Band

2024 Calendar

Session 1
June 26 – July 7

Central Camp: Grades 9-12
Junior Camp (Camp Bernstein): Grades 7 – 8

Session 2
July 10 – July 21

Central Camp: Grades 9 – 12
Junior Camp (Camp Bernstein): Grades 7 – 8

Session 3
July 24 – August 4

Central Camp: Grades 7-9
Junior Camp (Camp Bernstein): Grades 5 – 7

Session 4
August 7 – August 18

Central Camp: Grades 7-9
Junior Camp (Camp Bernstein): Grades 5 – 7

Students learning how to play band instruments at Blue Lakes summer band program

The Band Program is designed to challenge students of all proficiency levels. Students are grouped by ability in an appropriate ensemble after submitting a placement video prior to arrival. Our conducting faculty selects challenging repertoire for each level of ensemble. Students receive five hours of intensive daily rehearsals, sectionals, and technique classes. Chamber ensemble experiences are offered to select musicians as the schedule permits. Students can complete their instructional day by choosing a Minor, allowing them to experience another area of interest while at camp. Students also have the opportunity to attend Summer Arts Festival performances, as well as participate in recreation, camp activities, and attend arts-focused educational events in the evening.

Band Sessions 1 and 2

During sessions 1 and 2 (High School level), ensembles include a wind ensemble, symphony band, and two equal-ability high school bands (named after famous conductors). Consisting of the most advanced winds and percussion, the Wind Ensemble studies and performs a variety of musically demanding literature designed to challenge even the most experienced high school musician. Past Wind Ensemble repertoire has included selections such as: Grainger’s Lincolnshire Posy, Holst’s Suites in E and F, Bernstein’s Candide, Reed’s Armenian Dances, Mackey’s Until the Scars, Biedenbender’s Luminescense, Ticheli’s Sun Dance, Giroux’s Our Cast Aways and Milhaud’s Suite Francaise.

Band Sessions 3 and 4

During sessions 3 and 4 (Intermediate/Middle School level), ensembles include a symphony band, concert band and two equal-ability intermediate bands (named after famous conductors). Consisting of the most advanced winds and percussion, the Symphony Band studies and performs a variety of musically demanding literature designed to challenge even the most experienced intermediate/middle school musician. Past Symphony Band repertoire has included selections such as: Perkins’ Tuebor Suite, Himes’ Luminaria, Curnow’s Nathan Hale Trilogy, Nelson’s Courtly Airs and Dances, Ticheli’s Four Shaker Songs and Amen!, Markowski’s The Cave You Fear, LaPlante’s American Riversongs, and Chance’s Incantation and Dance.

 

Orchestra Winds and Percussion Sessions 1-4

Performing as a part of the Orchestra Winds and Percussion provides advanced students the opportunity to participate in full symphony orchestra, experiencing a range of challenging orchestral repertoire. Student winds and percussion interested in orchestra must initially enroll in “Band” and are selected by placement videos submitted prior to arrival. These select students perform in two orchestra wind sections (Symphony and Concert) and participate in sectionals, technique classes, and chamber ensembles as scheduling permits.

Teen girls playing in the band at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
band conducting staff practicing with students at band camp

Masterworks Orchestra Winds and Percussion (Sessions 1 and 2 only)

The Masterworks Orchestra challenges the most advanced high school musicians with original, unedited, standard orchestral repertoire by studying and performing one major work during the 12-day session. Masterworks winds and percussion are selected via video audition and notified in the spring, with preferred placement auditions due by February 28th, and second round auditions due by March 28th. The 2024 repertoire for Session 1 is Dvorak – Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88 and for Session 2 is Borodin – Symphony No. 2 in B Minor. Visit Scholarships to review audition requirements and apply.

Junior Band Program

Blue Lake also offers a band program for younger students with less musical experience at Camp Bernstein. For more details go to Junior Camp.

Blue Lake International 

During the summer season, band students will have the opportunity to apply for the International Band, which will tour Europe during the following summer as part of Blue Lake’s International Exchange Program.

Band Conductors 2024

Session 1
Wind Ensemble – Dr. Matt Westgate, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Symphony Band – Mark Veenstra, Retired, Cy-Fair High School, Cypress, TX
Vander Linde Band – Tavia Zerman, Grand Ledge Public School, Grand Ledge, MI
Begian Band – David Wacyk, University of Missouri – St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Session 2
Wind Ensemble – Dr. Christopher Chapman, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
Symphony Band – James Ross, retired, East Kentwood High School, Kentwood, MI
Vander Linde Band – Erin Lilliefors, Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor, MI
Begian Band – David Leach, Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor, MI

Session 3
Symphony Band – Joseph Dobos, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Concert Band – Kathleen McGrady, retired, Springfield Schools, Perrysburg, OH
Begian Band – Kevin Czarnik, Croswell-Lexington Schools, Croswell, MI
Vander Linde Band – Dr. Dana Pradervand-Sedatole, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Session 4
Symphony Band – Dr. Mary Land, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Begian Band – TBA
Vander Linde Band –  Dr. Christopher Ramos, Utah Valley University, Cedar Hills, UT

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