High school musicians to spend two weeks learning and performing on campus

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—SEMINAR 2017, Western Michigan University's summer music camp for high school students, will celebrate its 66th year when students from eight states and South America convene on campus beginning July 9 for the two-week program.

During their stay at WMU, students study music theory and music literature, take private lessons, maintain a rigorous rehearsal schedule, and perform in both large and small ensemble concerts that are free and open to the public. All music performed during SEMINAR 2017 will be learned and prepared during the two-week program.

Concert schedule

Sunday, July 16

9:45 a.m.—Morning worship service, featuring the SEMINAR brass choir and concert choir, First Baptist Church on Bronson Park, 315 W. Michigan Ave., in downtown Kalamazoo.

4 p.m.—Woodwind choir and string chamber music ensembles, Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Thursday, July 20

7 p.m.—Piano recital, Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Friday, July 21

7:30 p.m.—SEMINAR 2017 Large Ensemble Showcase, featuring the wind ensemble, concert choir and string orchestra, Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Saturday, July 22

10:30 a.m.—Festival of five simultaneous chamber music concerts (string, woodwind, brass and percussion, vocal and choral, and piano), Dalton Center Recital Hall.

About SEMINAR

SEMINAR is unique in that 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.

More than 100 students from Michigan, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Honduras have been selected by audition to participate in the program, which runs through July 22. Each participant is enrolled in one of seven seminars: string, woodwind, brass, percussion, piano, voice or composition.

Most of the rehearsals and classes at SEMINAR 2017 will be conducted by WMU music faculty members. In addition to serving as teachers and conductors, faculty members will also perform in performance classes, held at 10 a.m. daily in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

SEMINAR 2017 operates under the auspices of the School of Music in the College of Fine Arts at WMU. Kevin West is the administrative director and Dannielle Sturgeon serves as the registrar.

Enrollment

There are still enrollment vacancies for violin, euphonium and bass singers.

For application information, visit wmich.edu/music-camp or contact Dannielle Sturgeon at dannielle.n.sturgeon@wmich.edu or (269) 387-4678.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.