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GREENSBORO — Ever since Cameron "C.J." Collins studied cello at the Eastern Music Festival's school for young musicians last summer, he had looked forward to returning.

Despite its demands, he reaped rewards.

"You have to work really hard because you have a lot of music to learn in a short amount of time," the Summerfield teen said. "That kind of gives you the experience of what being a professional musician would be like."

But as EMF students from across the country and abroad arrive at Guilford College this weekend, Collins does not expect to be among them.

The struggling economy has taken a toll on EMF's scholarship fund. Contributions from some donors and earnings on its endowment declined.

As a result, EMF could not offer as much financial aid to help Collins and other students cover the $4,700 fee for tuition, room and board.

That means that enrollment in the five-week program will dip to 180, down from 194 in 2008. It can accept up to 201.

Just like last summer, 90 percent will receive full or partial scholarships, EMF executive director Stephanie Cordick said. In exchange, recipients work part time on usher, stage, parking and office crews.

"But we gave less to some students because we have fewer dollars to distribute," Cordick said.

Last summer, Collins received a scholarship that covered about half the cost. This summer's offer was much less, his mother, Karen Collins, said. So, reluctantly, they declined.

"With C.J. going to college this year, we just couldn't swing it," his mother said.

EMF counts on scholarships to help attract talented pre-professional musicians ages 14-22 from the United States and abroad. They spend days and nights studying classical music with professionals and playing public concerts.

But this year, scholarships had to be cut by 30 percent, to $200,000, to balance the organization's $1.7 million budget, Cordick said.

Families, too, have been squeezed financially, leaving many less able to afford the full cost of sending children to EMF.

Without scholarships to offer, EMF risked losing some students to summer programs at Brevard Music Center in western North Carolina, Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts, Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado and Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan.

"I know there are students who went to other programs because they received more scholarship than I could award them," EMF admissions director Melissa Edwards said.

"It's frustrating because we have less money and the need was much greater."

Despite that struggle, EMF will bring in students from 35 states and seven foreign countries who won spots from among 730 applicants through competitive auditions.

"The quality and caliber of students has not declined," Cordick said.

The largest contingents hail from Florida, Texas and North Carolina.

One 14-year-old violinist will come from Haifa, Israel.

"He's very talented, especially for his age," Edwards said.

A brother and sister, who play violin and cello, will come from Bolivia. There will be seven from Taiwan.

This year, EMF raised the maximum age from 20 to 22. That brought in 22 older students who can mentor younger ones and enhance the two student orchestras.

Each orchestra needs so many violinists, violists, cellists, double bass players, wind instrument players, harpists and percussionists.

It's Edwards' job to find them.

Violinists and violists proved hardest to come by.

Among violinists who applied, 58 withdrew as of May 1. Nearly half said that another program had offered a larger scholarship, Edwards said.

She sought 54 violinists; she expects 43.

"I guess it will make the sound softer," she said.

She aimed for 22 violists; she expects 16.

The piano program had room for 21; it attracted 20.

Other orchestra seats, including 20 for cellists, have been filled.

At 17, C.J. Collins already has significant music credentials. He played in the honors quartet of the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra and with his family's quartet. He will study music at East Carolina University.

Karen Collins, a violinist herself, praised the experience that her son gained at EMF.

When he auditioned this year, "They seemed really impressed," C.J. Collins said.

His mother explored having him live at home and commute to Guilford College to save money. But EMF requires students to live on campus.

"We are hoping that something would open the door, but it just hasn't happened," she said.

Instead, C.J. Collins plans to attend a three-week chamber music institute at the UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem.

That, too, will be beneficial, he said.

The school offered him a partial scholarship.

He also can live at home and commute.

Contact Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane at 373-5204 or dawn.kane@news-record.com