String Fling

String Fling is a summer chamber music/orchestra experience for pre-college string students.

Marking its 24th year, String Fling 2026 returns July 14-17 for a fast-paced exploration into music making. Students ages 13-18 in private lessons are invited to study this summer on the Missouri State University Springfield campus.

Faculty

Students will be coached by full-time faculty of Missouri State University's Department of Music, including Dr. David Hays (violin), Dr. Daniel Ketter (cello), Dr. Amy Muchnick (viola), Orchestra Director Dr. Yi-Ping Chen, and other guest faculty. Convocations, master classes, presentations and and other events combine to make String Fling an unforgettable experience.

Commuting Participants

Campers choosing the commute option must arrive on campus in the morning and be picked up by their legal guardian in the evening at the end of daily activities. Commuter campers are provided lunch and dinner Wednesday through Friday.

Overnight Campers

Campers choosing the residential option live on campus in a University residence hall for the duration of the program; they are served three meals a day at one of the residential dining halls. A staff of counselors supervise residential life. All camp students are supervised at all times.

Camp Details

String Fling campers are placed into small ensembles, according to their respective abilities, to work with coaches and perform in master classes, and also comprise a string orchestra. Their work culminates in a performance at the conclusion of camp.

Daily Schedule

July 14-17, 2026

String Fling runs Tuesday, July 14, thru Friday, July 17, 2026. More detailed schedule information will be mailed to campers with sheet music.

(Tuesday) July 14:

• Afternoon arrival to Missouri State campus
• Introductions and initial rehearsals

(Wednesday-Friday) July 15-17:

• 8:30 a.m. — Student drop-off, breakfast, and personal practice time
• 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. — Rehearsals / Lunch / Assembly / Masterclass
• 5-8 p.m. — Dinner / Evening Activities / Orchestra
• 8 p.m. — Student pickup
• Friday:
  • 6 p.m. — Concert

To apply:

Students interested in attending should apply during the discounted early bird application period that ends May 8, 2026. The final application deadline is June 12, 2026.

1. Complete the online application and fee.
2. Prepare and publish an audition video:
   • Keep video brief, no longer than 3 minutes.
   • No accompanist is required.
   • Publish audition video as an unlisted video on your YouTube or Vimeo channel.
3. Email a link to your audition video to StringFling@MissouriState.edu. Please include your full name as it was submitted on the application.

Apply to String Fling

Tuition and Fees

Tuition includes a $35 non-refundable application fee. Applicants not accepted for any reason will have all fees refunded except for the $35 application fee.

Residential

• $510. Apply by May 8 for an early-bird discount of $100.

Commuter

• $420. Apply by May 8 for an early-bird discount of $100.

Don't miss out!

Don't miss our early bird discount application period that ends May 8, 2026! The final deadline for completed application is June 12, 2026.

Contact us

Contact the Missouri State Department of Music at 417-836-6958 or email StringFling@MissouriState.edu for more information.