Over 85 Years of Family Tradition
The New England Music Camp was founded by Dr. Paul E. Wiggin and his wife Nina in 1937 as a non-profit educational institution dedicated to the cultivation and refinement of musical skills in young people. Central to this philosophy is the support and development of the physical, emotional, and social well-being of young musicians. For over 80 years, we have proudly supported a rich family environment with an emphasis on teaching the “whole person”.
The tradition of family extends to the generations of alumni who return each summer and send their children and grandchildren to experience magical summers growing up on Lake Messalonskee.
Four Generations of Wiggin Family Leadership
NEMC has enjoyed the leadership of three generations of the Wiggin family. In 1970 Davis Wiggin and his wife Jeanette took over camper operations and in 2010, the third generation of the Wiggin family, Davis and Jeanette’s son John and his wife Kim, took on the roles of co-directors of the camp. Today, John is Executive Director of Snow Pond Center for the Arts, while Kim and their son Matthew, the fourth generation, are Co-Directors of the camp.
NEMC is fortunate to have a dedicated administrative staff who work year round. We also benefit from an active Board of Advisors and Board or Directors who provide strong support for the NEMC program, infrastructure and the camper experience.
Kaitlin Hopkins is an award-winning actress, director, producer, and educator and has
performed on and off Broadway, on national and international tours, and in film and
television for more than 30 years. In 2009, she created the BFA musical theatre program at
Texas State University. Hopkins is the proud creator and CEO of Fontus Dry Mouth
Lozenges. In addition, she is the Co-Founder of Living Mental Wellness, a holistic,
evidence-based company that offers educational programs to enhance mental wellness for
performing artists through an integrated scientific life skills model.
Born in Bogota, Colombia, Dr. Diana Sánchez, a faculty member of the Peabody Preparatory of Johns Hopkins University, has developed an international career as a violinist. She has performed as a soloist with orchestras including the New Horizons Symphony in New Mexico (2017) and the Ibague Symphony Orchestra in Colombia (2019). She has toured internationally with the Colombian Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Mexico State University Philharmonic Orchestra, the National University of Colombia Symphony Orchestra, and the Bogotá Symphony Orchestra, among others.
Music Program
Instrumentalists and vocalists at New England Music Camp spend their mornings in four one-hour periods of music taught by a prestigious faculty of professional performers and educators from universities, colleges, and highly recognized public and private school music programs. A 4:1 faculty to student ratio provides an environment rich in sharing and learning. Students and their teachers at home often remark that “one summer of music at NEMC is like a year at home”!
Campers at New England Music Camp design their own schedules, choosing from a wide range of classes. The weekly schedule includes two one half-hour private lessons, with the option to add additional lesson time, and participation in one or more of the major performing groups. Public performances take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 3pm at our outdoor amphitheater, the Bowl-in-the-Pines.
NEMC Employment
Snow Pond Center for the Arts is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Snow Pond Center for the Arts makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.
Faculty
Faculty members at New England Music Camp are carefully chosen for both their achievements as professional performers and their recognition for excellence in teaching. We live in a close knit community where we dine family style and many of our faculty enjoy joining the campers on the recreation fields.
Click on the appropriate department below to read faculty bios.
Music Lessons