Virginia

Children/Youth Camp

Children/Youth Camp is a great opportunity for children and youth ages 8-17 to get to sing. They have a choir experience where they get to sing with other children under a capable director who will make it both educational and fun. They will also get to take a class which will help them read and understand music like they learned to read and understand words when they were younger.

Learning

In choir students see the music, notes, rests, and rhythms. In class they learn what those things mean and how they work together to form a song. The teachers work hard to customize material for each age level so it’s accessible and exciting.

Sharing

Camp is also a social experience. Lunches are provided, and everyone gets to eat together. Lunch time also includes recreation and games – a welcome break from the mental work of classes and choir.

Singing

All the learning and singing during the week is pushing toward an end goal – performing at ChoralFest, getting to share what they’ve been learning with family and other audience members. This is a highly satisfying chance to show what they did throughout the week.

Registration for VA Children’s Camp will open January 1.

Check back then to register!

Meet the 3 C’s of your learning experience:

Choir. Class. ChoralFest.

Choir

Treble and Youth Choirs are both for Family Package students and for local students.

Treble Choir, Ages 8-12

This choir is for treble voices only. (Male singers in this age range with changed voices may be promoted to the Youth Choir.) Treble Choir rehearses twice daily. Students enrolled in choir also participate in Dress Rehearsal and Choral Fest.

Conductor: Regina Brubaker

Youth Choir, Ages 13-17
This SATB choir rehearses twice daily. Students enrolled in choir also participate in Dress Rehearsal and Choral Fest.
Conductor: Jeff Swanson

Class

When we first start school, we learn about letters, how letters form words, and how words form sentences. In musical skills class, we do the same thing – only with music. Students will learn about notes, rhythms, rest, pitches, and how they all fit together to form a song. Learning how music works will strengthen their choir experience as they get skills to help them read unfamiliar music.

Class placement is by age, and is designed to be within reach of all, and yet challenging to those who are more advanced.

Musical Skills I (ages 8-10)
Musical Skills II (ages 11-12)
Musical Skills III (ages 13-17)

Instructors: Regina Brubaker, Deana Swanson, Jeff Swanson
Textbooks: none

Adult Class Option. At no extra cost, students from ages 14-17 may choose to take an online test and be placed into an Adult Sight Singing class (view class description here). This class will require purchasing or renting the Sight-Singing textbook.

ChoralFest

All students enrolled in choir sing in the ChoralFest, including the dress rehearsal on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, children should be at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren at 5:00 p.m. for practice and dress rehearsal. Children should have supper prior to coming to practice.

On Sunday, the formal ChoralFest begins at 3:00 p.m. Children should be at Bridgewater Church of the Brethren by 2:00, dressed in their formal choir attire.

Children should bring games and books to occupy themselves quietly during and between programs. Following the afternoon program, supper will be served. After dismissal of the evening program, children are once again the responsibility of their parents.

Schedules

Monday - Friday

	At Calvary Mennonite Fellowship
9:50	Registration (Monday only)
10:00	Arrival
10:15	Choir Rehearsal 1
12:00	Lunch & Recreation
1:00	Musical Skills I-III (optional Adult Sight Singing for ages 14-17)
2:10	Choir Rehearsal 2
3:20	Dismissal

Saturday

	At Bridgewater Church of the Brethren
4:45	Arrival
5:00	Choir Rehearsal
7:00	Dress Rehearsal

Sunday

	At Bridgewater Church of the Brethren
1:45	Arrival
2:00	Choir Rehearsal
3:00	ChoralFest Concert I
5:30	Supper
6:30	ChoralFest Concert II