LISTEN. LEARN. PLAY.

January 8 - 11, 2026

Winter Village Music Camp is a fun and inspiring winter weekend of LISTENING, LEARNING & PLAYING in a friendly and inclusive setting.

Winter Village’s faculty concerts are a highlight of the camp. Open to the public and always a great time! Join us in downtown Ithaca on Thursday night for the Camp’s Opening Concert The popular Saturday Night All-Faculty Concert features all camp faculty in a series of short performances and spontaneous collaborations. On Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm, we say goodbye to yet another year of Winter Village at the Closing Concert.

LEARN

Winter Village Music Camp offers more than 100 workshops on fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, bass, ukulele, singing and songwriting taught by our 30 plus person faculty. Workshops explore a variety of styles including Bluegrass, Old Time, Irish, New England, Cajun, Scandinavian, Swing, Folk, Americana and more. Singing and songwriting workshops are offered along with sessions on how to practice more effectively and enjoyably. We spend a considerable amount of time practicing, playing and performing and our faculty want to share some practices for staying healthy and weaving your musical practice into your daily self-care activities.  

PLAY

For many, the most fun and important part of the camp is playing with others. So let’s have some fun and play together. There will be many opportunities for jamming in the styles you enjoy, and at a level and speed where you feel comfortable playing with others.

LISTEN

What participants are saying...

  • I always look forward to this excellent weekend in midwinter. Plush accommodations, good food, the greatest music and teachers - and the price is very competitive with my favorite North Carolina weeks.

    – James

  • Congratulations on a tremendous weekend! Not only was it a relaxing yet stimulating and fun weekend, but my fiddling improved dramatically! I loved having several fiddle teachers- different perspectives and advice. It was an honor to have a Master's Class with Alex H.

    – Rose

  • Many thanks for a wonderful, and thoughtfully organized, event! The accommodations were fantastic, but it was the music and fun that really stand out. What a wonderful group of teachers and campers.

    – Paula

  • Winter Village is an excellent place to learn and grow and fosters friendships and networking among musicians. A unique camp with a comfortable mix. Each year I take away some great concepts, groundwork, and inspiration.

    – Reyna

  • The Winter Village Camp was an incredibly inspiring and invaluable musical experience. I thought I had arrived at the camp prepared to learn, but I never anticipated how much I'd be learning. Added bonus; two of the camp instructors are now two of my favorite musicians.

    – Jihan

  • I wanted to let you know what a wonderful experience I had at Winter Village Music Camp. I took four sessions with Bruce Molsky, two with Liz Knowles, and two mandolin workshops, all of which were extremely informative and helpful to me as I work to expand my own musical chops.

    – Kit

2025 Camp Workshops

FIDDLE

Old Time: Rachel Eddy, Judy Hyman, Emily Miller, Jesse Milnes & Oona Grady

Bluegrass: Jesse Milnes, Austin Scelzo, Tim Ball & Rick Manning

Irish: Louise Bichan, Natalie Padilla, Tim Ball & Oona Grady

Swing: Kevin Wimmer, Quinn Bachand & Austin Scelzo

Cajun: Kevin Wimmer

Scandinavian: Lauri Hart

BANJO

Old Time: Rachel Eddy, Richie Stearns, Natalie Padilla & Benny Bleu

Bluegrass: Eli Gilbert & Paul Fairbanks

GUITAR

Old Time: Rachel Eddy, Emily Miller & Jesse Milnes

Bluegrass: Jesse Milnes & George Clements 

Finger Style: Jesse Milnes & Tenzin Chopak

Irish/DADGAD: Quinn Bachand, Tim Ball & James Gascoyne

Swing: Quinn Bachand & Dave Davies

BASS

Charles Clements & Joey Arcuri

MANDOLIN

Bluegrass & Old Time: Ethan Setiawan, Perry Cleaveland, Austin Scelzo & Rick Manning

Swing: Ethan Setiawan

Octave Mandolin: Ethan Setiawan

UKE

Old Time: Jeff Claus

Swing: Robbert VanRennesse 

SINGING

Lead Singing/Vocal Technique:
Emily Miller, Steve Stull & Sharon Costianes

Harmony Singing:
Clements Brothers, Emily Miller & Jesse Milnes, Dave Davies, Naomi Sommers & Rick Manning

Vocal Improvisation:
Dave Davies

SONGWRITING

Clements Brothers, Maria Gillard, Tenzin Chopak & Naomi Sommers

TUNE COMPOSITION

Natalie Padilla & Louise Bichan

PRACTICE & LEARNING TECHNIQUES

Natalie Padilla, Louise Bichan, Austin Scelzo & Paul Fairbanks

OTHER INTERESTING SESSIONS

Social Media for Musicians: Bethany Parisi

Getting Gigs & Promoting Your Music: Austin Scelzo.

Recording & Sharing Your Music:
Will Russell, Tim Ball & Benny Bleu

Music & Holistic Health: Sharon Costianes, George & Charles Clements,

Understanding & Caring for Your Violin:
Bill Hurley

Accommodations & Event Locations

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC & ARTS (CSMA)

Workshops and camp concerts will be held next door to the Canopy at the Community School of Music & Arts (CSMA).  There are also practice rooms available on a first come-first serve basis.

If you are a CSMA member, take $50 off of your weekend registration price by using promo code WVMC-CSMA-50 when registering.

CANOPY HOTEL
DOWNTOWN/ITHACA

After 14 years at La Tourelle, Winter Village will be moving to downtown Ithaca, with accommodations at the Canopy - Downtown Ithaca, and food and beverages at the Canopy’s Strand Cafe. The Canopy is adjacent to the Ithaca Commons and Restaurant Row.

WINTER VILLAGE ROOM RATES:

$129 per night for a Double Queen
$169 per night for a Deluxe King

You can receive a $25 discount on your camp registration fee by using promo code WVMC-Canopy-25 when registering for the camp.

Rooms are available on quiet floors or on ‘music floors’ where late night jamming is allowed and encouraged! You can specify your preference when you arrive and check in.

BIKE BAR & SOUTH HILL CIDER

The Bike Bar, a bicycle-themed neighborhood bar, is located next door to the Canopy and CSMA. It is a popular and friendly hangout that hosts oldtime and traditional music throughout the year. For Winter Village weekend, South Hill Cider and the Bike Bar are sponsoring free happy hour music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

THURSDAY, 1/9, 5-7 PM: Naomi Sommers, Rick Manning & Dave Davies with Paris Texas & Friends.

FRIDAY, 1/10, 5-7 PM: Steve Selin, Richie Stearns & Kevin Wimmer.

SATURDAY, 1/11, 5 - 7PM; The Notorious Stringbusters.

Camp Registration

Early Bird
Rate!

Early Weekend Registration - Adults
$265.00 ($284.62 with Eventbrite fee)

Early Weekend Registration - Students & Seniors
$235.00 ($252.61 with Eventbrite fee)

Early weekend registration pricing will be available through November 3rd. If you are planning on attending, NOW is the best and most affordable time to register. On November 4th the weekend registration will increase and one and two day registration options will be added. Weekend registration includes access to all workshops, jamming, special camp room rates, and a ticket to the Saturday night faculty concert. The weekend registration ticket does not include tickets for the Opening Concert (Thursday evening), the Closing Concert (Sunday evening), nor food or lodging at Canopy. 

Check out these special weekend discounts available during the early registration period, ending November 3rd.

Have you attended Winter Village Music Camp in the past? Take $25 off of your weekend registration price by using promo code WVMC-ALUM-25 when registering. Offer good only during early registration period ending on November 3rd. Bring proof of previous camp attendance to the registration desk when you arrive on Thursday or Friday.

Spending the weekend at Canopy by Hilton? Take $25 off of your weekend registration price by using promo code WVMC-Canopy-25 when registering. Offer good only during early registration period ending on November 3rd. Bring proof of your Hotel purchase.

Are you a past camp attendee who is staying at Canopy at 2025 Camp? Take $40 off of your weekend registration price by using promo code WVMC-CanAlum-40 when registering. Offer good only during early registration period ending on November 3rd.

Are you a CSMA Member? Take $50 off of your weekend registration price by using promo code WVMC-CSMA-50 when registering. Offer good only during early registration period ending on November 3rd.

Are you a member of the Finger Lakes Fiddle Orchestra? Take $50 off of your weekend registration price by using promo code WVMC-FLFO-50 when registering. Offer good only during early registration period ending on November 3rd.

Don't Like On-line Registration?

You can pay by check to Winter Village Music.

Mail to:

Winter Village Music
1325 Mecklenburg Road
Ithaca, NY 14850