Community Music Program
A cooperative effort between West Chester University and West Chester Area School District providing music lessons to students 10 or over. Interested parties may contact Dr. Henry Grabb, Program Coordinator via email (HGrabb@wcupa.edu). If you are unable to communicate via email, please call Dr. Grabb's office at (610) 436-2224. If there is no answer, you may leave a message for him through the main music office number (610) 430-4177.
SUMMER CAMPS
We are pleased to announce our 2026 WCU Summer Music Camps. All 2026 summer camp registrations will take place online – please visit each camp’s webpage (via the drop-down tabs below) for more specific registration details. We expect our online registration to open after the new year.
Please check out our summer camp options below!
WCU Elementary School and Middle School Summer Music Camps
Monday, June 22, 2026 – Friday, June 26, 2026; 9am to 12pm daily
Tentative Finale Concert: Friday, June 26, 2026; 12:30pm
For elementary students currently in grades 3, 4, and 5 and middle school students currently in grades 6, 7, and 8 (2025 - 2026 School Year)
The Elementary School Summer Music Camp and The Middle School Summer Music Camp offer large ensemble and small ensemble performance opportunities for band and orchestra students. Students will receive instruction from some of the region's finest educators and performers. Daily faculty recitals allow students to see professional musicians perform in an informative and engaging setting.
WCU High School Summer Music Camp
Monday, July 6, 2026 – Saturday, July 11, 2026
Tentative Finale Concert: Saturday, July 11, 2026; 5:15pm
For students currently in grades 9 through 12 (2025 - 2026 School Year)
The High School Summer Music Camp is for students currently (2025-2026) in grades 9 through 12. Every student receives two 30-minute private lessons on their primary instrument or voice. Students will perform in a variety of ensembles, including wind ensemble, string orchestra, vocal ensemble, and various chamber ensembles. Students will also participate in music theory classes and sectional rehearsals/masterclasses. The Institute’s faculty consists primarily of WCU Wells School of Music professors, all of whom are active performing artists in the Philadelphia region.
Summer Jazz Camp
Sunday, July 12, 2026 – Friday, July 17, 2026
Tentative Finale Concert: Friday, July 17, 2026; 1:00pm or 3:30pm
For advanced middle school students and all high school students (2025 - 2026 School Year)
The Summer Jazz Camp is designed for advanced middle school and all high school students. Participants will explore jazz improvisation, arranging, orchestration, jazz history, and performance techniques. Visiting artists as well as the WCU faculty will perform and conduct masterclasses on various subjects. All participants will need to have a knowledge of scales, be able to read music, transpose, and be proficient on an instrument.
Summer Leadership and Marching Band Camp
July 18-July 19th, 2026 (Vivace Marching Band Leadership Training) / July 20 -July 23, 2026 (INCOMPARABLE Marching Band Workshop)
- Vivace Marching Band Leadership Training Weekend (July 18-19)
- Join a powerhouse team of nationally acclaimed educators–Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser (Attitude Concepts, Conn-Selmer), Bobby Lambert (Wando HS, Dynamic Marching), Dr. Adam Gumble (West Chester University, Vivace Director of Education), and Dr. John Villella (Vivace Productions President, Director Emeritus, WCU)–for an immersive leadership experience designed to inspire, challenge, and transform.
This workshop isn't just about becoming a better performer–it's about becoming a better leader, a better communicator, and a better version of yourself. Through engaging sessions, hands-on activities, and expert guidance, you'll gain the skills and confidence to make a lasting impact on your program–and beyond. Are you ready to take your leadership to the next level?
Register for Vivace Marching Band Leadership Training Weekend Here! - INCOMPARABLE Marching Band Workshop (July 20-23)
- Why settle for the ordinary when you can strive to be INCOMPARABLE? Educational tracks
for Drum Majors, Winds, Battery Percussion, Front Ensemble, and Color Guard are led
by our team of world-class clinicians in this immersive four-day workshop that invites
high school marching band participants at all experience levels to "level-up" their
leadership!
Step up. Stand out. Become INCOMPARABLE.
Register for INCOMPARABLE Marching Band Workshop Here!
Director and Staff Sessions:
- Vivace Marching Arts Education Summit (July 20-23)
- Cutting-edge insights from top educators and designers
- Engaging roundtable discussions & hands-on clinics
- Networking opportunities with industry leaders
- Actionable strategies to enhance your program
- The Marching Arts Education Summit is where educators, designers, and thought leaders come together to push the boundaries of music, movement, and leadership in the marching arts.
Whether you're a director, designer, instructor, or future leader, the Marching Arts Education Summit will give you the tools, vision, and inspiration to take your program to the next level.
Transform your leadership. Transform your band.
Register for Vivace Marching Arts Education Summit here!
For more information, check out VivaceProductions.com.
WCU Annual Pre-Collegiate National Piano Competition
WCU Annual Pre-Collegiate Piano Competition
The West Chester University Annual Pre-Collegiate National Piano Competition, now it its 36th year, strives to provide students ages 9-18 with performing opportunities and raise the standard of excellence of young pianists. This is a national competition with no geographic restrictions. There are three age groups with up to five cash prizes awarded in each group. Information regarding repertoire requirements, competition guidelines, awards, and how to apply is found below.
This year, our competition will take place over one weekend; the competition will take place on Saturday, May 16, 2026 and the award ceremony with the winners' recital on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Swope Music Building on our beautiful West Chester University Campus.
A Recital & Awards Presentation will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2026 from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm in the Ware Family Recital Hall. The recital will include performances by the first, second, and third place winners in each group and must be attended by all Honorable Mention winners. Absences in either category will result in cancellation of the award.
Preceding the Recital will be a Masterclass in Ware Family Recital Hall from 11:00am – 12:30pm. The Masterclass will be conducted by one of our esteemed Wells School of Music piano professors. Both Masterclass and Winners' Recital are open to the public on Sunday, May 17th.
Repertoire Requirements
- Two pieces from the standard solo literature (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 20th or 21st Century)
- The two pieces must be from different periods (listed above). A single movement from a sonata or a suite is acceptable.
- Beginner level pieces, arrangements of pop songs and piano duets, and simplified arrangements of classical compositions will NOT be acceptable
- Transcriptions composed by known classical composers from the five periods listed above are acceptable.
- Pieces requiring anything to be put inside the piano or on the strings are not acceptable.
- In the 16 -18 age group, an optional third piece may be added. A third piece must follow the guidelines in 1 - 5 above.
| Age | 16-18 | 13-15 | 9-12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Requirement | Minimum 22 Minutes | Maximum 17 minutes | Maximum 12 minutes |
Students are advised that the judges may stop anyone who exceeds the maximum playing time, and may stop any student whose skill level is sufficiently demonstrated before the conclusion of a piece.
Competition time assignments will be sent to all applicants the week of May 13, 2026.
Competition Guidelines
- A $120 non-refundable entry fee is required
- Music must be performed from memory
- 1st Prize Winners from the previous years may compete only in the next older age group.
- Previous entrants may reapply, but not with the same pieces
- No audition recordings required
- Applicants must supply one publisher’s copy of each of their pieces for the judges
- No photocopies allowed for the judges
- No repertoire changes will be permitted after May 7, 2026
- Applicants must be within the given age ranges as of May 16, 2026, and may not be in college
Awards
16-18 Years Old
- 1st Place - $2,000
- 2nd Place - $700
- 3rd Place - $300
- Honorable Mention - $100
13-15 Years Old
- 1st Place - $1,000
- 2nd Place - $350
- 3rd Place - $200
- Honorable Mention - $75
9-12 Years Old
- 1st Place - $500
- 2nd Place - $250
- 3rd Place - $150
- Honorable Mention - $50
*Up to two Honorable Mention Awards in each age group will be given at the discretion of the judges
2025 West Chester University of Pennsylvania Pre-Collegiate, National Piano Competition Award Winners
16-18 Years Old
- 1st Place: Richard Francis Martin
- 2nd Place: Robert Johnston
- 3rd Place: Benjamin Goertzen
- Honorable Mention 1: Helena Kim
- Honorable Mention 2: Vincent Gao
13-15 Years Old
- 1st Place: Daniel Liu
- 2nd Place: Averie Wu
- 3rd Place: Richard Qian
- Honorable Mention 1: Conan Yang
- Honorable Mention 2: Fréderic Phelizon
9-12 Years Old
- 1st Place: Jeremy Bird
- 2nd Place: Brian Wu
- 3rd Place: George Zhang
- Honorable Mention 1: Fengtian Wang
- Honorable Mention 2: Charlotte Li
How to Apply
Register online and pay with a credit card (Registration closes on April 6, 2026 at midnight).
For additional information regarding registration or competition guidelines, please contact Joan Stalford, Competition Operations Manager, at pianocompetition@wcupa.edu | 610-436-2921
For further information about competition repertoire, please email the Director of
the Competition, Dr. Igor Resnianski, Assistant Professor of Piano.
WCU HIGH SCHOOL HONORS PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE
The WCU High School Honors Percussion Ensemble (HSHPE) is a select ensemble comprised of some of the Greater Philadelphia region’s finest high school percussionists. Auditions will be held Sunday, January 12, 2025, and rehearsals take place on Sundays (2pm-3:30pm) from January 19 – April 13, 2025. The HSHPE performs on the WCU Percussion Ensemble’s spring concert on April 15, 2025 and additional performance opportunities (e.g., the Percussive Arts Society Pennsylvania Day of Percussion) will be considered. Dr. Ralph Sorrentino serves as the HSHPE’s artistic director, and Professor Brent Behrenshausen conducts the ensemble.
Application (must be received by January 8, 2025)
For further information, email Ralph Sorrentino.
ALUMNI NEWS
If you graduated from one of the programs in the School of Music at WCU, we would love to hear what you are doing! Use our online form to update your alumni information.
ALUMNI BANDS
For our alumni the camaraderie and standing ovations live on in the Alumni Criterions Jazz Ensemble and the Alumni Marching Band. We are proud to be associated with their strong tradition of outstanding musicianship. We appreciate their ties and support - and look forward to their next performance!
To join, connect with, or attend a performance of the Alumni Marching Band, please visit the WCU Alumni Bands website.
To join, connect with, or learn more about the Alumni Criterions Jazz Ensemble, please visit the WCU Criterions Reunion Facebook group.