LSM is for students who have completed grades 8-12. Students entering 8th grade are considered on a case-by-case basis.

The LSM experience offers a variety of offerings and a lot of flexibility. Students can focus in one area, or do a lot of different things! Every student’s schedule will vary slightly based on their instruments, ensembles and elective choices. That said, here is what a typical day in the life of an LSM student looks like:

• Breakfast

• 8:30 AM Morning Prayer and Announcements

• 9:00 AM Musicianship Class or Chamber Music

• 10:00 AM Large Ensemble rehearsal

• 11:20 AM Elective

• Lunch

• 1:00 PM Personal practice time

• 2:00 PM Private lesson

• 3:30 PM Sectionals or Studio Class

• 4:15 PM Recreation time

• Dinner

• 7:30 PM Recital

• 8:45 PM Evening Prayer

• 10:30 PM Lights out

Example of Full Schedule

Students at LSM are young people who want to devote four (or two) weeks to making music in a supportive and affirming community. Our students come from many different backgrounds and experiences.

In 2025…

Students from 40 states and two countries were represented. Students come from all different communities – some live in suburbs, small towns, large cities, while others live in rural areas. Approximately one-third of our student body area students of color. About two-thirds of our students came from Lutheran backgrounds (ELCA, LCMS, etc.), while the rest came from other Christian denominations and religions, or had no religious background at all. Students were all ages – 8th grade all the way to high school graduates. Students also came from all economic backgrounds, with most of our students receiving some form of financial assistance to attend LSM. Musically, some of our students were beginners, while others were conservatory-bound. Some students simply love music as a hobby, while others intend to pursue a career in church music, music education or performance.

We celebrate diversity in our community and want LSM to be a place of belonging for all.

The Full Session is the main LSM experience, and the vast majority of students attend for all four weeks. The Full Session is highly recommended, as it allows students to experience the fullness of everything LSM has to offer, including the immersive community and growth experience that is at the heart of LSM. 

Limited spots are available each year for the two-week Half Session, which offers students a chance to sample the LSM experience with a shorter time commitment. This can be a good option for students in case of conflicts. (Two weeks of LSM is better than no weeks of LSM!) A student can only attend the Half Session a maximum of two times, so that enrollment for the Half Session is also prioritized for new students.

Half Session participants should be aware of these limitations in comparison to the Full Session:

• Financial Aid Options: LSM financial support options – including our LSM Match Grant and Scholarships – are reserved/prioritized for Full Session students.

• Musical Opportunities: Several elective classes and ensembles (including Jazz Ensemble, Musical Theatre, Composition, Handbells, Bach Choir) are only open to Full Session students, as they culminate in performances during Festival Week. Other musical opportunities are limited to Full Session students as well, including our Student Concerto and Organ Recital. Additionally, Full Session students receive priority for placement in ensembles and secondary private lessons. Half Session students receive an abbreviated performance experience with solo, chamber music, and large ensembles, whereas Full Session students take part in Festival Week, the celebratory final week of performances.

• Social Time: Half Session students miss out on our off-campus trip and other popular social events that happen later in the month. More importantly, fast friendships are formed in two weeks, and it can be hard for students to say goodbye to their friends.

• Community Experience: Until you’ve experienced it for yourself, it can be hard to put the LSM experience into words. In attending LSM for four weeks, you become part of a community that makes music together, eats together, worships together, laughs together. Every person, from our 8th grade students to our professional adult musicians is fully welcomed and invested in this time together, and the growth and belonging that students experience can be life-changing. Our students who attend the Half Session often feel they are leaving prematurely, after having just gotten started!

STANDARD RATES:

Full Session (four weeks): $2,945

Half Session (two weeks): $2,145

These costs include all activities, instruction, housing and meals.

Note: Applying during Priority Enrollment offers a $50 discount. Applying during Late Enrollment incurs a $50 late fee. See more information on the Apply page.

Truthfully, the “real” cost of LSM is over $7,000 per student, but family costs are heavily subsidized thanks to support from hundreds of donors. Learn more on the Tuition and Financial Support page.

YES! We are committed to working with each family to remove financial barriers to attendance. Our most popular option is the LSM Match Grant, which supports students in fundraising, and matches every dollar raised at 50%, up to a $500 contribution from LSM. Separate scholarships are also available. Learn more on the Tuition and Financial Support page.

The Lutheran church’s rich musical heritage has had a profound influence on much of western classical music, and we share these traditions with joy at LSM!

In addition to advanced musical instruction and secular musical experiences, students will see and experience sacred music in worship services, including a Bach Cantata, liturgy, and classic and modern hymns from Lutheran hymnals (LBW, ELW, LSB, etc.) as well as other traditions. Service music is shared on all instruments – organ, strings, brass, winds, piano, bells, guitar, percussion – with the primary instrument being congregational song.

We welcome students of all faiths and denominational backgrounds, and invite students to participate to their level of comfort.

Students live in a dormitory on the St. Olaf campus. Students are assigned to “counseling groups” and live under the supervision of a caring Residence Counselor.

LSM 2026 takes place on the campus of St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, which is located 45 minutes south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, and just over 30 minutes from MSP airport.

Travel information for both car and air arrivals to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport will be posted soon.

The final application deadline for students is May 1. However, it’s possible that capacity may fill in advance, and there are deadlines through the year with tuition rate increases. Students and families are encouraged to enroll early to save their spot. See more here: Enrollment and Tuition Schedule.

Yes! The dining services at St. Olaf College accommodate many kinds of dietary restrictions (Gluten Free, Vegan, etc.), and special arrangements can be made to accommodate specific food allergies or concerns.

We are accessible. Lutheran Summer Music and all our programs provide a welcoming home for students with disabilities. All of our activities take place in facilities that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and staff and faculty are ready to create a successful learning environment for all participants.

Contact us to learn more about ADA Accessibility