Message from the Executive Director

Greetings, friends…I hope this finds you well and thriving.

SummerSongs was founded and nurtured by Penny Nichols in 1999 when it started as one weekend at the Ashokan Field Campus in upstate New York. At its peak, SummerSongs became 4 camps – two programs on each coast. For our 20th Anniversary Camp in 2018, we returned to our “roots” with one event ~ now a week-long gathering ~ and we go forth into our next decade the same way.  Our more recent home ~ the Stony Point Center (NY) ~ features great facilities, farm-to-table food, a fair-trade gift shop, and a staff of top-notch instructors who are not only great artists but fabulous, generous teachers who are wonderful to hang out with.  

Penny asked me to take over as Executive Director of SummerSongs in 2017 and my response was an emphatic “yes” so that she could be assured that her vision and realization was in good hands. Sloan Wainwright and I have been at her side since the very first gathering all those years ago and we embrace and carry forward her mission for this community with profound gratitude.

If you’re new to SummerSongs, we welcome you with open arms and hearts to a family of beautiful souls and musicians. We offer all-levels classes and it’s our goal to co-create (with you) an environment where you feel, supported, respected, accepted, stimulated, and inspired. Whether you’re coming to write, become a more confident singer, musician, performer, or want to simply feel more creative, join our annual “jumpstart of joy”. We have an absolute blast together, some call it life-changing (including me!), and many return every single year.

We’ll keep the table set for you.

David Roth ~ www.davidrothmusic.com