MEADVILLE, Pa. – May 22, 2008 – The 2008 Band Camp for Adult Musicians will be held at Allegheny College June 8-14 and June 22-28.
What began with a conversation in the summer of 1988 between Lowell Hepler, professor of music and director of bands at Allegheny College, and John Fleming, the camp's founder, has developed into a musical fixture appreciated as much by area residents as by the musicians themselves.
This year, 152 musicians have registered, 76 campers for each week. They will come from 21 states, Canada and Australia.
“In the beginning, I thought of it as a musical experience, which it certainly has been, but it has also become something of a family reunion, annually reuniting people from across the country who have become close friends,” Fleming said.
The conductor for the first week of camp will be Retired Colonel Jere W. Fridy, USAF. Fridy was the commander and conductor of the 553 Air Force Band — also known as the Pennsylvania Air National Guard Band — stationed at Middletown, Pa. He is currently the assistant conductor of the Virginia Grand Military Band.
The conductor for the second week of camp will be Retired Colonel Timothy Foley. Foley retired in July 2004 as the director of the U.S. Marine Band, known as “the President's Own,” in Washington, D.C. During his tenure as director, Foley served as music advisor to the White House and regularly conducted the band at the Executive Mansion. He recently served as a guest conductor for the U.S. Marine Band Chamber Orchestra.
Retired Second Leader of the U.S. Marine Band Lt. Col. Charles P. Erwin, who conducted the Band Camp from 1989 to 1993, will make a guest appearance as conductor during the second week. Erwin was admitted as a member of the U.S. Marine Band directly out of high school. He began in the cornet section, became the first adjutant officer of the Marine Band and finally was appointed assistant leader of the band.
All of the camp performances are held in the Campus Center and are free and open to the public. The band will rehearse each weekday in Shafer Auditorium from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and again on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., with some variation in schedule. Master classes as well as small ensemble rehearsals will be held in the afternoons.
On Thursday at 7 p.m. each week the small ensembles — which include woodwind quintets, brass quintets, a Dixieland band and a stage band — hold a recital. Each week will end with a free gala concert on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Shafer Auditorium.
The Band Camp for Adult Musicians is sponsored by the Allegheny College Office of Conference and Event Services. For more information, call (814) 332-3101.
