ADA, OH (WLIO) - Every year, the campus of Ohio Northern University sees local students interested in music journey to Ada for their annual summer music camp. Our Casey Mulcahy tells us how the campus has been filled with smiles and the sounds of music.
School might be out for the summer, but this group of students is fine-tuning their music skills thanks to the annual summer music camp at Ohio Northern University. For one week, local students come for the symphonic band program and the acapella choir program, with many small subgroups to be a part of.
"The last week has been a big adventure, you know? It's from the very first day until the final concert. It's an adventure; it's like a journey through a lot of rehearsals and activities, and everything is great because there's a great variety of opportunities in the symphonic band, the small ensembles, woodwind choir, brass choir, percussion ensembles, steel drum band, rock band, choir. All these things, and so the players in the symphonic band are also in these other ensembles at the same time, so everybody has a lot of things to do, and it's quite busy for this week," said Alexander Beer, symphonic band guest director.
Students come to camp for a chance to get in touch with their passion for music. The students take classes throughout the week on campus in subjects like music technology, music history, conducting, and musical improvisation.
"I am taking full orchestra, jazz history, and two band lessons. It's going great. I love orchestra so much. I love the music we play. Our teacher is very interactive, and he enjoys teaching us, and he's really good at telling us what it's all about," commented Preston Jeffers, symphonic band member.
For some students, this isn't their first time at summer music camp, and it's a chance to reunite with friends and build relationships with students with whom they have something in common.
"Last year I was a little more nervous, but I was so much more confident coming into this year, and I'm so excited because being here and being with people that I know love the passion that I have as well is so much better than being back at home at my own choir with people that might not be as confident or share as much love for music as I do. I love the friendships that I've made, and not seeing them for a year is so hard, but I love seeing them when I come back," stated Alayna Brown, acapella choir soprano.
The summer music camp concluded with a final concert as the students all said goodbye and left campus as improved musicians and with a week's worth of memories they'll never forget.
