Your future, our focus
POWELL, Wyo. - The Northwest College Music Department continues its longstanding tradition of summer music camps for students and adults this summer.
First up is the Yellowstone Summer Music Camp (YSMC) for middle and high school band and choir musicians. The 19th annual YSMC will bring students from across Wyoming and Montana to the college campus in Powell Sunday-Friday, June 21-26.
The next month, the 22nd annual Yellowstone Jazz Camp for high school and adult musicians kicks into gear Sunday-Friday, July 12-17, at the college's Mickelson Field Station near Sunlight Basin.
Both camps offer scholarships, some of which are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so early applicants have the best chance of reducing their camp costs. Students selected by audition to their states' honor band, orchestra or choir can claim substantial scholarships to the YSMC on a limited basis per instrument and voice range. Students entering their senior year of high school are automatically eligible for $200 scholarships, regardless of music ratings or date of application.
In addition, middle school and high school musicians who received division II solo awards or division I small ensemble awards this spring automatically receive $130 scholarships to the YSMC, while division I solo awards are worth $150.
Campers at the June Yellowstone Summer Music Camp spend six days on the NWC campus with music instructors drawn from across the United States in concert band, jazz band, choir and select choir ensemble studies. The final YSMC concert is Friday, June 26, and student talent night is Thursday, June 25.
Private lessons are available in voice, piano, percussion, guitar and all band instruments. Campers are also invited to enroll in special interest classes like computer music theory, computer composing, reedmaking/adjusting, jazz improvisation, hand bell ringing, graphic design, fun and fitness, leadership, chess, sectionals and small ensembles.
At the July camp in the mountains, the focus is strictly jazz and geared to high school and older musicians. Scholarships to the July jazz camp can be earned three ways. Students who were selected to their states' all-state jazz honor band by audition are eligible for $275 scholarships and higher on a limited basis per instrument. Students who were awarded outstanding musician certificates at either the Northwest Jazz Festival in Powell, the Mile High Jazz Festival in Denver, Colo., or the Greeley Jazz Festival can cash them in for scholarships. Instrumentalists can also apply for scholarships using taped audition material.
The jazz camp offers daily instruction in theory, improvisation, composition, arranging, plus opportunities for private lessons, master classes and multiple performance venues. Participants present their final concert Friday, July 17, at the Washington Park Bandshell in Powell.
Over its 20-year history, the camp has attracted high school and adult musicians from as far away as Germany, New York, California, Florida, Arizona, South Dakota, Colorado and Utah, in addition to Montana and Wyoming.
Total tuition, room and board for the jazz camp is $595. Full tuition, room and board at the Yellowstone Summer Music Camp is $465, or $315 for commuters who pay tuition only.
For more information about the camps, (including application forms, scholarship applications and camp schedules), follow the camps link, e-mail Neil Hansen, camp director, or call (800) 560-4692, ext. 6427, or (307) 754-6427.