Summersong Music Camp is Australia’s premier adult music holiday camp that has been held every January in northern NSW Australia for over 20 years.

It is designed for music makers & music lovers of all levels, from mature teen, upwards. Summersong is the ultimate music holiday experience providing a deep sense of community and celebration, and is living proof of what joy music brings. ​It has captured the hearts of thousands of creative souls and is more treasured and grows more interest each time a camp occurs, since its inception.

"...she kept meeting people who wanted to get a transporting daily fix of singing with Tony and delve into the mysteries of Kristina's brilliant songs"

For over 20 years Summersong Music Camp has offered a unique music retreat for creatives of all levels to learn and play music in a non-competitive, collaborative, supportive environment and in amazing locations.

Welcoming ages 17 up for a stimulating yet relaxing music holiday where lifelong friends are made, celebration and performance are encouraged, and memories are born.

We pride ourselves on having a group of exceptionally talented teachers from a range of genres, eager to share their gifts. Visit the Teachers page to see our amazing faculty. In the evenings we gather for performance cafes, group jams, celebrations, ceremony and surprises. ​

With a mix of levels from total beginners to touring musicians, it creates a unique supportive environment. It’s not what you can do that counts; it’s how much you can stretch and take risks that seems to benefit all who attend.

It all started like this...

 Summersong Music Camp was created in 1989 by Alison Pearl and inspired by the first 2 faculty members, Tony Backhouse and Kristina Olsen. As a publicist, Alison was organising workshops and concerts for these outstanding performers, composers, musicians, musicians, teachers and she kept meeting people who wanted to delve into the mysteries of Kristina's brilliant songs or get a transporting daily fix of singing with Tony. Alison spent her happiest childhood times at American summer camps, so it was no big leap to vision a music camp based on these great teachers.

​In February 2020, Alison felt it was time to hand over the camp to Terri Rowe, who had been her promotional assistant, photographer, videographer, web developer, looked after social media, registrations, was onsite assistant, co-worker and wing-woman for her for around 15 years. This was a natural transition, however no-one had expected what 2020 was about to deliver in the following months. Terri is now bringing Summersong back in 2023 where it may not be exactly the same as before disasters hit. It it has certainly been the most difficult years for any event coordinator, as we all resurface from some of the worlds most impacting occurrences, however this camp will always carry a certain magic in it no matter what....