The Orion Chamber Music Society sponsored a stringed instrument day camp last week at the First Baptist Church of Lake Orion.
The camp, which has been around for three years, was started by Leonard Holliday. Holliday started the camp ‘to give young people an opportunity to experience chamber music, especially string quartets.?
Holliday was formerly a music teacher in the Pontiac schools and a former choir teacher at various churches in the area. When not directing the strings camp, he teaches private lessons.
The goal of the camp was to develop listening skills and musical understanding. Holliday also wanted the students to improve skills in tone, information, interpretation and to study some of the classics in music literature.
Campers come from across Michigan to attend the day camp, some driving from Richmond and Centerline each day.
‘Some students take over an hour just to get to camp,? said Pat Sherman of the Orion Chamber Music Society.
Students who were interested in attending the camp had to be recommended by a teacher or audition for one of the spots. They needed to have previous experience working in an ensemble, be able to sight read moderately difficult music and be able to carry a part in the string quartets of selected classical music.
Ortonville attendee Zachary Moore, 17, has come to the camp since it started in 2005.
‘I like the challenging music,? said Moore, who plays the cello, explaining that it is not every day when people his age get to play in an orchestra with challenging music.
Lake Orion student, Matt Dobis, 17, jokes that his favorite part of the camp is the great food. Dobis goes to Lake Orion Baptist and plays the cello at the camp.
Dobis said that he appreciates the instructors because ‘they love what they do.?
‘They have experience in their field,? added Moore.
Some of the instructors for the camp came from the Orion Chamber Music Society, while others were college students. The instructors worked with individual quartets, giving the students helpful tips and suggestions.
Marilyn Burns, 20, volunteered as an instructor for the camp. Burns, who studies music at Oakland University, said helping teach is a great learning experience.
Due to how the camp has grown in the few years it has been around, this was the first year which the entire group was split into two orchestras based on skill level. The students were then divided into eight different string quartets.
Monday through Friday the campers participated in large ensemble rehearsals, sectionals, quartet rehearsals and combined orchestra rehearsals. The students also devoted many hours practicing their various pieces at home.
At the end of the week, the camp held a concert to showcase what the students worked on at camp. Each of the quartets had individual selections. Everyone came together at the end and played four pieces as a combined orchestra.