| Application deadline | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Cost | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Free attendance; check separate expenses; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Financial aid | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Financial aid requested in the application: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Students who request aid are contacted after acceptance.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Expenses and aid conditions | Last year's cycle (2026): SPROG 2026 ticket: $0. Participants could select the USD 0 option with the published SPROG26 code.; Optional contribution: $0–$200. Voluntary contribution toward Sierra Club's costs.; Four nights of dorm lodging and bedding: $0. Provided by the program.; Program meals: $0. All meals were provided.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Application fee (non-refundable): $30. A fee waiver can be requested for financial circumstances.; Financial aid requested in the application: Amount: Unconfirmed — check official site. Students who request aid are contacted after acceptance.; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Stipend or pay | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Eligibility | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Additional eligibility | Ages 15–25; Requirement: Be age 15–25 by August 5, 2026; Requirement: Attend the full five-day residential session; Requirement: Provide emergency, medical, dietary, accessibility, travel, and room information; Requirement: Sign the participant waiver; Requirement: Obtain a parent signature if under 18; Exclusion: Applicants younger than 15 or older than 25 for the 2026 session | Ages 13–17 | Ages 15–20; Requirement: Be age 15 or older when the program begins; Requirement: Be seriously considering music as a career; Requirement: Play violin, viola, cello, string bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba or harp (local percussionists and pianists may apply for partial, non-housed participation); Requirement: International students are eligible; visas are the applicant's responsibility |
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| Session dates or duration | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts August 5, 2026; Ends August 9, 2026; 0.7 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site | Unconfirmed — check official site | Last year's cycle (2026): Starts June 7, 2026; Ends June 29, 2026; 3 weeks; 2027: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Format | In person | In person | In person |
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| Housing and supervision | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Non-residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site | Residential. Supervision and housing details: Unconfirmed — check official site |
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| Location | Little Switzerland, North Carolina | Apple Valley, MN | Washington, DC |
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| Selection and application | Selection: Registration-based 2026 session; capacity and selection method were not stated | Selection: The zoo closes applications when the summer cohort is filled, but it does not publish applicant counts, cohort size, interview process or selection rate. | Selection: Competitive recorded audition with musical proficiency as the primary standard; essays and one recommendation inform the review, and instrument balance affects selection. No current acceptance rate is published. Application materials: Recorded video audition with orchestral excerpts; Two essay questions (written or video responses); One recommendation from a music teacher or conductor |
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| Official sources | Source 1 · checked 2026-08-20Source 2 · checked 2026-08-20Source 3 · checked 2026-08-20 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24 | Source 1 · checked 2026-10-24Source 2 · checked 2026-08-22 |
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