High school summer music camp returns to WMU campus

KALAMAZOO—Seminar 2021, Western Michigan University’s summer music camp for high school students, celebrated its 70th year when students convened on the WMU campus this month. While typically offered as a two-week overnight camp, School of Music administrators were pleased to be able to offer the camp as a one-week hybrid day and virtual camp this year as processes and procedures begin to return to normal following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nearly 40 students from Michigan, Illinois and as far away as Germany were selected by audition to participate in the program, which ran from July 19 to 23.

Each participant was enrolled in one of six seminars: string, woodwind, brass, piano, voice or composition. During their stay at WMU, the high school students studied music theory and music literature, and they took private lessons and elective classes on music career-related topics, such as music therapy, computer applications for music, ensemble conducting techniques, being a music teacher and recording studio techniques as well as special topics including an exploration of composer diversity, the Beatles' impact on society, aspects of symphony music and an exploration of a variety of musical traditions from cultural perspectives.

Most of the rehearsals and classes at Seminar 2021 were conducted by Western music faculty members. In addition to serving as teachers, Seminar faculty members also performed in a daily “Performance Class” held at the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

Seminar 2021 operates under the auspices of the School of Music in the College of Fine Arts at Western. Kevin West is the administrative director for Seminar 2021, and David Bernard serves as the registrar.