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High school musicians perform on campus

June 24, 2010

KALAMAZOO--Seminar 2010, Western Michigan University's summer music camp for high school students, will celebrate its 59th anniversary in July, when students from three states convene on campus for the two-week program.

WMU's Seminar summer camp focuses on chamber music, providing unique opportunities for students to perform in small ensembles and participate daily in band, orchestra or choir. Some 120 students from Michigan, Illinois and Hawaii have been selected by audition to participate in the program, which begins Sunday, July 11, and ends Saturday, July 24.

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. All performances are open to the public free of charge and will feature music learned and prepared by students during the Seminar program.

Public performance schedule

Sunday, July 18, 9:45 a.m.--Continuing a 42-year tradition, the Seminar brass and concert choirs will provide music for a local morning worship service. The location this year is the First Baptist Church on the north side of Bronson Park, 315 W. Michigan Ave., in Kalamazoo. Christine Ledden will conduct the 35-voice choir. The 21-member brass ensemble will perform under the direction of Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger, WMU professor of music.

Sunday, July 18, 4 p.m.--The woodwind choir and string chamber music ensembles will perform in WMU's Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Thursday, July 22, 7 p.m.--Seminar pianists will present a public recital in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Friday, July 23, 7:30 p.m.--The Seminar 2010 Large Ensemble Concert will feature the wind ensemble, concert choir and string orchestra performing in WMU's Miller Auditorium.

Saturday, July 24, 10:30 a.m.--Seminar 2010 will conclude with a festival of five simultaneous chamber music concerts in the Dalton Center Recital Hall. Performing ensembles include string, woodwind, brass-percussion, vocal-choral and piano.

WMU music faculty members will conduct most of the Seminar 2010 rehearsals and classes. 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 2010 operates under the auspices of the School of Music in the College of Fine Arts at WMU. Kevin West is the administrative director for Seminar 2010 and Matt Jensen serves as the registrar.

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Media contact: Matt Jensen, (269) 387-4678, matthew.d20.jensen@wmich.edu

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