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55th annual music camp features free performances

July 1, 2006

KALAMAZOO--Seminar 2006, Western Michigan University's summer music camp for high school students, celebrates its 55th year when students from seven states, Puerto Rico and France convene July 9 on the WMU campus for the two-week program.

WMU's Seminar is unique among similar summer camps. It focuses on chamber music, providing opportunities for students to perform in small ensembles in addition to daily participation in either band, orchestra, or choir.

Some 130 students from Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico and France have been selected by audition to participate in the program, which begins July 9 and ends July 22.

Each participant is enrolled in one of six seminars: string, woodwind, brass, percussion, piano or voice. During their stay at WMU the high school students study music theory and music literature, take private lessons, maintain a rigorous rehearsal schedule, and perform in both large and small ensemble concerts, which are open to the public, free of charge. All music performed during Seminar 2006 will be learned and prepared during the two-week program.

Most of the rehearsals and classes at Seminar 2006 will be conducted by WMU music faculty members. In addition to serving as teachers and conductors, Seminar faculty will also perform in a daily "Performance Class" held at 10 a.m. in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Seminar 2006 operates under the auspices of the WMU School of Music. Carl Doubleday, associate director of the School of Music, has been director of Seminar for 39 years.

Public performances

Sunday, July, 16, 9:15 a.m.--Continuing a 38-year tradition, the Seminar Brass Choir and Concert Choir will provide music for the morning worship service in Kalamazoo's Cathedral Church of Christ the King, 2600 Vincent Ave., Kalamazoo.

Sunday, July, 16, 4 p.m.--A concert including the woodwind choir and string chamber music ensembles will perform in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Thursday, July 20, 7 p.m.--Smeniar pianists will present a public recital in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Friday, July 21, 7:30 p.m.--The Seminar Large Ensemble Concert will feature the wind ensemble, concert choir and string orchestra performing in WMU's Miller Auditorium.

Saturday, July 22, 10:30 a.m.--Seminar 2006 will conclude with a festival of five simultaneous chamber music concerts in WMU's Dalton Center. Performing ensembles are: string, woodwind, brass and percussion, vocal-choral and piano.

Related article
Free summer concerts return to Dalton Center

Media contact: Kevin West, (269) 387-4678, kevin.west@wmich.edu

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