Young musicians don’t need to travel far to take part in this year’s annual Camping with the Pops program hosted by the Pops Orchestra, Monday, July 8 through Friday, July 12, 2024. Presented with support from The Hecht Foundation and the State College of Florida, the week-long music program takes place on the Bradenton campus of SCF in the Performance Arts building and promises an incredible experience for music students to expand their musical skills. Rehearsing in small ensembles and guided by professional music educators, the student musicians will prepare a program of selections to be presented in a free concert on Friday, July 12 at 7:30 pm in the State College of Florida’s Studio for the Performing Arts Recital Hall.

“This is a really exciting opportunity because we have our very own Pops musicians available to work with these student musicians,” shares Executive Director, Gayle Williams. “Many of the instructors are retired or working professional musicians or experienced music educators, and they coach the students on small ensemble skills. The program is designed for all skill levels and while it is not a requirement for the students to be in a school band or orchestra, we do ask for a letter of recommendation from a private music instructor or band director.”

Participating students may choose between a variety of ensembles based upon ability, including a string chamber orchestra, woodwind, saxophone, low brass, percussion and trumpet groups, a flute, brass and clarinet choir and a jazz band. Between 30 and 40 students are expected to enroll in the program.

While the experience will be an educational one, it is also meant to be fun. “We look for a variety of music to work with that is a little different from instruction that the students may be getting elsewhere," adds Williams. "We like to work with music that is popular so we may be playing something by Leroy Anderson or we might try playing an arrangement of one of the Disney songs.” 

Tuition for the program is $75 and assistance available upon request and review.  To learn more, visit thepopsorchestra.org.

To register click here