The University of Vermont announces a new summer music performance program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The UVM Symphonic Band Performance (aka UVM Band Camp) is a week-long, non-credit session for brass, woodwind and percussion musicians.
The application period is now open for UVM Band Camp, scheduled for Sunday, July 21 – Saturday, July 27, 2013. Only 70 applicants will be accepted, and with a June 1 deadline, early admission is highly recommended. Applications are available online.
Student musicians spend the week making music and learning from UVM faculty and local high school music educators. A series of workshops and electives designed for improvement, exploration and fun during the week culminate with a final concert for family and friends held at the UVM Recital Hall. UVM Band Camp is open to both Vermont and out-of-state students, and participants can elect to stay in supervised dorms on the UVM campus or commute daily.
“We haven’t offered a summer music program for high school students with a residential component for over 25 years!” says Natalie Neuert, UVM Lane Series director and Band Camp program developer. “The combination of improving musical skills in a highly social environment with a residential component is a special experience for developing musicians.”
The camp is led by brass musician and national music education advocate Yutaka Kono, UVM Orchestra director, assistant professor of music and the interim conductor of the Vermont Youth Philharmonic. Violinist Kathleen Kono performs with the Burlington Chamber Orchestra and various Vermont chamber ensembles and teaches string techniques at UVM. Andrew Miskavage, band director at CVU in Hinesburg, is a woodwind musician who plays with the Vermont Wind Ensemble, Vermont Symphonic Winds, Enerjazz, The Onion River Jazz Band, Windsong woodwind quintet and often in Lyric Theater Productions. Percussionist Evan Peltier is the band director at Colchester High School and performs with the Burlington Civic Symphony Orchestra. Essex High School director of bands, Joshua Pauly, rounds out the UVM Band Camp faculty as an accomplished trumpet player.
UVM Band Camp is geared specifically for high school students who play in their school symphonic and jazz bands, or regional youth orchestras, and offers participants opting for the residential component a supervised on-campus college life experience, complete with planned outings and activities. "Talented teenage musicians are always looking for ways to improve their playing in the summer, but they also want to be around peers and have fun — not just practice all day. This program is a great way for students to do both,” Neuert explains.
Information: UVM Department of Continuing Education, (802) 656-2085, 95ffarre@uvm.edu.