Goodbye Until Next Year
Well, instead of writing from my small, but cozy little desk at the Music for All Summer Symposium Headquarters, today I'm writing from my desk at the Music for All office in Indianapolis.
I traveled back to Indianapolis yesterday, and it's nice to be home. But, I do already miss the sounds of students' excited voices, the harmonious music floating through the rehearsal spaces, and cheers and laughter coming from the Quad. Even though it was hot and humid at ISU, the enthusiasm and talent I saw on campus really made for an exciting week.
Amidst final packing and loading up the MFA trucks, I was able to see snippets of the final performances on Saturday.
I was amazed at how quickly the last day of camp flew by, and the performances really were a true testament to what the students learned over the course of the week. I think that each and every student should be extremely proud of what he or she has accomplished. A week may not seem like a great amount of time, but in this case it was enough time for students from many different places and musical backgrounds to come together and present performances to be proud of. Make sure to check out
Saturday's photos to see highlights from these brilliant performances.
As I mentioned in my first blog entry, I was a first-time Music for All Summer Symposium participant. I'm a fairly new staff member at Music for All so writing this blog has really been a great way for me to compile my thoughts about the experience and acquaint myself with the Symposium. I enjoyed the chance to report what the students were up to, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to sit in on rehearsals and classes in order to do this. Since I am on staff, I saw first-hand all the hard work that went into this year's Summer Symposium. Seeing the students enjoying themselves and learning about music really made the effort well worth it to me.
Looking back to when I was a student myself, I still remember how I felt the first time I played with a group of student musicians who just absolutely, whole-heartedly loved music. Seeing the Symposium students' true passion for music really made me think about these early experiences I had, and it made me appreciate the work I get to do now even more. It was wonderful to see students so excited about music, and I can't wait until next year's Summer Symposium!
I hope this blog has been helpful to you, and I hope my writing has helped you to visualize the events that went on at this year's Symposium. I know the Music for All Summer Symposium was truly a positively life-changing experience for me, and I can't wait until next year!
Until then...
Musically yours,
Kristin
6/27/09: The Last Day of the 2009 Summer Symposium
It's hard to believe we've reached the final day of the symposium, but it's definitely a reality. I've been helping pack up the Music for All Summer Symposium Headquarters this morning while fielding some questions about the students' final performances, which are already underway. The week has certainly flown by, and I've had a great time reporting the happenings of the Summer Symposium. But, let's not say our goodbyes quite yet as there are still plenty of exciting events happening today on campus.
After breakfast this morning, the final performances began. The Orchestra, Concert Band, Percussion, and Jazz Band concerts have been running concurrently this morning in the Center for the Performing Arts, the Bone Student Center Circus Room, and Hayden Auditorium. Parents, friends, family, and relatives have all converged on Illinois State University's campus to see these spectacular students display the end result of a week's worth of hard work.
Today's schedule also includes a Community Day Picnic in the Quad for all camp participants. This will be a great way to relax and unwind before the afternoon performances begin. After lunch, the final performances for the Color Guard, Marching Percussion, and Marching Band will take place in Hancock Stadium. And, the Drum Major March Off will also happen this afternoon as well. Campus is buzzing with activity today, students are excited to showcase their talents, and I'm thrilled to see all this hard work come together into such an exciting end product!
I do have to step backwards in time for just a moment to reflect on the Drum Corps International Central Illinois performance I attended last night in Hancock Stadium. Here's what dci.org said a few weeks ago regarding their show at the Symposium:
"If you want to experience an audience that redefines the meaning of 'enthusiastic,' try to make it to Illinois State University in Normal, Ill. The DCI Central Illinois event serves as the culmination of a week for hundreds of music students at the Music for All Summer Symposium, and the passion from these campers is contagious. Corps members have long claimed that the energy from this audience rocks the field."
This statement was definitely proven accurate last night. The enthusiasm was overwhelming, and I thoroughly enjoyed performances by the Blue Stars, Crusaders, Carolina Crown, The Cavaliers, Colts, Glassmen, Phantom Regiment, and Spirit. Additionally, there was a show-ending performance by the Symposium marching band and Carolina Crown, Summer Symposium artists-in-residence. The marching band students had the opportunity to perform alongside Carolina Crown, and I'm guessing this was exhilarating in front of such a fabulous audience.
Well, it's about time for me to head out to the picnic and get back to some packing. I look forward to writing on Monday to wrap things up. Happy travels to those who are heading back home today.
All the best,
Kristin
6/26/09: Concert Band and Coffee
Shortly after picking up my morning coffee, I decided to head over to observe the "Kentucky" concert band students in rehearsal. They had a full rehearsal this morning with the percussionists here for the National Percussion Symposium. As I entered the Center for the Performing Arts, the morning sun shined in through the large glass windows in the lobby. As I sat sipping my coffee from my nice cushy seat in the concert hall, I thought, "Well, this is really a pleasant way to start my morning - coffee and concert band!"
It was 8:30 a.m., and I thought the students may be feeling a bit tired, especially since we're nearing the end of the symposium. And admittedly, I was tired (hence my large coffee), but the kids were alert and focused on the music in front of them. Mallets were flying, fingers were moving at lightning speed to play the notes on the page, and wind players were breathing deeply and moving air through their horns at a steady pace. The music sounded heroic and majestic as Conductor John Cody Birdwell led the students through tricky, fast runs as well as expressive, poetic passages. The students worked on different potential trouble spots and then pieced everything together. As the low brass joined the woodwinds while running through a particularly lush segment, the mellow, rich sound gave me chills. These are certainly talented students, and the ensemble blends nicely and has a great sound. I even felt the armrests of my seat vibrating as I listened - that's how big the ensemble's sound is!
As the rehearsal continued, I noticed that the pieces the students were working on really allowed for some nice solo opportunities for section leaders. I heard beautiful euphonium, flute, oboe, and trumpet solos. And each section as a whole had lovely entrances as well. One clarinet figure sounded like rippling water to me, and then the flutes entered and painted a scene that sounded like a bird soaring peacefully over the water. Perhaps my coffee hadn't quite kicked in yet and I was still dreaming, but I couldn't help but picture this scene as the clarinets and flutes worked together on this figure.
At the end of the rehearsal, Birdwell told the students, "It's really amazing to me how far we've got...you've accomplished a lot." This afternoon the concert band has a dress rehearsal, and then following a quick rehearsal in the morning, it's performance time.
Then it was back to the office for me, but on my way I stopped for a few minutes to observe the color guard students partaking in a featured session with Adam Sage and the Carolina Crown Color Guard. This session was a warm up and technique demonstration with the students. I stayed long enough to see a presentation from the Crown rifle and sabre groups, and similar to yesterday when I viewed the Crown marching band rehearsal, I was super impressed by the precision and accuracy of the performers. It was a nice detour on my way back to MFA headquarters.
I do have to step backwards for just a moment and comment on last night's concert with Barrage, the high-octane fiddle-fest that has taken over the orchestra division of the symposium. I caught the end of their performance last night, and it was electrifying! I especially enjoyed the chance to see the orchestra track students perform on stage with Barrage. The students of the Summer Symposium Orchestra Division have been working all week with the performers from Barrage as part of the Barrage Boot Camp, and this is easy to see. In performance last night, they danced, stomped their feet, and fiddled furiously for a screaming, cheering audience. The students did a fantastic job.
I know I'm blogging a bit early today, but I'll be out and about this afternoon and evening helping to get ready for the KFC evening picnic for the students. And of course, the Drum Corps International Central Illinois performance is this evening at 7:00 p.m. An exciting evening tonight will lead into an even more exciting day tomorrow as the students present final performances to parents, friends, and family.
Talk to you tomorrow!
Kristin
6/25/09: An Afternoon on the Field
I've been amazed at how fun it is to simply enter a rehearsal space at the Summer Symposium. Yesterday, when I walked in to Hayden Auditorium to hear Warren Hill, I was instantly in awe of his massive sound. And today, as I walked up the stairs to the bleachers at Hancock Stadium, I was amazed at the tremendous, brassy wall of sound resonating from the field.
As I hiked up the stairs to find my seat, I realized looking down was a bit of a mistake. A dizzying circle of Carolina Crown horns were seemingly whirling on the field, and the effect almost made me lose my balance! Once I arrived safely at my seat, I listened to Marching Band Division Coordinator Jeff Young direct the students. They were working on the field right alongside the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, and Young and his staff coached the students and encouraged them from the stands as well as the field.
Carolina Crown has been working with the Marching Band Division and will perform with the Symposium Marching Band in exhibition at Friday night's DCI show. Carolina Crown started in January 1988 as the Charlotte Drum Corps Association. Originally, the organization resembled a fraternal organization, holding periodic meetings at the Holiday Inn - Woodlawn or a local Charlotte (NC) restaurant. The association members, made up of drum corps enthusiasts and/or alumni originally from the Northeast, Midwest and South, watched videos and discussed the happenings of the day in the activity. The first Carolina Crown corps was fielded in 1990. The corps won the Drum Corps International Division II World Championship in 1993 and now competes as a Division I unit. They set a great example for the students of the Summer Symposium.
The students were working hard as one high-precision unit - marching, turning, playing, keeping time, and sounding great while doing all this. The coordination involved in marching band has always been impressive to me. The meticulous, regimented, military-like discipline is extraordinary, and very striking to watch as a spectator.
Between sets, the students and Carolina Crown checked their placement on the field and adjusted as needed to create the correct formation. Everyone's music was memorized, they carried their instruments seemingly effortlessly (despite the hot afternoon), and they stood tall and proud.
It looked like a nice camaraderie has developed between Carolina Crown and the students. For a moment, the student brass section played by themselves. The first time, they played softly, perhaps slightly timidly without the Crown to back them up. But the second time through, they played with command and enthusiasm, and the members of the Carolina Crown nodded approvingly and cheered them on.
After working through individual segments of the show, Young instructed the group to "Run it." This was greeted with cheers and whoops. The run-through of the show looked great, and it will be very exciting to see the performance tomorrow evening. After the run-through, there was one more activity for the students and Crown.
The students went from the field to concert formation and performed a few selections for the Carolina Crown, including an arrangement of The Star Spangled Banner. Their performance was greeted with more cheers and clapping from Carolina Crown. Then it was role reversal time, and Crown formed a large circle around the students to perform bits and pieces of the music from the show. To close a great rehearsal, the students were invited to join the circle and play with Crown.
The week is flying by, and I can't believe tomorrow is already Friday. There are two exciting concerts left to look forward to though - Barrage this evening and Drum Corps International tomorrow night. And the student performances for each division of the symposium will take place on Saturday. I know by observation that each division has been working hard, and the final performances are sure to be exciting events.
All the best,
Kristin
6/24/09:Mid-week at the Summer Symposium
A loud, wailing powerhouse of a sound greeted me when I walked into Hayden Auditorium this afternoon - and I absolutely mean that in a positive way! Warren Hill and his band are the guest artists for this evening's concert later tonight. Hill's warm and passionate playing and singing set him a touch apart from many smooth jazz performers, and he is known as one of the most gifted performers and "off the hook" showmen in the jazz world. This was easy to hear after just a few minutes in the auditorium. Hill played powerfully and aggressively, diving through challenging licks and improvisations, and then he brought it down a notch to something soft and lyrical. Throughout, he maintained a relaxed, but clear, communication with his band. This performance I saw was the end of a session for all jazz track students, and I was happy I caught the end of this class.
I stuck around to see Hill present a masterclass to the jazz saxophone students. He opened the session by making it clear to the students that this would be
their masterclass. He told them to feel free to ask questions, and he wanted to focus on questions the students had rather than his own agenda. One student was curious how Hill constructed his solos. Hill said, "It's improvising - you can do whatever you want to do. You take people on a journey, it's totally up to you," he said. "There's no exact science."
He also related constructing a solo to writing. "You're constructing a sentence, you're constructing paragraphs - working with themes." He instructed the students not to worry, that there are no mistakes, and it's possible to move forward and work with each mistake and take it to a completely new place through improv.
Hill also talked about a year when he took a break from music to study physics. "I wasn't a fan of that," he said. "I got through the first year of that and realized how much I needed music in my life."
After this session, I took a walk across campus to check out what the drum major students were up to. I popped in on faculty member Heidi Sarver's session, and she was giving feedback to the students in regard to their conducting form. Earlier, the instructors videotaped the students rehearsing conducting patterns on the field. In class today, Sarver evaluated those videos and used them as instructional tools to show each student the areas they need to work on over the course of the week. To me, this seemed like a great way to improve conducting form. It's just like practicing in front of a mirror, except even better since the students got tips from the experts as well as advice from their peers.
I talked for a minute with faculty member Chris Cansler who informed me that there were a few other drum major sessions throughout the afternoon. So I continued across campus to see George Parks, of the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy, presenting a conducting workshop. When I arrived at Capen Auditorium, I found students working further on their conducting skills.
While I was there, Parks was teaching Legato conducting. He told the students that the ultimate goal with Legato conducting is to have the band play with expression. "Now we lead with the wrist," Parks said. With this type of conducting, the students should make sure that the beat is now determined by changing the direction of the wrist, and it is not determined by striking the focal point.
Tomorrow I hope to see the marching band students and check out what they're up to.
Until then,
Kristin
6/23/09: Brass and Barrage
The Summer Symposium's in full swing, and the students and directors hit the ground running today. Everyone was working very hard (and of course having lots of fun as well), and I can attest to this from my afternoon wanderings around campus.
First of all, in just a few short hours,
Canadian Brass will be featured for this evening's concert! I was lucky enough to squeeze in a few afternoon sessions today amidst my office duties, and I attended the Director's Q&A Session with Canadian Brass this afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to hear the group members' perspectives on playing, thoughts on teaching, and of course their fabulous playing.
With over 60 recordings to date and an enthusiasm for music that is contagious, Canadian Brass has redefined the brass quintet through their imaginative programming. The talented group is made up of Chuck Daellenbach, Gene Watts, Jeff Nelsen, Joe Burgstaller, and Brandon Ridenour.
They entered the room in a "parade" fashion, walking around the room while playing before taking their place at the front of the lecture hall. And I have to say, this definitely woke me up as Jeff Nelsen, Canadian Brass Hornist, pointed his bell in my ear as he passed! I have the privilege of knowing Jeff through my music studies at Indiana University, and it was good to see (and hear!) him again.
There were several interesting questions posed, but I found a couple particularly fascinating. One of the audience members pointed out the fact that Canadian Brass performs a wide variety of music that traverses many genres. Chuck Daellenbach responded, "Between us we all had been in concert bands, marching bands, Dixieland bands, gig bands, and orchestras," he said. "We looked at the range of music we'd all been exposed to...there was no repertoire holding us tight. We took a masterpiece approach - why not do Bach? Why not do Beethoven?"
Another director asked whether or not the group still gets nervous when performing. Chuck commented that you never really lose the excitement of performing, and that's nerves. But, you're awake, and you're up, and that's exciting and fun. Jeff chimed in with a helpful bit of information, "Being fearless is not necessarily the lack of fear, but realizing that there's something more important than fear."
I headed out into the hot sun, pondering what I had just heard, and before I knew it I was in the Quad. I saw the color guard students hard at work - spinning flags, tossing rifles, and twirling sabres. I stopped for a moment to observe, and I was extremely impressed with their dedication. They were definitely giving it their all, despite the heat. You may have heard that it's been hot in Normal, IL. Our administrative and medical staff continues to frequently visit every outdoor area of camp, ensuring that frequent breaks are taken and lots of fluids (water and Gatorade) are available for consumption.
Next it was off to see the orchestra students. Throughout the week, the orchestra track musicians will be working with
Barrage, a high-octane fiddle-fest that features an international, multi-talented cast performing an eclectic mix of music, song and dance. This year, the Summer Symposium Orchestra Division is a Barrage Boot Camp.
I caught the end of one orchestra rehearsal and walked in to see John Crozman, the Creator of Barrage, working with several violin and viola students. A former violinist and fiddler with a solid business background, John has a passion for pushing the limits and stretching the parameters of what is considered "traditional." And the music I heard the students rehearsing this afternoon definitely exemplified this point. The piece they were working on was called "Kumpania," and it definitely had a crossover ensemble feel to it. The students rehearsed in one large circle, and John moved around instructing with calls like, "Let's play with some passion," and "Have fun with it!" He also had the students vocalize the rhythms on the page and relate them to an upbeat walking pattern.
Yesterday, the students had a chance to work with the cast of Barrage, and tomorrow they will do the same. You can see some of the photos from the orchestra division rehearsals in the Photos section of the online symposium coverage.
Check back tomorrow to see what other students in various divisions are up to.
Musically,
Kristin
6/22/09: The 2009 Summer Symposium Begins
Lines were already beginning to stretch out into the lobby of Bone Student Center when I arrived at MFA Headquarters early this morning. Summer Symposium Registration went well, and within an hour I started seeing students everywhere. As students mingled, there was an energetic feeling in the air that was contagious. Notebooks, instruments, flags, luggage and more seemingly appeared out of nowhere and took over Bone Student Center!
Shortly after lunch, it was time for the Opening Session. The energy level was high before the session even started. Students were dancing and clapping their hands, and it was hard not to join in! Then Lou Fischer, Rex Richardson, Ndugu Chancler and Luke Gillespie took the stage to open the Symposium with some lively, spirited jazz. Their smooth sounds set the mood for a great week, and the students gave the first of many standing ovations, and they literally did a standing "O." The students seem to have their own unique way to applaud the excellent presenters they've seen. They collectively stood many times throughout the opening session and lifted their arms to form a large circle while chanting the vowel sound "O." It was really exceptional to see an auditorium full of students all stand and express themselves this way. Very unique.
As the opening session continued, students heard from Norm Ruebling (Camp Director), Jamie Weaver (Camp Director of the SWAG Team), David Starnes (Educational Consultant for Music for All and Camp Director), Gary Markham (Senior Educational Consultant for Music for All and Camp Director), Stephen Parsons (Director of the School of Music at Illinois State University), Fran Kick (Leadership Coordinator), and L. Scott McCormick (President and CEO of Music for All). These speakers each had great advice to share with the students mixed in with some humorous tidbits. The response from the students was truly inspiring to me. Since I'm new to the Summer Symposium, I had never experienced the sheer excitement, enthusiasm, and vitality expressed during this opening session. I was thrilled to be part of it.
Then the students were off and running with their sessions and began working with the clinicians and faculty. The students ended their day with a spectacular evening concert. The Summer Symposium Evening Concert Series began this evening with the Yamaha Young Performing Artists (YYPA) national awards concert. The YYPA program is designed to provide early career recognition for outstanding young musicians in the United States. Hundreds of applicants ages 16-21 apply annually and undergo a rigorous taped audition process for a panel of national celebrity musicians. Many winners have received scholarships to prestigious universities and conservatories or are playing professionally with major jazz groups and top symphony orchestras. And I happened to listen in from backstage at Braden Auditorium while these talented young musicians were warming up, and I was beyond impressed! The professionalism of these young people shows talent and musicality way beyond their years. I couldn't help but linger backstage for a bit to listen to these brilliant musicians.
Tomorrow will be another exciting day, and I look forward to sharing it with you.
All the best,
Kristin
6/21/09: Leadership Weekend Experience
A little rain never hurt anybody, right? Even though it was indeed a rainy day here in Bloomington, it certainly didn't hurt our campers.
The day's activities went on as scheduled with a few minor adjustments to deal with the weather.
Even though I was in the office in the morning, the campers were out and about all day attending sessions with our Leadership Team: Fran Kick, Frank Crockett, Scott Lang, Frank DiLallo, Alf Grigg, Matt Savage, and Norm Logan.
And some campers headed out to Timber Pointe for outdoor activities.
After my time in the office this morning, I also headed outdoors to check out what the students were up to, and I was truly amazed and impressed by what I saw.
It was barely raining as I headed out to Timber Pointe's beautiful grounds set on Lake Bloomington.
Upon my arrival, I stood for just a moment to take in the beautiful, wooded setting around me. I was a bit unsure where to go first since I didn't see campers around, but as I listened I was able to pick up some laughter that definitely sounded promising so I followed the trail.
Along the way, I stopped to say hello to a few horses peacefully grazing in a stable along the trail. After that, I soon came upon exactly what I had been hoping to find ever since I heard I'd be going to Timber Pointe today - the challenge/rope courses!
I had been informed about this portion of camp, and I was definitely intrigued and admittedly a bit timid. The students certainly weren't though.
As I approached a clearing in the woods, I saw several tall wooden towers with climbing poles, ropes swaying in the breeze, and students bravely tackling the course with agility and dexterity.
And while I was reminded of trapeze artists in some ways when I looked to the sky, I assure you that the participants were perfectly safe in the capable hands of our clinicians, and they used helmets and belay cables that were in place for safety.
The course consisted of high elements and some lower elements as well. Some students chose to scale the low course elements, which involved traversing rope courses constructed between poles. On the surface level, it appeared to provide a fun physical challenge.
However, just below the surface, rope courses are great ways for people to confront serious emotional challenges like a fear of heights, fear of falling, fear of failure, or fear of losing control.
In fact, I overheard one student talking to another about his experience. He said the most difficult thing for him was keeping his concentration and focus.
He also realized that the times he began to fall, he was able to stabilize himself and regain his balance by refocusing his concentration on the task at hand. Hearing a student say this really hit me, and I began to think about my own experiences and times I truly feared failing.
The intricate rope course then took on a whole new meaning for me.
Then it was my turn. After some encouragement from the campers and Director Track Assistant Leader Cecilia Cicco, I decided I'd try the zip line. I donned my harness and helmet and began my climb to the top of the tallest tower in the field.
From the ground, I thought, "This will be easy, no big deal - just a quick ride down a very stable line." However, I looked down half way into my climb. That was a mistake. My knees started shaking, and I suddenly felt scared. But, I was already half way up so I continued - and I'm so glad I did.
At the top, I was hooked on to the line, and I was told I could either jump off the platform or sit down and slide off carefully.
I thought, "Well, I'm already up here, might as well go for it and jump!" So I did, and it was exhilarating. I really felt like I was flying. What an adrenaline rush! I'm so glad I had the opportunity to try this.
We're hoping for sunnier skies to start the day tomorrow as more parents and students arrive on campus for full-week registration. But, regardless of the weather, I certainly had fun today, and I think the students did as well.
- Kristin
6/20/09: Welcome to the Music for All 2009 Summer Symposium Blog!
My name is Kristin Conrad, and I'm the Marketing Coordinator at Music for All. I plan to keep you informed and up-to-date on the exciting happenings of the Summer Symposium.
I hope that this blog will help you keep tabs on your campers and also provide a unique window to some of the activities your kids will be participating in throughout the week.
I'll do my best to cover a variety of sessions throughout the different camp divisions, and believe me, there's so much going on that I really wish I could be in two, three, or possibly four places at once!
The MFA staff has made the trek from Indianapolis to Illinois State University and "moved in" to our Headquarters at Bone Student Center. We definitely brought our office with us, so to speak, and we're ready to answer any questions you or your campers may have throughout the week.
However, as much fun as our office is (and trust me, it's fun!), I thoroughly enjoyed some time out on campus today to check out the beginning of the Leadership Weekend Experience. Leadership Registration went smoothly this morning, and then it was off to the Opening Session in Capen Auditorium.
This session was a great way to kick off the weekend, and the students were introduced to Norm Ruebling, Camp Director of the Music for All Summer Symposium; Jamie Weaver, Camp Director of our wonderful volunteer SWAG Team; Eric Martin, Music for All Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; and Erin, one of our on-site nurses. Then Leadership Division Coordinator Fran Kick took the stage, and I have to say, within minutes he had your kids laughing, smiling, and listening to some truly great advice about life and how to become an effective leader.
How do you teach someone to become an effective leader? Perhaps through a drum circle! I walked across campus to check out Matt Savage's afternoon session, where a massive communal drum circle was taking place.
Matt is currently the director of marching percussion at The University of North Carolina and has taught at every level of public education from elementary to the college level. I soon discovered that a drum circle is a great way to start off camp.
A drum circle really is a unique way to create an instant connection between a group of people and encourage equality.
Since a circle has no beginning or end, the drum circle creates a collective voice and continuous sound. Through Matt's instruction, the students quickly learned how to make the sounds of the drums resonate within the group, and also within themselves.
The session started off simple, with Matt referencing the first sound we ever hear, the heartbeat. Using this as a starting rhythm, the session continued to build and incorporate different aspects of drumming mixed in with some great advice that students can use to deal with life's hurdles.
I do have to take just a moment to thank our wonderful sponsors. Without their help, we could not put on great sessions like those that took place this morning and afternoon.
Learn more about Music for All sponsors.
Music for All's efforts have been supported through successful sponsorships including current partnerships with National Presenting Sponsor, the Yamaha Corporation of America; Official Uniform Sponsor, Fred J. Miller, Inc.; Official Corporate Sponsor, Wenger Corporation; Official Corporate Sponsor, SmartMusic¨; Corporate Sponsor, NAMM; Corporate Sponsor, Remo, Inc.; Associate Sponsors Vic Firth, Inc., Vandoren and McCormick's Enterprises; Preferred Travel Partners, Music Travel Consultants, Super Holiday Tours and New Horizons Tour and Travel. Music for All is also supported by the Arts Council of Indianapolis and the City of Indianapolis, by the Indianapolis Cultural Development Commission and by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
For those of you who are parents of first-time MFA Summer Symposium campers, I should let you know that it's my first time at camp as well!
I can already tell that this will be a positively life-changing experience for me, and I know this will also be the case for your campers.
I had a great first day of Leadership Weekend, and I am looking forward to reporting on what your students are up to tomorrow and in the days ahead!
All the best,
Kristin
6/16/09: Summer Symposium Extreme DVD & Photo Package
Order your Summer Symposium Extreme DVD and Photo package and save $10!
Participants who want to relive favorite moments, students and teacher who've never experienced it but want to learn more, parents who want to enjoy the final performances - all will enjoy the new MFA Summer Symposium Extreme DVD video yearbook, from Box 5 Productions.
Commemorate your experience and new friendships with a full camp or division group photo from Jolesch Photography.
Extreme DVD & Photo Package - $39
Download the Order form
Order at Registration! Place your order by 3 p.m. Saturday, June 27 and save $5 on shipping! Download and bring this completed form and payment to symposium registration to order your package and save on shipping.
Individual pricing:
Extreme DVD only - $29
First Group Photo from Jolesch - $20 ($10 each for additional photos ordered)
Save $10 by ordering the Package.
Learn more about the Video Yearbook
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