2027 International Orchestra
The Blue Lake International Youth Symphony Orchestra is comprised of talented and inspired young musicians and performs a full range of traditional and contemporary orchestral works. In 2027, the orchestra will perform selections to include: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2, Aaron Coplad’s Lincoln Portrait, Leonard Bernstein’s selections from West Side Story, as well as other selections by Berlioz, Wagner, Dukas, and more.
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Each of the groups in the Blue Lake International Exchange Program will visit six host communities in 2–3 European countries with several group excursions throughout the trip. Tentative countries for the 2027 IYSO include France and Germany, but the tour may expand depending on invitations. Final tour schedules will not be available until the late spring
Dates
Sunday, November 8, 2026 – Rehearsal Day (8:00am – 4:00pm)
Sunday, April 18, 2027 – Rehearsal Day (8:00am – 4:00pm)
Friday, May 14 – Sunday, May 16, 2027 – Intensive Rehearsal Weekend (arrive 7pm)
Friday, June 11 – Friday, June 18, 2027 – Intensive Rehearsal Week
(arrive 7pm)
Friday, June 18, 2027 – Depart from Blue Lake for Europe!
(Ensemble departs from either Chicago or Detroit to Paris CDG)
Friday, July 9, 2027 – Return flight to U.S.
(Ensemble returns to same port of departure. Parents meet students at airport)
Saturday, July 10, 2027 – Homecoming Celebration Day at Blue Lake!
(1pm – 9pm) (Parents bring students to Blue Lake)
Tuition
Tuition includes supervision and instruction, room and board on camp prior to departure, airfare, coach travel in Europe, and several excursions en route. The cost of 2027 tuition is $7,290, with a minimum $750 deposit due at time of enrollment. Scholarships are available for tour alumni and those who have attended Blue Lake as a camper in the 2026 season. Financial need and instrumentation scholarships may also be available in some circumstances.
Director
Brad Pfeil
Conductor and Tour Director
Conductor and Tour Director Brad Pfeil received a Bachelor of Music Education and Performance degree from the University of Michigan and Master of Music Education degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He is currently an orchestra director at Neuqua Valley High School, a Grammy Award winning school in Naperville, IL. Brad taught previously in Las Vegas, Nevada where he performed actively as a double bassist in addition to teaching at Las Vegas High School, Fremont Middle School and Keller Middle School. Brad was principal double bass of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, played in Phantom, and was conductor of the Henderson Civic Symphony. He has also performed with numerous orchestras and artists including the Michigan Opera Theater, Ann Arbor Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Flint Symphony, Peoria Symphony, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli and Styx. Brad currently performs as Principal Bass with the Heartland Festival Orchestra in Washington, Il. He is past president of the Nevada and Illinois chapters of the American String Teachers Association and is currently Orchestra Division President for the Illinois Music Educators. Brad has worked as a conductor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp since 2011. This will be his sixth year conducting the Blue Lake International Youth Symphony Orchestra. When not making music, Brad enjoys backpacking, cycling and reading.
