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May 15, 2007
Opera, Sound Effects, Composition and Private Lessons on Academy Summer Schedule
Young musicians who want to learn to compose like the next John Williams or sing like the Hollywood Film Chorale Special Effects Choir should take a look at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music's summer programs this year. The Academy, located in Lancaster, will offer a Composers' Workshop and a “Rhythm and Songs” singers camp (featuring opera and sound effects choral training) this summer. In addition to the two camps, private instruction will be offered at the Academy during the summer session in half-hour, three-quarter hour, and one-hour weekly lessons. Those interested in learning more about the Academy's summer programs and lessons available, including a schedule and fees, should contact the Academy at 717.399.9733. Registration is due by June 15.
Starting July 9, the Academy will once again offer a Composers' Workshop, a six-week program, meeting on Mondays from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon each week. Individual and group instruction will be featured in this program which will include both composition and listening assignments. Students should have had at least two years of music theory and be familiar with music notation, but need not have any composing experience to qualify for the workshop. At the close of the six week session, there will be a concert presenting works by students.
From August 13-17, the Academy will offer a “Rhythm and Song” camp from 9:30 a.m. to noon for singers. This camp will be divided into two groups, for singers in grades 1 through 8 and for those in grades 9 through 12.
The younger singers will have the opportunity to participate in a program entitled “Opera??? Yes, You Can!” and will learn the children's opera “Three Little Pigs,” presenting a performance at the end of the week. Singers will learn solos and sing in ensembles and there will be many fun surprises during the week.
The older group of singers will tackle “From Bach to Beebop and Beyond,” a light-hearted session featuring music and improvisation. All singers will receive training in a friendly ensemble class setting and will learn how to produce human sound effects without electronic enhancement, akin to those produced by the Hollywood Film Chorale Sound Effects Choir, which performed at this year's Academy Awards ceremony. This camp takes the sound effects choir concept a step further, adding music to the mix. An end-of-week performance is part of the experience.
The Pennsylvania Academy of Music is a non-profit pre-collegiate institution dedicated to the musical advancement of its students. Founded in 1990, the Academy attracts students from an immediate nine-county area as well as from around the world, who study disciplines ranging from instrumental, chamber music, orchestra, opera and vocal performance to music composition and theory, improvisation, accompanying ,jazz and recording. The Academy has a widely accomplished international faculty and is one of only 12 autonomous pre-collegiate music schools in the country accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
