Seminar brings top high school musicians to WMU
July 3, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- Seminar 2002, Western Michigan University's summer music camp for high school students, celebrates its 51st year when students from eight states and Canada convene on the WMU campus for the two-week program, July 7-20.
Five free public performances by Seminar students are scheduled July 14-20. (See list below.)
Seminar is unique. 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 Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, Texas and Canada have been selected by audition to participate in the program.
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 2002 will be learned and prepared during the two-week program.
Most of the rehearsals and classes at Seminar 2002 will be conducted by members of the WMU music faculty. In addition to serving as teachers and conductors, Seminar faculty members will also perform in a daily "Performance Class" held at 10 a.m. in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.
Seminar 2002 operates under the auspices of the School of Music. Carl Doubleday, associate director of the School of Music, has been director of Seminar for 35 years and a member of the Seminar staff for 38 years.
Free public performances by Seminar students
Sunday, July 14, 9:15 a.m. -- Continuing a 34-year tradition, Seminar brass students and the 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 14, 4 p.m. -- The Woodwind Choir and selected string quartets will present a concert in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.
Thursday, July 18, 7 p.m. -- Pianists will present a public recital in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.
Friday, July 19, 7:30 p.m. - Seminar 2002 Large Ensemble Concert will feature the wind ensemble, concert choir, string orchestra, vocal jazz ensemble, and instrumental jazz combos performing in Miller Auditorium.
Saturday, July 20, 10:30 a.m. -- Seminar 2002 concludes with a festival of five simultaneous chamber music concerts (string, woodwind, brass and percussion, choral, and piano) in the Dalton Center.
Media contact: Kevin West, 269 387-4678, kevin.west@wmich.edu