A summer camp devoted to art, dance, music, or theater can make all the difference for a young person who has fallen in love with the arts or who is interested but would like to know more. The experience often opens new vistas of what might be possible while also teaching the discipline needed to succeed in the arts. The camper finds others like themselves in a community of like-minded young people

in a relaxed setting.

A quick Google search reveals that there are over twelve thousand summer camps in the United States, including seven thousand overnight camps and five thousand day camps. There are summer camps with tuition ranging from thousands of dollars to those run by local organizations that are free or at minimum cost. Summer arts camps range from the nationally famous ones, such as Interlochen Center for the Arts, to local ones held in middle and high schools.

While in high school, I experienced a weeklong camp devoted to learning half-time football shows each summer. I both honed my burgeoning saxophone skills and learned how to march in all directions and take audible cues from the drum line. Importantly, I also found a group of like-minded young musicians, giving me a community within the high school. After my senior year, I attended Bay View Conservatory. That summer on Lake Michigan amidst a faculty of professional musicians confirmed for me that I had found my community and a future in music.

Here at CVPA, our Summer Music Camp is the largest in the United States with programs in band, chorus, orchestra, and piano. Founded in 1983, each year we have over fifteen hundred campers coming from not only the rest of the country but also from a host of international countries. CVPA’s Summer Arts and Design Intensive celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. A week-long residential art program, one hundred student artists experience drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, graphic design, and animation.

This summer, young people all over the country will attend summer camps devoted to art, dance, music, or theater. They will have the opportunity to grow artistically by devoting themselves fully to their art in a community of like-minded individuals. Many a life in the arts will be nurtured by a summer camp experience, including those here at UNCG. At a time when too often funding is cut for such programs, it is critical that we support and foster these life-changing opportunities for the artists of the future!

bruce d. mcclung, Dean

College of Visual and Performing Arts

 Get more information and apply here. 

This year’s camp offers two one-week sessions, serving over fifteen hundred musicians grades 6–12 with programs in band, chorus, orchestra, and piano. Get more information and apply here.

Bailey Wingler (’18 BFA Art: Drawing and Printmaking) has been promoted to a full-time faculty member in Rowan-Cabarrus Community College’s Advertising & Graphic Design Department.

Timothy Heath (’07 BM Music Education) has been appointed Director of Bands at Wake Forest University. Heath has been at Wake Forest since 2019 as Director of Athletic Bands.

Brendan Slocumb (’94 BM Music Education) is featured in an article in the February issue of O.Henry magazine about his best-selling novel, The Violin Conspiracy. Slocumb’s second book, Symphony of Secrets, is due out April 18th. Read the article here.

The February O.Henry issue also includes an article about Greensboro’s historic Barn Dinner Theatre. The article features School of Theatre alumni Barry Bell (’75 BFA Theatre), Bobby Bodford (’71 BA Theatre) Jim Fisher (’76 MFA Theatre and Professor Emeritus of Theatre), Michael Lilly (’75 BFA Theatre), Lorri Lindberg (’88 MFA Theatre), and Katina Vassiliou Madison (’76 BA Theatre). Read the article here. 

Sharon Johnson (’85 MM and ’83 BM Piano Performance) has been promoted to Professor of Piano at Houghton University. Johnson also performs with School of Music staff accompanist Nancy Davis as the duo piano team Music by Two.