Kids and adults alike can learn to be rock stars at the upcoming Cordova 4H Music Camp. The program has a wealth of musical offerings from bluegrass to old-time to Hawaiian and even some rock and roll. There are three camps plus a variety of evening activities like dances and concerts are set for July 18-22.
Hawaiian Camp
Hawaiian Camp for 6- to 8-year-olds features instruction in ukulele, guitar and fiddle, Hawaiian culture, language, foods and hula dancing. Hawaiian Camp instructors are Deva Yamashiro, her son Kaloku Holt and Ashley Helenihi from the KeKukui Foundation in Vancouver, Wash. The director is Shiloh Parkinson from San Francisco.
Music Camp
Music Camp for 9- to 18-year-olds has classes in fiddle, guitar, banjo, bass (standup and electric), mandolin, mountain dulcimer, piano, singing, dance, and audio recording. Each camper takes three classes and everyone gets to be in a band (bluegrass, old-time, folk, Irish, Island, improvisation, singing, or classic rock). Front Country, an award-winning band from San Francisco, will be the guest artists. Camp instructors are band members Jacob Groupman, Melody Walker, Adam Roszkiewicz, Jeremy Darrow as well as Eli West, Amanda Kerr, Garren Volper, Anna Lynch, Matthew Pustina, Lucas Jacaruso, Nancy Galambush, Fred Weiss, Alyssa Kleissler. The director is Kate Hamre. There are numerous end of the day activities including a ski hill hike, concerts and a much-anticipated squirt gun fight.
Adult Music Camp
Adult Music Camp has instruction in old-time, bluegrass, Hawaiian and jazz. Instructors are Eli West, Pete Bowers, Fred Weiss, Patty Hamre, Peter Johnson, Marshall Hawkins, Nancy Gallambush, Deva Yamashiro, Kaina Barba, Martin Budde and director Belle Mickelson. The Adult camp is a fundraiser for the youth music camps.
To sign up
Aspiring musicians can sign up for Cordova 4H Music Camps online at CordovaMusicCamp.org or in town at the library or Bidarki. Tuition is $300. There is an early bird discount if those who sign up by today (July 8) and family discounts for three or more children. Adult Camp Classes are $100 each.
Preview concert
To get everyone revved up for music camp, Cordova 4H is hosting a professional piano concert at 7 p.m. tonight at Mt. Eccles. Hermina Fernandez Lang will be playing classical music and show tunes. Originally from the Philipines, Lang started playing music by ear at the age of 5. She went on to attend conservatories in Manilla and Madrid and earned a master’s degree in music from John Hopkins University. The concert is free and refreshments will be served.
The Rev. Belle Mickelson is the 4H Adult Camp Director and is a priest at St. George’s Episcopal Church. She can be reached at 424-5143.
