Everything Nac

    Registration is still open for the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music’s series of band camps for middle and senior high school instrumentalists and drum majors during the month of June.

    “For two weeks, students from across the state will rehearse and perform as members of various concert groups and receive instruction from a world-class teaching staff composed of SFA faculty and some of the best public school teachers in Texas,” said Gary Wurtz, assistant director of the SFA School of Music.

    “And for our local students, who can pay just the $125 commuter fee, these camps are extremely affordable,” Wurtz continued. “They’ll get the same superb instruction and interaction with other musicians; they just don’t have to pay for a dorm room.”

    The Senior High Band Camp will begin Sunday, June 12, and continue through Friday, June 17. Each of the bands formed during the camp will perform on the camp’s last day, with Fred J. Allen, SFA director of bands, conducting the Honors Band and Dr. David W. Campo, SFA associate director of bands, conducting the Symphonic Band. Lindale band directors Steven Moore and Ben Davis will conduct the Concert Band and Ninth Grade Bands, respectively.

    Students entering seventh or eighth grade in the fall will arrive on campus Sunday, June 19, and stay through Friday, June 24, for the Middle School Band Camp. Each band will present a closing concert on Friday.

    Jason Tucker, band director at Rice Middle School in Plano, will conduct the Eighth Grade Honor Band; Amy Allison of Canyon Ridge Middle School in Leander, the Seventh Grade Honor Band; Brent Cannon of Lindale Middle School, the Seventh Grade Pine Log Band; and Dwaine Hubbard of Hallsville High School, the Seventh Grade Tejas Band.

    During that same week, ninth through twelfth graders may attend one of two drum major camps. The military marching style camp will be led by Lucy Pascasio, assistant band director of Argyle Middle School and color guard coordinator; and Deshmond Johnson, former drum major for the Lumberjack Marching Band.

    Leading the corps marching style camp will be Darwert Johnson, high school band director from Mansfield; and Melanie Settle, incoming drum major for the Lumberjack Marching Band.

    “SFA has been conducting a summer band camp program for over 50 years,” Wurtz said. “It has proven to be one of our most effective recruitment tools and a positive experience for all involved.”

    For more information on any of the camps, please visit www.music.sfasu.edu/bandcamps or call the SFA band office at (936) 468-4702.