By Chelsea Kemp, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Published Oct 31, 2021
Registration is now open for the 2022 International Music Camp at the International Peace Gardens.
The International Music Camp Summer School of Fine Arts will be celebrating its 66th season with camp sessions starting on June 19, 2022, said co-camp director Tim Baumann. The more than 180 staff members who participate in the program are excited to see a return to in-person programming for students.
“It’s just a fabulous place to be,” Baumann said. “From the artistic side, it’s so important for young people to be surrounded by other people with similar passions and interests both for the educational side of getting ideas and getting the opportunity to really hone their skills, practise and have more opportunities to make art, music and dance.”
Baumann has been running the camp with his wife Christine Baumann since 2013.
The camp is an amazing art experience for students in which they are surrounded by fellow young people and professional artists who share the same passion for music, visual arts, dance and drama.
He added the summer camp also plays a pivotal role in the development of youth because it presents the opportunity to step away from normal life and enter a space where they can embrace their own choices in a safe environment.
The ultimate goal of the camp is to let students practise being independent by trying new things and gaining new perspectives while working to ensure they succeed in their endeavours.
It is an amazing feeling seeing how much students are transformed over the six-day camp, and the lifelong friendships that are often established.
The week culminates in a concert showcase, letting students celebrate the skills they have learned throughout their time at the camp.
The camp has faced two summers now where they have been unable to operate in person and it has been a challenging time because of the uncertainty and isolation.
Baumann said they took steps to provide free online classes to students to ensure they could remain engaged with arts and culture.
In 2021 they offered INC at Home to students across North America. The series featured more than 200 offerings of individual lessons and artistic programming.
They have been closely working with North Dakota to develop a COVID-19 friendly program. They were able to offer a series of day camps called INC on the Road where they travelled to different communities and offered the band program for students.
“We were able to just focus on making music and connection,” Baumann said. “We were really pleased and very happy with the outcome.”
He is excited to be back at the Peace Garden and the beauty and unity it brings to the camp.
“Nowhere else do we have a place where two countries can come together and learn and grow and be a community together,” Baumann said.
He is also thrilled to be able to have youth, staff and teachers together once again because of the life and energy they bring to the gardens and each other.
“When you come together at camp, it’s like its own little town in the community for six days … It’s going to be way easier to be back in person,” Baumann said.
Registration for the program is currently open, visit internationalmusiccamp.com to register for a week or longer of summer camps.
Early bird pricing of $744 Canadian for basic tuition remains in effect until May 1, 2022. After May 1, 2022, the normal tuition rate of $762 Canadian applies.
Scholarships are also available to assist in attending the camp for those in need.
“We just want to encourage everyone to be there. It is going to be so exciting to come home, … be back together, and make art,” Baumann said.
This item is reprinted with permission from Brandon Sun. See article HERE.
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