Free Allegro Strings Orchestra Camp for Harrison County Students Happening this Summer
By Trina Runner on May 22, 2016 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
For the second year in a row, students from all over Harrison County will have the opportunity to participate in a free Allegro Strings Summer Orchestra Camp. The program is made possible by the Clarksburg-Harrison Cultural Foundation and was started by Bridgeport High School Alumnus Ashley Driscoll. “Harrison County is one of the few strings programs in the state and I wanted to provide a way to give all students the opportunity to play a string instrument,” said Driscoll.
The camp will be held June 20-24 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Third Street in Stonewood. There will be a morning session for those in grades 3-6 with no orchestral experience. Beginning instruction for the violin, viola and cello will be given, including technical skills such as basic bow hold, hand positions, and fingerings. Students will also be introduced to playing by ear and reading musical notation and will practice individually and as a full ensemble in preparation for their finale performance.
“Students can rent an instrument for the 5-day camp through The Red Violin on the first day of camp,” said Driscoll. The rental, as well as the camp, is free of charge.
Beginning at 1:00p.m. each day, the camp will focus on Intermediate grades 7-12. “This session is for those with more than two years of
experience and includes orchestra rehearsal, classical technique, conducting and composer study,” said Driscoll. Students will also study an orchestral
score and read how the different instruments contribute to the works.
Intermediate students will debut their conducting talents at the final performance and will learn several different musical history periods.
A finale performance for friends and family will take place on June 24th at
11:30a.m. for Beginners and at 3:30p.m. for the Intermediate students. Registration forms for the free camp are available at allegrostringswv@yahoo.com or by contacting Ashley Driscoll at 304-641-1281. Registration deadline is June 3 and early registration is recommended, as class size is limited.
