The URI Summer Music Academy (URI SMA) began in 2015 as a one-week summer camp for students in grades 7–12 who played band instruments. In its early years, the camp’s instrumentation naturally led to a focus on chamber music, and from 2015 to 2019, the program operated as the URI Summer Music Academy Chamber Music Intensive. Students prepared solo and ensemble works with piano accompaniment and performed in chamber concerts and a culminating solo recital.
From 2020 to 2022, the camp was paused due to COVID-19 restrictions. In 2023, URI SMA returned stronger than ever with a renewed focus on large ensemble experiences, now known as URI SMA Band Camp. While students now participate in full ensemble rehearsals, chamber music remains a vital component of the experience. Each student works in a small ensemble coached by faculty, culminating in a Chamber Ensembles Concert. The camp concludes with a celebratory performance by the URI SMA Wind Ensemble.
Also in 2023, URI SMA began an exciting collaboration with the Kingston Chamber Music Festival (KCMF)—a world-class summer concert series hosted on the URI campus that features some of the most acclaimed musicians in the world. This partnership continued in 2024 with another impactful workshop, this time led by renowned flutist Jennifer Grim and KCMF Artistic Director Natalie Zhu.
Looking ahead, URI SMA will continue to grow its collaboration with KCMF and expand its musical offerings. Students can look forward to a multi-week overnight music camp with opportunities to perform in wind ensemble, symphony orchestra, percussion ensemble, jazz combos, and chamber ensembles.
As we look to the future with our home at the brand-new URI Fine Arts Center, our mission remains clear: to provide a welcoming, nurturing, and artistically rigorous environment where young musicians can thrive. Most importantly, SMA continues to prioritize the social and emotional well-being of our students, fostering lasting friendships and lifelong memories right here in beautiful Kingston, Rhode Island.