Young Musicians Fine-Tune Performance Skills at UMaine Summer Music Camp
Contact: Karen Cole, 581-4704, Ginger Hwalek, 581-1246, George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — More than 150 young musicians from throughout Maine and New England have been perfecting their performance skills and learning new music as they spend a week “living, breathing and thinking music” at UMaine’s annual Maine Summer Youth Music Camp.
July 15 ends a concentrated week of music immersion at the University of Maine School of Performing Arts’ Junior Camp for students in grades 6-8 and July 17 begins the two-week Senior Camp for student musicians in grades 9-12.
With an additional music theater class — a show choir — student musicians this year are tackling such productions as “Music Man Junior,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” and a medley of original songs from the original 1939 version of “The Wizard of Oz.” That’s in addition to participation in summer music camp’s traditional musical ensembles that include a symphonic band, concert band or chorus. Other ensembles include jazz bands, musical theatre, the show choir and, for a small number of select senior campers, a jazz combo.~All music campers have the opportunity to participate in chamber ensembles, music classes, master classes and piano and guitar instruction, in addition to a section on concert etiquette for audiences.
Music camp is structured to offer different instrumental and vocal ensembles for youths of varying skill levels, says camp director Ginger Yang Hwalek, a Maine music instructor, pianist, violist and conductor. Students generally are matched with others of similar abilities and experience to ensure the best comfort levels in a way that still challenges the youths, she says.
An institution at UMaine, this will be the 34th year for the senior program, and the 25th for the junior program.~Hwalek stresses the importance of the university offering a music camp that provides an extended period of peer camaraderie and concentrated immersion in music with emphasis on chamber music and performance technique. Campers get education, experience and a deeper overall appreciation of music that they would not otherwise receive in their home-town schools.
“These kids are playing in ensembles with like-minded kids,” says Hwalek, who has served as music director of the McPherson (Kansas) Symphony Orchestra, the Central Maine String Orchestra (MUSE) and has conducted several Piano Monster Concerts in Plymouth, N.H., and Essex Junction, Vt. “They’re coming from communities where music programs may be strong but are not always at the same level. The music may be a little more challenging here and they’re doing it all day, as opposed to one class period. They’re living, breathing and thinking music.”
The students, most of whom stay on campus in dormitories supervised by music camp instructors and staff, also make new friends through the experience, she adds. Staffing the music camp are music teachers from Maine public schools, faculty from the UMaine School of Performing Arts and UMaine music majors, who get an early look at what teaching young people is like.
“They’re learning from what I feel are top-notch mentors,” Hwalek says. “It’s very important for campers to see these great teachers at work.”
Most of the student musicians come from Maine, though many arrive from other New England states, in addition to outside of New England. Students in both camps attend planned events throughout the week, including performances by faculty, students and guest artists, as well as a midweek recreational activity and optional evening entertainment that can include popular movies or a dance. Each camp culminates in concert performances by the campers.
~
On Friday, July 15, rehearsals were held throughout the morning in preparation for a series of concerts in the afternoon and evening. The next group of student musicians — nearly 200 are registered — will arrive on campus Sunday, July 17, to begin their two-week camp.
A schedule of events and concerts can be obtained by calling the UMaine School of Performing Arts at (207) 581-4702 or visiting the SPA web site at http://www.umaine.edu/spa