12 Music Internships for High School Students in New York City (NYC)
If you are a high school student in New York City looking for a way to explore the music industry and/or gain practical music experience, an internship is a great starting point!
Music internships can offer opportunities to work with professional musicians, performers, teachers, or producers and refine your skills in performing, making, or producing music. As an intern, you will gain exposure to career paths in the music industry along with other insights to make an informed decision regarding pursuing this field.
You will also have the opportunity to network with peers and professionals, which can benefit your own music journey in the future.
In this blog, we have listed 12 music internships for high school students in NYC. While not every program on this list is a traditional internship, all of them offer real-world experience in various aspects of music, as well as networking opportunities.
1. Technical Theater Production Internship @ Apollo Theater Academy
Location: Apollo Theater Academy, New York, NY
Dates: July 7 – August 15
Application deadline: April 7
Eligibility: 11th graders residing in one of NYC’s five boroughs
Cost/Stipend: $16.50/hour
This six-week internship offers high school students opportunities to explore technical theater production. Over six weeks, you will work with professional members of The Apollo’s production crew, gaining firsthand experience in sound, tech, video production, or set design. The tasks vary based on the track you choose. You can indicate your preference for an audio intern to learn how to manage sound equipment, from mics and speakers to mixing boards, and play a role in managing live sound design and production. This experience can help you learn firsthand how venues set up musical shows and theatre performances.
2. NYO-USA Apprenticeships Applications
Location: Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, Purchase, NY
Dates: July 5 – August 8
Application deadline: December 3
Eligibility: High school students who are 16–19 years old and U.S. citizens/permanent residents
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; no stipend. Need-based financial aid is available to cover travel costs.
NYO-USA Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience in orchestra operations through two tracks: Orchestra Library or Orchestra Management. As a Library apprentice, you will assist the principal librarian with score preparation and gain insight into music librarianship. This position offers opportunities to research music editions and prepare parts to maintain orchestra sync. Whereas, as a management apprentice, you will help coordinate logistics, seating, rehearsals, and backstage needs. Both roles offer insights into professional orchestral administration.
3. Sound Thinking NYC Summer Intensive
Location: CUNY Creative Arts Team, New York, NY
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: May 25
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12
Cost/Stipend: Free to attend; no stipend provided
The Sound Thinking NYC is a four-week program that introduces high school students to careers in the music industry, with a focus on music production, leadership, and college readiness. Here, you get to explore areas like artist management, publishing, marketing, and entertainment law, while also developing music production and engineering skills and completing a final project. As a participant, you will have access to College Now courses for college credit. You will also get to apply for mentorship and internship opportunities once the program ends. Opportunities to network with musicians and producers are also part of the experience.
4. NYU Tisch Summer High School Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music
Location: Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts., New York, NY
Dates: July 11 – August 8
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.0
Cost/Stipend: Tuition: $11,496 (6 credits); additional fees for housing, meals, lab, tickets, + a $75 application fee
Open to just 36 students each year, this four-week NYU program offers an introduction to business and the production of music. You will explore fields like music recording, production, and distribution, alongside entrepreneurship and industry trends in music. You will enroll in courses such as music production (using Pro Tools and Logic Pro), music business, and arts and culture in NYC. You will also work in music studios and labs while working on a final project. The program is not an internship, but it offers internship-like hands-on technical experience and insights into the operations of music companies.
5. NYC Guitar School’s Summer Rock Camp Internship
Location: NYC Guitar School, New York, NY
Dates: Two-week sessions available throughout the summer (six total slots)
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Returning Summer Rock Camp participants who are entering their senior year of high school in the fall
Cost/Stipend: $600 tuition scholarship that can be applied to another camp session or NYCGS programs/lessons
The NYC Guitar School offers two-week internships to students interested in getting some experience supporting the daily operations of music camps. As an intern, you will assist with orientation, help manage backstage logistics, and mentor younger students participating in the Summer Rock Camp. This experience can help you build leadership skills in a music-based learning environment. You will also get insights into the behind-the-scenes of stage music performances.
6. GRAMMY Camp
Location: Engine Room Audio, New York, NY
Dates: July 27 – August 2
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 living in the U.S.
Cost: $3,000 + $25 application fee; scholarships are available
GRAMMY Camp is a seven-day opportunity to explore careers in music and learn from music makers. The selective program only accepts 40-45 students from NY each year. You can choose one of eight tracks: electronic music audio production, songwriting, music business, vocal performance, instrumental performance (any genre), instrumental performance (jazz), and musical theater. Based on the track you choose, you may get to work on original compositions, work on digital audio workstations, and undergo training from GRAMMY-winning professionals and industry experts, gaining insights into the music industry. GRAMMY Camp culminates in a final showcase where you will present your work.
Location: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens, New York, NY
Dates: July 7 – August 1
Application deadline: March 2
Eligibility: NYC public school students entering grades 8–12 in the fall
Cost: Free to attend
The Summer Arts Institute, administered by the NYC Department of Education Arts Office, is a four-week program offering opportunities to build knowledge and skills in instrumental music, string orchestra, vocal music, theater, dance, film, or visual arts. In the program, you will choose a studio and refine your skills and/or prepare portfolios or auditions for arts-focused high schools or colleges. You will learn from DOE arts specialists, guest artists, and leading cultural partners, including American Ballet Theatre, Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic, etc. Your daily routine will consist of studio work, rehearsals, visiting arts venues, and attending professional performances. Additionally, you will perform and showcase your work in informal settings. The program concludes with an exhibition and live performance for your friends, family, and the local community! While not an internship, the program is an opportunity to gain exposure to careers in music and network with professionals in the industry.
Location: Varies by internship placement
Dates: Varies by internship placement
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school juniors at participating NYC schools; applicants must be at least 16 years old
Cost/Stipend: Paid internship; stipend amount not specified
Bloomberg Arts Internship is a full-time, paid program that places students at nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across NYC. As an intern, you will work three days a week with the assigned organization and attend weekly workshops focused on college prep and workplace skills. You can indicate your interest in music to be assigned to a relevant organization, like the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, B.A.A.D!, and the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, among many others. The program also offers visits to cultural sites and career panels led by arts professionals.
9. AMDA High School Summer Conservatory: Pop Star (Recording Artist)
Location: AMDA Campus, New York, NY
Dates: June 29 – July 12
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12, ages 14–19
Cost/Stipend: $6,134 with housing; $4,643 without housing
This two-week conservatory program offers students training and practical experience in delivering vocal performances across styles like jazz, gospel, R&B, country, and more. In the program, you will train in music genres that best suit your voice type and record in a professional studio. The program culminates in a final performance. You will also get access to opportunities to audition for AMDA’s college and conservatory programs.
The program can help you learn about professional music training and production, and network with professionals for future internships.
10. Bond Street Theatre Internships
Location: Bond Street Theatre Office, New York, NY
Dates: Varies by placement
Application deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: Open to all
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend can be negotiated
Bond Street Theatre offers internships in the arts and nonprofit administration, with a focus on supporting global peacebuilding projects through the performing arts. As an intern, you will engage in marketing, fundraising, grant writing, and media production, among other tasks. You can also contribute to programs that incorporate musical performance in international cultural outreach, assist in organizing music-based events, or support sound and media production tied to the company’s artistic work. You may get to research and organize performances.
11. Young People’s Chorus of New York City Internships
Location: Young People’s Chorus of New York City Office, New York, NY
Dates: Varies by placement
Application deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: Open to all applicants interested in arts management or music
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Among the city’s popular youth music organizations, Young People’s Chorus of New York City provides students interested in learning about performance arts with volunteer-based internships. Here you will get practical experience in nonprofit performing arts management. As an intern, you will contribute to areas like concert production, development, administration, and archival projects. The program structure can be tailored to your interests, providing you with hands-on involvement in YPC’s local and international music programs.
12. The Actors Theatre Workshop Volunteer Program
Location: The Actors Theatre Workshop Office, New York, NY
Dates: Varies by placement
Application deadline: Open year-round
Eligibility: Open to all applicants
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
This volunteer program offers weekly placements across multiple areas of theater operations, including administration, marketing, fundraising, video production, and event support. Before starting work, all participants attend an info session and undergo training to learn about ATW’s mission and gain hands-on experience supporting its creative and community-focused programs. You can choose sound or production management roles to get insights into technical production and performance.