June 19, 2018
Successful 2018 Summer Music Camp
The K-State Bands hosted its 25th annual Summer Music Camp June 10-14.
Two hundred students in grades 5-12, from 12 different states, participated in three large concert bands, two jazz bands and six small ensembles coordinated by Frank Tracz, Alex Wimmer and 22 current and former music students. Jay Gilbert, director of bands at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska; David Betancourt, director of bands at Cerritos College in Los Angeles, California; and Larry Blocher of Troy University in Troy, Alabama, were the guest conductors for the three large ensembles.
Students at the camp not only received a quality musical instruction but got to experience campus — highlighted by bowling at the K-State Student Union and eating at Kramer Dining Center — and the city of Manhattan — swimming at the City Park Pool.
The camp was highlighted by a combined performance in City Park with the Manhattan Municipal Band on June 12 and a final concert in McCain Auditorium on June 14. The final concert included a final piece that involved all 200 students, their parents and staff performing a rendition of America — "My Country Tis of Thee," pictured above. What a great way to bring 200 potential Wildcats to campus!
Next year's camp will be June 9-13, 2019.