We had a great lineup of Presenters, Teachers, and Counselors. There were 42 students, fun music, and a myriad of activities. The following are links to pictures and resources used during the week. Feel free to look around and see what Got Strings? is all about.
With 35-40 registered campers annually, we are ready to have some serious fun!! In addition to daily rehearsals in our two levels of Orchestras and various Chamber Ensembles, the campers will have the honor of working with some of the area's biggest and brightest talents. We have the talented, engaging Leanne Purkis Blevins, Owner of Magic Glass Art on Monday helping each camper create your unique glass fusion craft, you are exposed to the fine art of Jump Rope with Justin Pillmore of "Just Jumpin' Jump Rope Camp" on Tuesday & Wednesday and you'll enter the world of Hang Drumming with the energized & educational Ron Kravitz on Thursday. The campers will also be creating a fun Music Video and learn how to add mood/character-appropriate music using their own instruments, rubber banding Tie-dye t-shirts for the camp concert and have a pizza party on Saturday. It is a packed, super-charged, fun, educational week sure to inspire you!! Won't you come join the fun?
NEW TO OUR 2012 CAMP: Area String Teacher, Mrs. Jean Young will be joining the Got Strings? camp staff! Jean will be assisting with the Advanced Orchestra and coaching small ensembles. Jean is a beloved strings teacher in the Sellersville, Bedminster and West Rockhill Elementary schools - and we send a warm welcome to her!! Jean Young - holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Marywood University; a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Wilson College and is currently working on her Master's in Music Education from Duquesne University. She has been teaching music in the public schools since 1983. She was the Orchestra Director for grades 4-12 for the Susquehanna Township School District, in Harrisburg, for 12 years. She studied Violin with the late Irene Palashewskyj of Harrisburg, Viola with Robert Lau of Camp Hill and has studied String Bass at Duquesne University. She was the piano accompanist for Alice Bish, violist of the Harrisburg Symphony. She has performed on Viola with the Central Pennsylvania Symphony and the Lansdowne Symphony. She currently teaches in the Pennridge School District where she teaches strings in Bedminster, Sellersville and West Rockhill Elementary Schools. She is a member of MENC, PMEA and ASTA. Jean enjoys her family of pets, outdoor activities and riding her motorcycle. Jean resides in Landowne with her husband, Bill.
"MYSTERY GUESTS FOR GOT STRINGS? CAMP 2012"
2-3:15 daily class
2012 "Monday" Guest - Leanne Purkis Blevins
Leanne is the owner of Magic Glass, the only mobile fused-glass studio and teaches glass bead making (lampwork) and glass fusing at many area community schools. She will be helping the students create their project on Monday, taking the projects home to fire in her Kiln and returning them on Friday for display at the Saturday evening concert. Ms. Blevins will come to your home for private parties and has worked with Mercer County Community College, Hunterdon County Parks & Recreation, Gloucester Community College, Newtown Parks & Recreation (Bucks County), New Hope Solebury Community School, The Jointure (Somerset County), Pennsbury Community School (Bucks County), Hamilton Township. Adult Education (Mercer County), Bucks County Community College, West Windsor-Plainsboro (Mercer County), East Windsor Regional Schools (Mercer County), Warren County Community College, Delaware Community College, Ocean Community College, North Penn School District. You can read about Leanne at http://www.magicglassart.com or contact her at 215-932-8452
2012 "Tuesday & Wednesday" Guest - Justin Pillmore
Justin is returning to our camp for a second year by popular demand, and comes to us from The Jump Rope Camp in Doylestown. Mr. Pillmore is currently a counselor at "Just Jumpin' Jump Rope Camp". They provide week long Jump Rope summer camps in Bucks County, PA. The Doylestown based camp involves different skills such as single rope, partner tricks, long rope, double-dutch, routines, and competitions. All the counselors are finely trained jump rope instructors and have a passion for working with kids. Justin will bring members of the performance team to demonstrate their flair with ropes! They are starting their fourth year on the performance circuit and are also taking requests for assemblies & shows around the country. Justin's infectious charisma and energy & qualified experience will truly get your child "jumping" for joy about this energized class! You can view Justin's website at jumpropecamp.com, or contact him at 267-221-6111.
2012 "Thursday" Guest - Ron Kravitz
It is our honor to have the fabulously engaging & educational percussionist, Ron Kravitz, joins us again for the fourth year in a row! He began playing music in the early 70's. Over the years he has been inspired by, as well as having had performed with such notables as Grammy Award winning artists ... David Darling, Bobby McFerrin, Babatunde Olatunji, Paul Winter, Glen Velez and others. Added to his accomplishments are the recordings of two CD's ... HANG MEDITATIONS & WINTER SONG. He is creator of Music in the Moment improvisational workshops for everyone, hosts weekly community drum circles http://www.meetup.com/Philly-Area-Community-DrumForChange, is long time percussionist for the Group Motion dance improvisation workshop in Philly, shepherded the Swiss made PANArt HANG to many players in the USA and last but not least, is producer of Underground At Ron's, a performance venue that showcases the talents of local, regional and international artists from a variety of creative domains.
2012 Guest - Ryan Williams
Mr. Ryan Williams received his BS in Music Ed from Penn State University and MA in Ed from Arcadia University. He is the elementary orchestra and string teacher in East Penn School District, working with 4th & 5th grade students from the 7 elementary schools in the district. Outside of his main job, Mr. Williams maintains a small private studio of violin & viola students and is the founder and violist for the Iris String Quartet. He is also the violinist for the East Swamp Church praise team. Mr. Williams also serves on the Pennsylvania Delaware String Teachers Association state board as chapter webmaster. Outside of music, Mr. Williams enjoys spending time outside; biking, hiking, and kayaking. He also is the fire police captain for Quakertown Fire Department. Mr. Williams resides in Quakertown with his wife Christina, and their 3 children, Kaitlyn, Daniel, and Samantha.
ORCHESTRA CLASSES: The Junior, Advanced & Extreme! orchestras rehearse daily, preparing 3-4 pieces each for our Saturday evening concert in addition to a group camp piece. Our only camp musical requirements - all campers MUST be reading music and MUST have learned all four strings (violin, viola, cello & bass). The Junior and Advanced Orchestras are divided by ability rather than age, but the Junior group tends to be grades 3-5 and Advanced tends to be grades 5-7. Students need to be very advanced on their instruments and in Junior High or High School to be in the Extreme! Orchestra.
Junior Orchestra is for campers with 1-3 years of experience, and is lead by our Associate Director, Elizabeth J O'Brien.
Advanced Orchestra is for campers with 3-5 years of experience, and is lead by Mrs. Jean Young, and Camp Director Deirdre Edgell.
Extreme! Orchestra is for highly advanced campers with 5+ years of experience who are in Junior High or High School and are ready for a SERIOUS challenge, and is lead by Camp Director Deirdre Edgell.
ENSEMBLE CLASSES: Each camper will be placed in an ensemble (string duo, trio, quartet or other small group) that is appropriate to their playing level and will be coached daily on 1-2 concert pieces by a counselor and a rotating camp teacher. This class gives each child a chance to "shine" on their own and learn leadership skills, small group playing skills, and more one-on-one training than is received in orchestra class. The groups each have fun "naming" their own group (beware!) and are encouraged by their counselor in a variety of uniquely positive ways!
MUSIC VIDEO CLASS: This fast-paced, hilarious class is a camp favorite!! Two, consecutive, one-hour Music Video Classes are held every day from 12-2pm - one for the Junior group (Blue) and one for the Advanced group (Red). These Blue and Red Orchestra campers individually create a short 3 minute skit, and then learn how to use their instruments to add special effects and character music. Much fun and games, props from home and tongue-in-cheek humor make this class a hit each year! A video is shot of both groups on Friday and shown to campers and teachers at the camp pizza party on Saturday.
CAMP EXTRAS:
T-SHIRTS: Each camper will receive a camp T-shirt to wear with LONG blue- jeans at the camp concert on Saturday night.
SNACK-TIME: Snacks each day are provided by parents, who take turns providing a variety of goodies for the campers. A schedule of when to bring snack and what snack to bring, will be send out the week before camp.
"CRAZY TIME": is a 15 minute break where we let the kids run off some steam in the gym, just chill out in the halls, or play a group game, for a much needed mid-day break!
CAMP MEETING: We end each day with a camp meeting in "Home Base" (the choir room), reviewing the day and talking about the following day. Questions are answered and information is usually sent home with each child. Be sure and check your child's folder each day for information.
LOCATION: We are blessed with an amazing facility to use for our camp, as well as our annual season: Souderton Mennonite Church. They are conveniently located in the heart of Souderton, on the corner of Wile & Chestnut Sts. Ample parking, easy to find and centrally-located - really a dream location for us! The camp is held in the lower level rooms: Choir Room, Studio 56, 5-6 classrooms, the gym, lunch area...all located on one level to allow us to keep a close eye on the kids and get from room to room easily.
SECURITY: All of our teachers have security clearance checks, and have been professional performers and teachers for over 25 years.
Area String Teacher, Mrs. Jean Young will be joining the Got Strings? camp staff! Jean will be assisting with the Advanced Orchestra and coaching small ensembles. Jean is a beloved strings teacher in the Sellersville, Bedminster and West Rockhill Elementary schools - and we send a warm welcome to her!!
Jean Young - holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Marywood University; a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Wilson College and is currently working on her Master's in Music Education from Duquesne University. She has been teaching music in the public schools since 1983. She was the Orchestra Director for grades 4-12 for the Susquehanna Township School District, in Harrisburg, for 12 years. She studied Violin with the late Irene Palashewskyj of Harrisburg, Viola with Robert Lau of Camp Hill and has studied String Bass at Duquesne University. She was the piano accompanist for Alice Bish, violist of the Harrisburg Symphony. She has performed on Viola with the Central Pennsylvania Symphony and the Lansdowne Symphony. She currently teaches in the Pennridge School District where she teaches strings in Bedminster, Sellersville and West Rockhill Elementary Schools. She is a member of MENC, PMEA and ASTA. Jean enjoys her family of pets, outdoor activities and riding her motorcycle. Jean resides in Landowne with her husband, Bill.
Leanne is the owner of Magic Glass, the only mobile fused-glass studio and teaches glass bead making (lampwork) and glass fusing at many area community schools. She will be helping the students create their project on Monday, taking the projects home to fire in her Kiln and returning them on Friday for display at the Saturday evening concert. Ms. Blevins will come to your home for private parties and has worked with Mercer County Community College, Hunterdon County Parks & Recreation, Gloucester Community College, Newtown Parks & Recreation (Bucks County), New Hope Solebury Community School, The Jointure (Somerset County), Pennsbury Community School (Bucks County), Hamilton Township. Adult Education (Mercer County), Bucks County Community College, West Windsor-Plainsboro (Mercer County), East Windsor Regional Schools (Mercer County), Warren County Community College, Delaware Community College, Ocean Community College, North Penn School District. You can read about Leanne at 
Justin is returning to our camp for a second year by popular demand, and comes to us from The Jump Rope Camp in Doylestown. Mr. Pillmore is currently a counselor at "Just Jumpin' Jump Rope Camp". They provide week long Jump Rope summer camps in Bucks County, PA. The Doylestown based camp involves different skills such as single rope, partner tricks, long rope, double-dutch, routines, and competitions. All the counselors are finely trained jump rope instructors and have a passion for working with kids. Justin will bring members of the performance team to demonstrate their flair with ropes! They are starting their fourth year on the performance circuit and are also taking requests for assemblies & shows around the country. Justin's infectious charisma and energy & qualified experience will truly get your child "jumping" for joy about this energized class! You can view Justin's website at 
It is our honor to have the fabulously engaging & educational percussionist, Ron Kravitz, joins us again for the fourth year in a row! He began playing music in the early 70's. Over the years he has been inspired by, as well as having had performed with such notables as Grammy Award winning artists ... David Darling, Bobby McFerrin, Babatunde Olatunji, Paul Winter, Glen Velez and others. Added to his accomplishments are the recordings of two CD's ... HANG MEDITATIONS & WINTER SONG. He is creator of Music in the Moment improvisational workshops for everyone, hosts weekly community drum circles http://www.meetup.com/Philly-Area-Community-DrumForChange, is long time percussionist for the Group Motion dance improvisation workshop in Philly, shepherded the Swiss made PANArt HANG to many players in the USA and last but not least, is producer of Underground At Ron's, a performance venue that showcases the talents of local, regional and international artists from a variety of creative domains.
Mr. Ryan Williams received his BS in Music Ed from Penn State University and MA in Ed from Arcadia University. He is the elementary orchestra and string teacher in East Penn School District, working with 4th & 5th grade students from the 7 elementary schools in the district. Outside of his main job, Mr. Williams maintains a small private studio of violin & viola students and is the founder and violist for the Iris String Quartet. He is also the violinist for the East Swamp Church praise team. Mr. Williams also serves on the Pennsylvania Delaware String Teachers Association state board as chapter webmaster. Outside of music, Mr. Williams enjoys spending time outside; biking, hiking, and kayaking. He also is the fire police captain for Quakertown Fire Department. Mr. Williams resides in Quakertown with his wife Christina, and their 3 children, Kaitlyn, Daniel, and Samantha.
