attended Julliard and holds performance degrees from the University of Southern California and the Peabody Conservatory. She has more than 50 recordings of standard piano teaching repertoire used by students around the world. Her adult students have won many honors including First Prize in the Chopin Competition for Amateur Pianists held in Warsaw. Diane lives and teaches in San Francisco.

If you attended the seminar last summer, there’s no need to submit an audition video. All new students are required to submit a short, representative video of their piano performance. The video should be at least five minutes long.

The lab fee covers all equipment and studio use.

Students should bring a list of performance ready repertoire. Please plan to bring music in good to excellent condition, with consideration given to a seven to ten minute selection for the final performance on Friday night.

There are limited Fellowships available for students who apply. If applying for a Fellowship, please include a longer video of two contrasting pieces total, and at least ten minutes long.

This is an open-admission program for all interested students, regardless of their level of experience. Instructors will work with your child at their level. Your child will improve and learn new skills, whether they are a beginner or have been acting and performing for years. They do, however, need to be willing to project their voices and act onstage..

Students will be asked to send in a video of themselves doing a 1 minute Shakespeare monologue using vocal projection for the stage. Instructions for submitting the video will be sent closer to the start of the program.

Please note that this video will not impact your child’s admission to the program; this is an open-admission program for students of all skill levels. Rather, the video will be utilized to determine your child’s skill level and to help with casting decisions for the production the students will put on during the intensive.

Please also note that although this is an open admission program (no formal audition is required upon entry), students will have casting auditions at camp after working with faculty.

• Water bottle (very important to stay hydrated)
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• A backpack or bag to carry your script and personal items to and from rehearsals
• Closed-toed shoes/tennis shoes to rehearse in (no flip flops, sandals, or crocs)
• Black/dark dress or skirt, or black/dark leggings, pants and/or jeans
• Black dress, character, or jazz shoes, closed-toe dress shoes, or black sneakers
• Black socks
• Comfortable clothes you can move in
• Hair ties or clips for long hair
• White tank tops/undershirts/tee shirts

This is an anticipated list of items needed for this theatre workshop. You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs prior to the program.

The first two days involve actor games and warm ups, introduction to vocal techniques, and reading through the play.  If we are doing a piece by Shakespeare, we’ll study his life and times and watch a filmed version of a performance of the play to gain understanding. By the third day, we audition for parts. After that, a typical day will include a group warm up, followed by rehearsals. We’ll work with whomever is in each scene, first reading the scene for understanding, then blocking it on its feet. We also have rehearsals for any stage combat, singing, or choreography in the show.  Actors need to be motivated to learn lines and work as an ensemble.  It’s intense – but fun!  We expect to have a field trip where we travel to see a live performance, meet the actors, stop for ice cream, and enjoy a picnic.

Johanna McKay has worked extensively with writers and composers to create original plays and musicals which she then directs, and has adapted and directed eleven of Shakespeare’s plays. Her adaptation of “As You Like It” was published by Playscripts, Inc. Johanna is the Curriculum Consultant on the Netflix show “Julie’s Greenroom” which teaches children about the arts. Johanna also teaches theater at Los Angeles City College and directs and teaches for P.S. Arts, a non-profit group that integrates the arts into underfunded public schools in the Los Angeles area. She spends her summers at Idyllwild Fine Arts Camp directing musicals, Shakespearean adaptations, and original plays generated by the students. She has also taught acting and improvisation at UCLA. Johanna has trained with The Groundlings, earned her B.F.A from The Theatre School, DePaul University, and her M.F.A. in theater, film and television from UCLA. Besides film and television, Johanna’s acting credits include work at Steppenwolf, The Goodman, Dallas Theatre Center, San Jose Repertory Theatre, and The Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California.

Judy Heneghan has acted, directed, written plays, and taught both acting and improv for more than 20 years. Judy’s musical credits include being the lead singer of R&B Band, Blue in the Face, in Ireland; she also has numerous musical theater credits. Judy has taught Improvisation Story Theatre in Ireland, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles (LA). She was a teaching artist at the Aaron Copeland Music and Arts Camp in New York. At ����ֱ��, Judy has taught Page to Stage, Improvisation Comedy, and Theatre of Myth. Alongside Johanna McKay, she has taught Shakespeare’s World and “The Play’s The Thing.” Judy co-wrote/created and performs as Olive in the long-running comedy musical The Martini & Olive Show, touring theaters and comedy clubs throughout the country.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

This is an open-admission program for all interested students, regardless of their level of experience. Instructors will work with your child at their level. Students will improve and learn new skills, whether they are a beginner or have been acting and performing for years. They do, however, need to be willing to project their voices and act onstage.

Before arrival, students will receive a request to submit a short video of themselves answering a few questions about their areas of interest and experience.

Please note that this video will not impact your child’s admission to the program; this is an open-admission program for students of all skill levels. Rather, the video will be utilized to determine your child’s skill level and to help with casting decisions for the production that students will put on during the intensive.

Please also note that although this is an open admission program (no formal audition is required upon entry), students will have casting auditions at camp after working with faculty.

• Water bottle (very important to stay hydrated)
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• A backpack or bag to carry your script and personal items to and from rehearsals
• Closed-toed shoes/tennis shoes to rehearse in (no flip flops, sandals, or crocs)
• Black/dark dress or skirt, or black/dark leggings, pants and/or jeans
• Black dress, character, or jazz shoes, closed-toe dress shoes, or black sneakers
• Black socks
• Comfortable clothes you can move in
• Hair ties or clips for long hair
• White tank tops/undershirts/tee shirts

This is an anticipated list of items needed for this workshop. You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs prior to the program.

In week one, Two-Headed Monster: Writing and Performing for the Stage is focused primarily on the students writing an original play. The day will begin with games and warm-ups aimed at building trust in the group, and strengthening vocal and physical performance skills. In the first week more exercises to generate ideas will follow, along with whole-group, breakout group and feedback discussions. There is time for individual writing, small group writing and editing. We will set aside time for some afternoon workshops in stage makeup/design/costuming as needed. Week one days are typically 9am to 4pm.

In week two we will be focusing on rehearsals in the morning, afternoon and in the evenings after dinner until we are ready for the performance of our original script! Week two will require evening rehearsals as we work toward our culmination before a live audience. Days are typically, but not limited to, 9am to 4pm AND 7pm to 9pm. These are long and thrilling days that have always been well worth the effort.

Abbie Bosworth is a writer, performer, director, and teacher. Abbie has a BA in Combined Honors Spanish and Theatre from the University of Birmingham in the UK (1990). She has an MFA in Creative Writing for the Performing Arts from UC Riverside (2008). Abbie began her career teaching English and Theatre in Manchester UK as well as being involved as a director and performer in the Manchester Arts Festival.

Abbie continued to work in educational and devised theatre when she moved to Southern California in 2000, collaboratin with such diverse communities as inmates at Patton State Hospital, students through the Riverside and San Bernardino Arts Councils, and at Montessori in Redlands. Abbie devised curriculum and managed the Montessori of Redlands Middle School program between 2003 and 2005.

Abbie’s short story, Glass Eye, was published in the 2006 Monsters and Villains edition of CRATE and her play Left Luggage was performed at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in February 2007. Her play, So Many Good Ways to be Bad was commissioned for, and performed by The San Bernardino Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance in collaboration with Cal State San Bernardino in January 2010. She had one of her plays, Greta in the Forest read at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica, where she is a member of a New Play Development program.

Abbie was previously the chair of the InterArts Department at ����ֱ�� and taught Theatre and Playwriting since 2006. She coordinated a yearly collaboration between the Creative Writing and Theatre departments.

Rendon Ramsey served as Theatre Faculty at IA from 2006-2021. He co-created THM in the summer of 2016 and ran it for several seasons. In 2021 Rendon moved to Seattle with his family and is currently the Head of Acting and Director of Theatre at The Northwest School. In addition Rendon works as a private acting coach through rendonramsey.com, a freelance Director, and has recently worked as a teaching artist with the Seattle Shakespeare Co., the Seattle Children’s Theatre, and Coyote Central. Rendon holds an MFA in Acting (Cal Arts), a BA in Speech (UW), and an AA in Acting (AADA).

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

Students who attended Musical Theatre Intensive in 2025 will be automatically accepted and will be contacted to confirm your attendance through CampInTouch after you complete your application. However, we do still want you to submit a video to help us plan and prepare for the upcoming summer. Follow the same instructions as the audition requirements below.

All applicants should submit an audition following these guidelines:

Video files (approximately 60 seconds each):

Video 1: A recorded video of you singing approximately 16 bars, or up to one minute, of a song from a published musical of your choice. You should use a backing track with no other vocals on it.

Video 2: A recorded video of a one minute monologue from a musical or comedy that best shows off your talents.

Complete an online Camper application through CampInTouch.

Once you have completed the Camper Application, your application will be reviewed within 5 days by a member of the Enrollment team. At this time, you will be charged the $50 application fee and receive an email with a link to the Submittable audition application to submit your audition.

Complete the Submittable audition application and provide an email address for your teacher recommendation form within Submittable.

We use the platform Submittable to receive all auditions for the ����ֱ�� Program (a universal platform utilized for exhibitions, contests and even university and job applications). It is very easy to use. You will be prompted to set up a free Submittable account with your email. This account can be used for any future open calls you apply to at ����ֱ�� and beyond!

Priority Audition Deadline: February 15, 2026
First round evaluation will take place shortly after this date. You will be notified of acceptance as soon as evaluations are complete. Auditions will be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 15. Please allow up to two weeks for a response to allow time for faculty evaluation. Auditions will continue to be accepted after this date until the program is full.

• Water bottle
• Black/dark dress or skirt, or black/dark leggings, pants and/or jeans
• Black dress, character, or jazz shoes, closed-toe dress shoes, or black sneakers
• Black socks
• White blouse or camisole
• White button-up long-sleeved shirt
• Comfortable clothes you can move in
• Athletic or tennis shoes
• Rehearsal blacks (pants and shirt)
• Hair ties or clips for long hair
• Combat/winter boots (optional)
• White blouses/shirts
• White, short-sleeved button-down shirt
• Tank tops/undershirts
• Stage makeup kit (basic version, such as Ben Nye makeup kit)

This is an anticipated list of items needed for this theatre workshop. You may be required to bring additional items pertaining to the specific production. We will communicate with enrolled students on those needs about 6 weeks prior to the program

On a typical day in our Musical Theatre Intensive, we will begin by collectively warming up both our bodies and our voices, preparing for the work ahead. We will explore collaborative creation of a Devised Theatre Performance by working together in deep and thoughtful guided conversations. With this process, we will ultimately create a final performance together around a central theme. Everyday we use the techniques of the masters of our craft to hone our skills in singing, dance and acting. Faculty work with every student where they are in all of those areas of skill and look to develop the whole young artist. A normal day is from 9:00am to 4:00pm with some additional evening rehearsals added as we get closer to performance.

Denis McCourt Stryjewski is dedicated to acting, writing, and directing for the stage. Denis began studying theater at the University of South Florida, and, in 2003 he graduated with a BA in Theater, with an emphasis on Performance. Then, in 2008, he received his MFA from the University of Florida, in Gainesville. Thirteen years later, Denis is now a member of the Theater faculty at ����ֱ��! His professional creative ventures since leaving Florida have included teaching for ten years at the New York Film Academy’s Hollywood campus, directing for Coachella Valley Repertory, an hour from Idyllwild, and “convincing Long Beach Shakespeare Company to do contemporary works.” He is exhilarated by the chance to work with aspiring performers from many different countries.

Jonathan Sharp was trained at National Academy of the Arts and the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. While on full scholarship at SAB he was trained by master teachers Stanley Williams, Peter Martins, Andrea Kramarevsky, Suzanne Farrell, Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer, and Sean Lavery. He danced professionally with the Boston Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the touring Stars of American Ballet, headlined by Robert LaFosse and Darci Kistler. He has appeared on Broadway in the original casts of The Red Shoes, Carousel (1994 Tony winner for Best Revival), The Rocky Horror Show Live, The Dance of the Vampires, and Fiddler on the Roof. He has also appeared on television as a contract player on Another World and guest-starred on Law and Order and Gilmore Girls. He has taught at ����ֱ�� for thirteen years and he also teaches and directs internationally.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Northwestern University, Jeff Bell has over 30 years of experience in musical theatre as a music director/vocal coach/arranger/accompanist/keyboardist. His career started in the Chicago Area, continued in the Pacific Northwest and now continues in beautiful Idyllwild. Jeff is thrilled to be part of the ����ֱ�� community of artists and students.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

IAI ����ֱ�� Piano 

The IA ����ֱ�� Piano includes incredible opportunities for piano solo and duet performances, chamber music, and collaborative work, with regular private lessons and coachings throughout the program. This program gives students the chance to focus and vastly improve their technique and performance skills in a rigorous and nurturing environment.

During this three-week piano intensive, students will receive private lessons, performance opportunities in both recital and master class settings, piano ensemble repertoire and coaching, and class discussions on various piano-related topics. The daily schedule will be determined by class needs, your abilities, and your readiness to do the work. You must be self-motivated and prepared to practice individually 3-5 hours daily to master your assignments.

Plan to bring at least four previously studied solo pieces, including one that is at performance level. You must be playing repertoire with a level of difficulty comparable to any Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach, any sonata by Mozart or Beethoven, or any nocturne, ballade or scherzo by Chopin.

Piano Intensive students will also gain wonderful ensemble experience, both through learning piano duets with their pianist peers and studying either chamber music, collaborative duo repertoire, or orchestral keyboard, with their instrumentalist peers. All ensembles are well coached by our faculty, with the aim for students to perform their work in a public concert. Students will be assigned to a chamber group, collaborative duo, or orchestral keyboard with placement and performances solely at the discretion of our faculty.

The IAI ����ֱ�� Chamber Music Program is open to Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and Piano and is integrated into both the Piano and Strings tracks. The curriculum will include performance techniques, highlighting on-stage interaction, body language and audience connection, and ensemble sight-reading. Students will work deeply with their coaches to develop the necessary skills to collaborate in a smaller ensemble, and understand the intricacies of rehearsing and performing together in this format.

The Collaborative Artist Program offers student pianists and string players the opportunity to hone their skills as collaborative partners, rehearsing and performing alongside other instrumentalists and receiving coaching specific to this uniquely challenging medium. Students are paired up according to ability and experience, and work individually and collectively with our highly seasoned faculty to understand how to rehearse and perform well with their partners in this more intimate setting. Repertoire varies depending on enrollment, but typically students will tackle sonatas, concertos, and other genres, and perform with instructor approval.

The IAI ����ֱ�� Piano Program is truly an immersive experience with longer days focused on musical development. This gives students the opportunity to work intently with our distinguished faculty and implement the skills acquired in real time. The schedule is rigorous and fun, and it fosters an experimental, collaborative environment for the students. Students in the program will enjoy our wonderfully curated mix of solo repertoire, collaboration with others, chamber coachings, rehearsals, masterclasses, performances, and individual instruction.

IAI ����ֱ�� Strings

The IAI ����ֱ�� Strings program is made up of the IA ����ֱ�� Chamber Music Program, the IAI Chamber Orchestra, Individual Performances in conjunction with their Collaborative Partners in the Piano Program, and Private Lessons. 

The IAI ����ֱ�� Chamber Music Program  is open to Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and Piano and is integrated into both the Piano and Strings tracks. The curriculum will include performance techniques, highlighting on-stage interaction, body language and audience connection, and ensemble sight-reading. Students will work deeply with their coaches to develop the necessary skills to collaborate in a smaller ensemble, and understand the intricacies of rehearsing and performing together in this format. 

The IAI Chamber Orchestra builds on the chamber music program and is a strings-only self conducted ensemble composed of violin, viola, cello, and bass (please look at ensembles like the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, A Far Cry, the Sphinx Virtuosi etc. for examples of these sorts of dynamic ensembles). This group works alongside the Chamber Music Intensive to deepen the collaborative skills that every string player needs to excel in all levels of performance. Students will participate in a multitude of musicality and technique-building activities which include up to 2 daily full rehearsals, sectionals, and additional masterclasses in subjects like orchestral repertoire, conducting, and other topics. Students will have the unique opportunity to play alongside seasoned professional orchestra musicians and faculty who will also serve as coaches throughout each week, and there will be culminations in the final week in chamber music and solo performance, in addition to our final culminations on Saturday. 

All of the artistic components within the IAI ����ֱ�� Strings program focus on building the essential technical and musical skills specific to violin, viola, cello, and bass, that create a solid foundation for a lifetime of performance, and continue to build on the skills that the students are working on during the school year. The schedule is rigorous and fun, and is also designed to foster an experimental, collaborative environment for the students, with our curated mix of chamber coachings, rehearsals, masterclasses, performances and individual instruction. 

This program is truly an immersive intensive with longer days focused on musical development. This gives students the opportunity to work intently with our distinguished faculty and implement the skills acquired in real time. 

STRINGS:

A piece or excerpt from your solo repertoire, not to exceed five minutes. Piano inclusion optional.
All orchestral excerpts as listed below for your instrument
OPTIONAL Solo Music for Concerto Competition Audition

����ֱ�� Repertoire will include the following. Please download these for your personal practice and to submit the excerpts for the preliminary auditions.

OPTIONAL SOLO COMPETITION REP (submit complete first movement, either part). You may either submit this material with your initial audition, or submit this after submitting your main audition, due by May 1st, 2026. Please be sure to email ‘summer@idyllwildarts.org’ to let us know if you submit this optional repertoire after your initial audition.

Vivaldi –
Bach –
Vivaldi –

Violin (all violin 1 parts for the excerpts)

BACH
mvt. 3 m.13 to the end (mm. 13-48)

GRIEG
mvt. 1 beginning to the repeat (mm. 1-18, no repeat)
mvt. 5 (solo part, no repeats) beginning to measure before the poco meno mosso (mm. 1-40) – OPTIONAL

WALKER
mm. 40-52

Viola
BACH
mvt. 3: m.13 to the end (mm. 13-48)

GRIEG
mvt. 1: beginning to the repeat (mm. 1-18, no repeat)
mvt. 5: (solo part, no repeats) beginning to measure before the poco meno mosso (mm. 1-40) – OPTIONAL

WALKER
mm. 40-52

Cello
BACH
Mvt. 1: mm.114-119 downbeat
mvt. 3: mm. 26-44, downbeat

GRIEG
mvt. 1: 2 measures before C – downbeat of D, top line
mvt. 2: mm. 9-22, solo and top line
mvt. 4: (solo part, top line, no repeats) Q to the end (mm. 1-40) – OPTIONAL

WALKER
mm. 59-78

Bass
BACH
mvt. 3: mm. 13-35 downbeat

GRIEG
mvt. 1: C – downbeat of D
mvt. 4: N to downbeat of O

WALKER
mm. 14-28

PIANO:

Two solos of your choice that demonstrate interpretative skills in both slow and fast passages. You must be playing repertoire with a level of difficulty comparable to any Prelude and Fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier by J.S. Bach, any sonata by Mozart or Beethoven, or any nocturne, ballade or scherzo by Chopin. Memorization welcome though not required for the audition.

Include a 3rd video of a chamber music performance or collaborative work with another performer whenever possible. Typically this would include a recording of a chamber ensemble performance (such as piano trio, piano quartet, etc.) and/or a recording of a duo performance (such as playing with an instrumentalist or vocalist). As a part of the audition form, you will be asked to provide a repertoire list of chamber or collaborative pieces already learned and/or studied. If you do not have experience playing in a chamber ensemble or as a collaborative performer, please list that on your application.

If you are interested in being considered for playing orchestral keyboard, please indicate so in your application. Audition requirements for that consideration will be sent at a later date, and will come from the selected orchestral repertoire that is programmed.

Audition Instructions:
Complete an online Camper application through CampInTouch.

Once you have completed the Camper Application, your application will be reviewed within 5 days by a member of the Enrollment team. At this time, you will be charged the $50 application fee and receive an email with a link to the Submittable audition application for you to submit your audition. Complete the Submittable audition application and provide an email address for your teacher recommendation form within Submittable.

We use the platform Submittable to receive all auditions for the ����ֱ�� Program (a universal platform utilized for exhibitions, contests and even university and job applications). It is very easy to use. You will be prompted to set up a free Submittable account with your email. This account can be used for any future open calls you apply to at ����ֱ�� and beyond!

Priority Audition Deadline: February 15, 2026
First round evaluation will take place shortly after this date. You will be notified of acceptance as soon as evaluations are complete. Auditions will be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 15. Please allow up to two weeks for a response to allow time for faculty evaluation. Auditions will continue to be accepted after that date until the program is full.

Concerto Audition Deadline: April 15, 2025 

Instrumentalists who choose to participate in the optional concerto competition must upload a video of their concerto audition materials by April 15, 2026. Results will be shared by June 1, 2026. Concerto opportunities will be added before December 1, 2026.

����ֱ�� cannot provide individual instruments or personal equipment with the exception of pianos/keyboards. Please be sure to bring:

• Your personal instrument
• Two sets of extra strings, rosin, and other necessary accessories for your instrument
• Metronome
• Blank music staff paper
• Pencil
• (Hardcopies of music will be provided when you arrive)

Concert dress code is a black top and black bottom with black shoes/socks. Students can mix and match from this list as desired:

• Black button-down shirt, blouse, or all black formal shirt (no sleeveless tops)
• Black pants, or black skirt (below the knees)
• Black dress shoes and socks
• No ties, bowties, or suit jackets

Piano students will receive additional instruction about materials and concert attire to bring.

• Kai Potts Smith – Program Director and Viola
• Dr. Jeanette Louise Yaryan – Piano program coordinator
• Mitsuko Morikawa – Piano
• Sam Fischer – Violin
• Todor Pelev – Violin
• Sakura Tsai – Violin
• Fernando Vela – Viola
• Javier Iglesias – Cello
• Joo Lee – Cello
• Ryan Baird – Bass
• Ariana Solotoff – Administrator

Music in all of its various shapes, sounds, and forms has forever been a central force in the life of Kai Potts Smith, beginning with absorbing piano by ear from her mother, singing in choirs, and taking flute lessons in elementary school. And at age 11, she picked up the viola, fell in love, and never looked back. 

A native of California and raised in Las Vegas, NV, she swiftly excelled as a violist under the watchful eyes of John Sullivan and was accepted into the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts. She then added violin to her studies under Rebecca Sabine and went on to win multiple command performances, international competitions, and began her work performing on stage with iconic mainstream recording artists in Las Vegas at age 15. Since then she has appeared as a violist on multiple albums with artists including Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, and Celine Dion, had a six year residency with Celine Dion in Las Vegas, and continues to work with musicians such as Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish to this day. She has appeared as soloist and featured artist with orchestras across the US and abroad, including the Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, and the Atlanta Symphony, among others. Mrs. Potts earned her B.M. in Viola and Violin Performance with a minor in Judaic studies from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, and a M.M. in Viola Performance and Performance Certificate from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

Dr. Jeanette Louise Yaryan has been a Classical pianist since age three, having won numerous awards and competitions over the years. An internationally renowned performer and pedagogue, she holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance, and is currently the Classical Piano Program Director, at ����ֱ�� in Idyllwild, CA. She has been an expert faculty member in both the Academy and ����ֱ�� Program since 2011 and has also served as Assistant Head of School and Music Department Chair. Past mentors include Norman Krieger, Katthryn Brown, Dr. Caroline Oltmanns, John Perry, and numerous others. Her teaching and performing career has brought her all over the US and to countries including the UK, Australia, Brazil, Italy, and Malaysia. Both a Classical soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Yaryan also is fluent in Jazz, Musical Theatre, Pop, and Sacred Music, and is particularly known as an avid performer and champion of contemporary music and multidisciplinary performance. Most recently, Jeanette has begun developing concept performances which combine solo piano, her own spoken word, multidisciplinary collaboration, and thematic programming. Her voice is unique, and her fearless commentary on global philosophy and events has caused her to stand out among performers. When Jeanette is not performing, writing, administrating, or teaching, she loves to travel, study new languages, explore new cuisine, and spend time with her cats, Luna, Phoenix, and Kujaku.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

Students returning from 2024 and 2025 will be accepted without an audition, but are still asked to submit a video to assist with planning purposes. Students who are new to Dance Intensive must submit a video audition for acceptance.

The Dance Intensive requires a video audition for acceptance. Please submit a one minute video showing you dancing in your favorite style of either ballet, modern or jazz. This can be a performance video or made in a dance studio. If it is a video of a group dance, please make sure you are visible for us to see and be clear as to which dancer you are.

Once you have submitted the Camper Application, we will send you information on how to submit your dance video.

Dance Experience:
It is suggested that applicants have at least three years of dance training in ballet, modern or jazz for this art of movement intensive. The training is rigorous- dancers will be in class and rehearsals for about 6-8 hours per day. On the first day, after an audition placement, dancers will be split into training levels based on experience (not based on age). Careful consideration will be given to place students into a group that will be most advantageous to each participant.

Complete an online Camper application through CampInTouch.

Once you have completed the Camper Application, your application will be reviewed within 5 days by a member of the Enrollment team. At this time, you will be charged the $50 application fee and receive an email with a link to the Submittable audition application for you to submit your audition. Complete the Submittable audition application and provide an email address for your teacher recommendation form within Submittable.

We use the platform Submittable to receive all auditions for the ����ֱ�� Program (a universal platform utilized for exhibitions, contests and even university and job applications). It is very easy to use. You will be prompted to set up a free Submittable account with your email. This account can be used for any future open calls you apply to at ����ֱ�� and beyond!

Priority Audition Deadline: February 15, 2026
First round evaluation will take place shortly after this date. You will be notified of acceptance as soon as evaluations are complete. Auditions will be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 15. Please allow up to two weeks for a response to allow time for faculty evaluation. Auditions will be accepted until the program is full.

All Students:

• Water bottle, Thera-band, yoga mat

Female Ballet:

• Pink or flesh tone tights
• Leotard (any color, but please bring a black one for your performance)
• Clean ballet shoes
• Pointe shoes (if applicable)

Male Ballet:

• Black tights
• Plain black or white T-shirt (no writing/graphics)
• Dance belt
• Ballet shoes

Modern (All):

• Dance shorts or open-toe tights, preferably black
• Knee pads, preferably black
• T-shirts or leotards (no writing/graphics)

Jazz (All):

• Jazz Shoes

Hip Hop (All) :

• Colorful street clothes
• Sneakers

A typical day will follow this guideline:

• 9:00 am – 10:00 am: Conditioning for dance
• 10:15 am – 11:45 am: Ballet with pointe or pre-pointe
• 11:45 am – 12:15 pm: Musical Theater Dance
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch
• 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm: Modern or Choreography
• 3:00 pm – 4:15 pm: Jazz or Hip Hop
• 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Rehearsal

• Ellen Rosa-Taylor
• Jonathan Sharp
• Hai Cohen
• Justin Epstein
• Yuka Fukuda
• Chad Michael Hall
• Alexandra Yonkovich

Ellen Rosa-Taylor is currently the Chair of the Dance Department at ����ֱ��, as well as the Director of the ����ֱ�� Children’s Dance Program. She received her BS in Ballet from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her MFA in Dance from Florida State University where she was the recipient of a Dean’s Teaching Fellowship and a University Fellowship. Ellen has performed as a ballerina with the Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, and San Diego Opera; she has performed as principal dancer with City Ballet of Los Angeles, Media City Ballet (now Pacific Ballet Theater), La Danserie, and Chattanooga Ballet. She has also performed with Louise Reichlin and Dancers, Charleston Ballet Theater, Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware, and was featured as the Bluebird in Disney’s Snow White at Disneyland. As a choreographer, Ellen has had her works presented across the U.S. The LA Times has referred to her as having “a unique jazz ballet style.” As a dance educator, Ellen is an ABT Affiliate Teacher for levels Primary – 7 and has received the distinction of ABT NTC Fellow, which has been awarded to only 50 ABT Certified teachers worldwide.

Jonathan Sharp was trained at the National Academy of the Arts and the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. While on full scholarship at SAB, he was trained by master teachers Stanley Williams, Peter Martins, Andrea Kramarevsky, Suzanne Farrell, Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer, and Sean Lavery. He danced professionally with the Boston Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the touring Stars of American Ballet, headlined by Robert LaFosse and Darci Kistler. He has appeared on Broadway in the original casts of The Red Shoes, Carousel (1994 Tony winner for Best Revival), The Rocky Horror Show Live, The Dance of the Vampires, and Fiddler on the Roof. He has also appeared on television as a contract player on Another World, and he has guest-starred on Law and Order and Gilmore Girls. He has taught at ����ֱ�� for thirteen years, and he also teaches and directs internationally. He is currently Associate Director of Inland Pacific Ballet and a principal guest teacher with Pacific Festival Ballet.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs

Students who are interested in the Ballet Intensive must submit a video audition for acceptance.

Please submit a 1-2 minute video showing you dancing a classical ballet solo or ballet classwork. This can be a ballet performance video or something made in a ballet studio. If it is a video of a group ballet dance, please make sure you are visible for us to see and be clear as to which dancer you are.

Once you have submitted the Camper Application, we will send you information on how to submit your dance video.

Dance Experience:
It is suggested that applicants have at least three years of dance training in ballet. The training is rigorous—dancers will be in class and rehearsals for up to 6 hours per day.

Complete an online Camper application through CampInTouch.

Once you have completed the Camper Application, your application will be reviewed within 5 days by a member of the Enrollment team. At this time, you will be charged the $50 application fee and receive an email with a link to the Submittable audition application for you to submit your audition. Complete the Submittable audition application and provide an email address for your teacher recommendation form within Submittable.

We use the platform Submittable to receive all auditions for the ����ֱ�� Program (a universal platform utilized for exhibitions, contests and even university and job applications). It is very easy to use. You will be prompted to set up a free Submittable account with your email. This account can be used for any future open calls you apply to at ����ֱ�� and beyond!

Priority Audition Deadline: February 15, 2026
First round evaluation will take place shortly after this date. You will be notified of acceptance as soon as evaluations are complete. Auditions will be reviewed on a rolling basis after February 15. Please allow up to two weeks for a response to allow time for faculty evaluation. Auditions will be accepted until the program is full.

All Students:

• Water bottle, Thera-band, yoga mat

Female:

• Pink or flesh tone tights
• Leotard (any color, but please bring a black one for your performance)
• Clean ballet shoes
• Pointe shoes (if applicable)

Male:

• Ballet shoes
• Black tights
• Plain black or white T-shirt (no writing/graphics)
• Dance belt

A typical day will follow this guideline:

• 8:30 am – 9:30 am: Conditioning
• 9:45 am – 11:30 am: Ballet technique
• 11:45 am – 12:30 pm: pre pointe, Pointe or men’s class
• 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch
• 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: Ballet technique with emphasis on certain things such as adagio, turns, jumps
• 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm: Variations or private coaching sessions 
• 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm: Rehearsal

Ellen Rosa-Taylor is currently the Chair of the Dance Department at ����ֱ��, as well as the Director of the ����ֱ�� Children’s Dance Program. She received her BS in Ballet from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her MFA in Dance from Florida State University where she was the recipient of a Dean’s Teaching Fellowship and a University Fellowship. Ellen has performed as a ballerina with the Los Angeles Opera, New York City Opera, and San Diego Opera; she has performed as principal dancer with City Ballet of Los Angeles, Media City Ballet (now Pacific Ballet Theater), La Danserie, and Chattanooga Ballet. She has also performed with Louise Reichlin and Dancers, Charleston Ballet Theater, Russian Ballet Theater of Delaware, and was featured as the Bluebird in Disney’s Snow White at Disneyland. As a choreographer, Ellen has had her works presented across the U.S. The LA Times has referred to her as having “a unique jazz ballet style.” As a dance educator, Ellen is an ABT Affiliate Teacher for levels Primary – 7 and has received the distinction of ABT NTC Fellow, which has been awarded to only 50 ABT Certified teachers worldwide.

Jonathan Sharp was trained at National Academy of the Arts and the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. While on full scholarship at SAB, he was trained by master teachers Stanley Williams, Peter Martins, Andrea Kramarevsky, Suzanne Farrell, Alexandra Danilova, Suki Schorer, and Sean Lavery. He danced professionally with the Boston Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the touring Stars of American Ballet, headlined by Robert LaFosse and Darci Kistler. He has appeared on Broadway in the original casts of The Red Shoes, Carousel (1994 Tony winner for Best Revival), The Rocky Horror Show Live, The Dance of the Vampires, and Fiddler on the Roof. He has also appeared on television as a contract player on Another World, and he has guest-starred on Law and Order and Gilmore Girls. He has taught at ����ֱ�� for thirteen years, and he also teaches and directs internationally. He is currently Associate Director of Inland Pacific Ballet and a principal guest teacher with Pacific Festival Ballet.

Check out our Kids & Teens FAQ’s to learn more about our summer programs