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Saxophone Camp 2026

Saxophone Camp 2026

Sunday–Wednesday, June 7–10

This four-day experience provides high school saxophonists with diverse learning opportunities to develop as both classical and jazz musicians, engage with peers, and enjoy the college experience at Ohio State. Participants will work directly with saxophone professors Michael Rene Torres, Shawn Wallace and Robert Brooks in group activities, chamber ensembles and full saxophone ensemble; will hear inspiring faculty and staff performances; will gain insight into topics such as saxophone fundamentals, improvisation and practicing strategies; and will perform in a finale Saxophone Camp concert!

  • Take part in interactive sessions on sound quality, technique, vibrato, articulation, reed adjustment, voicing, altissimo, circular breathing and more!
  • Get to know other saxophonists from around the country!
  • Broaden your understanding of and approach to the saxophone with both classical and jazz styles.
  • Receive supplemental materials for continued growth after the camp.
  • Perform in both chamber ensembles and full saxophone ensemble.

Camp Faculty

Michael Rene Torres, assistant teaching professor of saxophone

Michael Rene Torres

Program Director

Assistant Teaching Professor of Saxophone

Shawn Wallace gives inaugural lecture, Feb. 4

Shawn Wallace

Professor of Jazz Saxophone

Robert D. Brooks

Associated Faculty, Jazz Saxophone

ELIGIBILITY — For students entering grades 9–12 in the 2026–2027 school year, and 2026 high school graduates.

INSTRUMENTS — Students are welcome to take part in the camp on alto, tenor or baritone saxophone.

MAXIMUM ENROLLMENT — 35

FEES  — $525 Resident (includes dorm double occupancy, meals and T-shirt) / $425 Commuter (includes T-shirt, lunch and dinner)

Registration

Registration deadline — Sunday, May 17

STEP 1 — You will be required to make payment via credit card at the time of registration. Shortly after submitting payment, you will receive an email confirming the transaction.

Registration will open here on February 1.

NOTE — The registration/payment form works best on a computer (PC or Mac).
MAC USERS — use Chrome, not Safari.

STEP 2 — Permission forms. 3-5 days after you register and pay, parents/guardians and participants will receive permission forms via DocuSign shortly after registration is complete. All forms must be returned by the deadline indicated in order to participate.

STEP 3 — Submit a video.

Please note that this is NOT an audition for camp. 

Students are asked to submit an audition video to assist us in getting to know our attendees' playing level, so that we can offer a meaningful musical experience. 

VIDEO SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, May 29

QUESTIONS? Email Professor Torres at torres.173@osu.edu.

What's Next?

  • Approximately one week before the program, participants and parents/guardians will receive an email with basic information about what to pack, arrival, parking, and check-in, as well as a Digital Handbook with important information for a successful experience. 

Questions?

Video Audition Instructions

Before you prepare your audition video, read through all these instructions very carefully:

1. You may use whatever device you have at your disposal (video camera, phone, tablet, computer, etc.). Regardless of the device, test your recording level and picture placement to get the best recording possible. 

2. Make sure we can see you, as well as your hands/fingers throughout the video.

  1. Do not edit, crop, or audio enhance your video with any special editing program.
  2. Avoid using a metronome during the audition.
  3. Do not send multiple attempts of any portion of the audition material. Send your best take.
  4. Practice recording yourself a few days before you plan to send a recording so you can familiarize yourself with the process. All students should send their audition recordings by Friday, May 29.
  5. Someone else (teacher, friend, or family member) may record you, however we only want to hear and see your playing.

Audition requirements and order:

  1. Introduction: clearly say your First Name, then Last Name, your grade level, and what school you attend
  2. Let us know what saxophones you are planning to bring. (soprano, alto, tenor, and/or bari)
  3. Scales: F Major, Eb Major, Chromatic (whatever form of these scales you are practicing currently is acceptable)
  4. Required Etude
  5. Optional classical solo to show your ability level (solo & ensemble music or band music are appropriate)
  6. Optional Improvisation on a Bb Concert Blues with background track

The required etude can be downloaded at Etude Link [will be posted when available]

The Bb Concert Blues backing track for the optional improvisation can be downloaded at Track Link [will be posted when available]

Submitting Auditions:

  1. Auditions should be posted as UNLISTED on YouTube or uploaded to a file sharing network such as Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.
  2. Once uploaded, the link to the audition video should be shared directly with Saxophone Camp Director, Dr. Michael Rene Torres: torres.173@osu.edu

Need Help? These instructional videos can help with this process:

Uploading videos to YouTube

How to create an Unlisted YouTube video

Please submit video auditions by Friday, May 29. Feel free to reach out to Dr. Torres with any questions or for assistance with uploading video auditions.