Camp Festival Amadeus hosts public concerts
Whitefish Pilot | Whitefish Pilot | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
Hailey Simon leads cello section during the Camp Festival Amadeus concert. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
The North Valley Music School is hosting two free public concerts this week as a grand finale to Camp Festival Amadeus.
This year, 34 campers are excited to share their polished pieces with the community during the free concerts at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center.
The faculty concert is on Wednesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. and the student concert is on Thursday, June 26 at noon.
Established in 2008, Camp Festival Amadeus is a chamber orchestra music camp for string students entering 7th through 12th grades. The camp involves high-quality instruction from experienced musicians on violin, viola, cello, and bass and students from across the state and the country.
This year’s faculty includes Michael Certalic, Ryan Davis, Ali Schultz-Levesque, Sara Schultz-Levesque, Noah Certalic, Griffin Browne, Tristan Hernandez and Jenanne Solberg.
Solberg is the founder and artistic director of Camp Festival Amadeus, while Deidre Corson, executive director of North Valley Music School, is the camp director.
This year, two faculty members are camp alumni. Noah Certalic, violinist, and Tristan Hernandez, celloist, are now professional educators and musicians who will lead the campers and perform in the faculty concert.
Each day leading up to the concerts, faculty members lead orchestra rehearsals, small ensembles, sectionals and elective classes, including jazz, tango, and rock and roll. Other camp activities include a lake picnic and Whitefish Farmers’ Market and Big Sky Waterslides outings.
“Music changes lives. We live by this at North Valley Music School,” 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.”
The camp relies on sponsorships, donations and volunteers. To donate, visit www.northvalleymusicschool.org.
The concerts are free; however, a suggested donation of $25 is appreciated and will benefit the North Valley Music School Scholarship Fund.