Camp Festival Amadeus hosts free public concerts in Whitefish

To celebrate the work accomplished at Camp Festival Amadeus, North Valley Music School has planned two free public concerts to showcase the 34 participants and their instructors.   

North Valley Music School hosts Camp Festival Amadeus, a weeklong chamber orchestra camp for intermediate to advanced string students entering seventh through 12th grade.  

The concerts will be held at 7 p.m. June 25 and noon June 26 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, 127 Spokane Ave., Whitefish.  

Established in 2008, Camp Festival Amadeus matches professional musicians on violin, viola, cello and bass with students from across the state and the country. This year’s faculty includes Griffin Browne, Noah Certalic, Ryan Davis, Ali Schultz-Levesque, Sara Schultz-Levesque, camp founder and Artistic Director Jenanne Solberg and camp alumni Michael Certalic and Tristan Hernandez.  

During the June 21 through 26 camp, faculty members lead orchestra rehearsals, small ensembles, sectionals and elective classes, including jazz, tango and rock and roll, which culminate with the concerts. Students will also participate in different outings and activities.  

“Music changes lives. We live by this at NVMS," camp Director Deidre Corson said. “By focusing on orchestra skills, mentorship, musical relationships, collaboration, and artistic direction, we believe there is nothing that these young, talented musicians can’t do. We are accomplishing the CFA mission, ‘Inspiring young musicians, building our orchestras for the future.’”  

While the concerts are free, a $25 donation is suggested to benefit the school’s scholarship fund.   

The camp also relies on sponsorships, donations and volunteers to operate. To donate, visit northvalleymusicschool.org.