ISSUED: 11 May 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — Shepherd University’s Department of Music Preparatory Division is offering two simultaneous weeklong summer camps for young musicians June 22-26. Jazz Camp is open to students in grades 6-12 and String Orchestra Camp is open for students in grades 8-12.
Jazz Camp
Jazz Camp will be divided into sections for senior and junior musicians. Senior jazz camp is open to students in grades 9-12 and will run from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The cost is $250, including all lunches. Campers will perform a concert on Friday, June 26 at 2 p.m.
Junior jazz camp for students in grades 6-8 will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The cost is $125, with students bringing a bagged lunch. Junior campers will perform in a concert on Friday, June 26 at 1 p.m.
Jazz Camp will include jazz band rehearsals and a concert, individual and group coaching, faculty performances, master classes, classes in small combo ensembles, improvisation, and music theory.
Faculty at the camp will include Dr. Kurtis Adams, assistant professor of music and director of jazz studies; Dr. Mark Cook, associate professor of music and director of music theory; Mike Kamuf, Alfred Publishing arranger and author, and bands and orchestra director at John T. Baker Middle School in Damascus, Maryland; Kevin Pace, adjunct professor of music and jazz improvisation; and Ronnie Shaw, adjunct professor of music and drum set instructor.
Strings Camp
String Orchestra Camp, which costs $250 and includes all lunches, is open to students in grades 8-12. It will run from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The culminating concert will take place on Friday, June 26, at 5 p.m. in the Frank Center McCoy Rehearsal Hall.
Campers will participate in orchestra rehearsals, master classes, sectional rehearsals, and workshops. They will also gain experience playing chamber music in small ensembles and will receive group coaching and music theory courses. A new addition to this year’s camp will be a fiddle and folk music workshop, which camp organizers are excited to be able to offer.
Camp faculty will include Dr. Scott Hippensteel, assistant professor of music and director of instrumental music; Heather Austin-Stone, adjunct professor of violin and viola; Camilo Perez-Mejia, adjunct professor of cello; and Teresa Gordon, concertmaster, Loudoun Symphony Orchestra.
The registration deadline for both camps is June 15. For more information, contact Kari Edge at 304-876-5555 or by email at kedge@shepherd.edu, or visit www.shepherd.edu/musicweb/summer_programs.html.
Preparatory Orchestra
The Preparatory Division also sponsors the Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra, a student orchestra that provides opportunities for more than 70 string and wind students who range in age from elementary school to college. Begun in 1998, the Preparatory Orchestra presents concerts two times a year. For more information about participating in Shepherd’s Preparatory Orchestra, contact Kari Edge at kedge@shepherd.edu.
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