Youth music programs Filling Young Lives With Music

We love music at St. Norbert College – teaching it, playing it, listening to it and, especially, cultivating that same love in young people. Our music department fosters music development and enthusiastically provides opportunities for middle school and high school students throughout northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to learn and grow musically. 

Summer Band Camp
Summer Band Camp gives students who have completed Grades 5 through 9 the chance to hone their skills in a week long collaboration with St. Norbert College music faculty. Students are grouped by grade level (or, with permission, ability), and learn under the direction of St. Norbert College music professors.

Students of all ability levels are invited to join this fun and educational music-enrichment program. This camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily and is for students that will be in grades 6-10th for the 2026-27 school year. The concert is set for June 19th.

Please check back April 2026 for the registration link.

Middle Level Honors Band Festival
Each fall, we invite the most accomplished middle school band students in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula to join us for a day of rehearsal, capped by a performance in St. Norbert’s Walter Theatre. Students in Grades 7 through 9 may be recommended by their music teachers to participate in this one-day music festival.

Winter BandFest
Winter BandFest is a weekend-long event for students in Grades 9 through 12. Filled with rehearsals, sectionals and clinics with St. Norbert music faculty, and special performances, the festival culminates with our Sunday afternoon grand finale concert. Students will also have the opportunity to stay in residence halls with St. Norbert music students and experience a little taste of campus life! 

Violin Day

Oct. 4, 2025

Open to high school students in grades 9-12

Violin Day is a unique event offering high school students the opportunity to perform on the beautiful campus of St. Norbert College. The day will consist of a technique session, masterclasses and end with a concert. You will also get to experience lunch at our Ruth’s Marketplace.

Contact Taylor Giorgio for more information.

Registration link will be available Sept. 1 for this event.

Fall Honors Band

Nov. 8, 2025

Invite only — Open to students in grades 7-9

The Fall Honors Band Festival is for students from all across northeast Wisconsin and northern Michigan. This is an opportunity for students to come together on the SNC campus for a day of band rehearsals, culminating in a concert to end the afternoon.

Contact Phil Klickman for more information.

Winter BandFest

Feb. 14, 2026

Invite only - Open to high school students in grades 9-12

Join us on campus for a day filled with rehearsals, sectional clinics and special performances with SNC faculty. Approximately 70 students will be selected to participate. The festival will conclude with a grand finale concert.

Choral Festival

Feb. 27, 2026

Open to high school students in grades 9-12

The Choral Festival is for area high school singers. The day-long event is fast-paced and filled with music! All participating students will have the opportunity to sing together as a mixed SATB Festival Choir. Students will get to work alongside SNC vocal faculty and SNC choir students. Rehearsals will lead up to a late afternoon concert.

Contact Sarah Parks for more information.

Composition Day

April 11, 2026

Open to high school students in grades 9-12

Hear your music performed by SNC ensembles and faculty performers at SNC Composition Day! The event is open to high school students selected as Composition Fellows through the SNC Composition Competition. Selected works will be performed and the winner of the competition will receive a monetary award. Activities also include educational sessions and lunch.

Contact John Hennecken for more information.

Application link will be available December 2025.

Youth Orchestra
The Youth Orchestra Program at St. Norbert College, formerly the Green Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra, is open to students from Grade 4 to age 21. The Youth Orchestra Program features three orchestras: String Orchestra, Philharmonia and Youth Symphony.

The Youth Orchestra Program at St. Norbert College, formerly the Green Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra, is open to students from Grade 4 to age 21. The Youth Orchestra Program features three orchestras: String Orchestra, Philharmonia and Youth Symphony.

Youth Orchestra Program of St. Norbert College

The Youth Orchestra Program at St. Norbert College, formerly the Green Bay Symphony Youth Orchestra, is open to students from grade 4 to age 21. The Youth Orchestra Program features three orchestras:

  • In the String Orchestra, performers learn orchestral fundamentals (proper bowing, following a conductor, basic technique). Open to students in grades 4 through 8 who study violin, viola, cello and bass. Students should be able to play a class C solo and be able to read music at a grade 1.5 level.
  • The Philharmonia provides a full orchestra experience for students in grades 8 through 12. It includes strings, winds, brass and percussion.
  • The Youth Symphony is an advanced experience that engages students from grade 10 through age 22 in the study of classical orchestra repertoire at a very high level.
Rehearsals

We rehearse on Sundays from mid-September through mid-November, and again from mid-January through mid-March. Rehearsals are held in the Abbot Pennings Hall of Fine Arts on the St. Norbert campus. View rehearsal times.

Auditions

Auditions are generally held in the spring. However, we are always looking for talented musicians to join us. If you would like to schedule an audition, please contact Youth Orchestra manager Audrey Nowak at 920-403-1354 or audrey.nowak@snc.edu.

Performances

The Youth Orchestra Program at St. Norbert College performs at the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts.

Questions?

For more information about the program, visit the Youth Orchestra Program Weebly website or contact Audrey Nowak at 920-403-1354 or audrey.nowak@snc.edu.

For opportunities to partner with or support the Youth Orchestra Program, please contact Kent Paulsen at 920-403-3087 or kent.paulsen@snc.edu 

For more information, please contact the St. Norbert College music department at 920-403-3112.