UM-Flint Summer Vocal Academy Auditions Start May 21st for 5th-12th Grade Students
Students in grades 5-8 and 9-12 will soon have a chance to audition for the 2015 Summer Vocal Academy of Music, held at the University of Michigan-Flint.
Continuing a tradition of over thirty years, the UM-Flint Summer Vocal Academy of Music welcomes middle and high school students who have musical potential and a love for singing. Academy students are offered the opportunity to participate in music classes that develop musical abilities and artistic potential for vocal performance and other creative arts. The curriculum of classes will enrich the students’ understanding of music as an art. Students will learn, create, and perform on stage under the direction of experienced UM-Flint music professors, Department of Music alumni, and Guest Conductors.
The Academy offers two camps: the Junior Academy for grades 5-8, held July 6-17, and the Senior Academy for grades 9-12, held July 20-31. Classes are held in the friendly environment of the UM-Flint campus, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-2:45pm for the duration of each program.
This year’s Academy curriculum includes Choir, Men’s and Women’s Ensemble, Music Investigation, Theory Composition, Vocal Technique, Percussion Ensemble, Dance and Movement, and Art Class. The 2015 conducting faculty includes Garth Starr of Davison Community Schools for the Junior Academy and Dr. Joshua May and Dr. Gabriela Hristova, both of UM-Flint, for the Senior Academy.
A final concert for each Academy will be held on the last day of camp at 7 pm in the UM-Flint Theatre.
Says Senior Academy Conductor, Dr. Joshua May, “Our program provides students with a unique musical experience that helps them develop their skills as performing artists. They work one-on-one with faculty to explore music through many lenses, which include art, dance, theory, and vocal ensembles. We help nurture and develop these talented young singers in a variety of vocal styles, so that they are able to share their passion for music in our summer performances! We create a fun-filled learning environment for students to share an unforgettable summer experience making music together!”
Audition dates are Thursdays, May 21 and 28, 6pm; Fridays, May 22 and 29, 6pm; and Saturdays, May 30 and June 6, 11am. Auditions will be held on the UM-Flint campus. Please call to reserve an audition spot: (810) 762-3377. The audition process includes students singing the first verse of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” (the student will be accompanied by a piano); a test of voice range, sense of rhythm, and the ability to match pitch; and a basic theory test.
Scholarship funds are available for Flint and Genesee county students on a first come first serve base by June 1st. To be considered for a scholarship, students must audition and enroll by June 1. After June 1, students will still be able to audition (by appointment) and enroll to Academy, however, no scholarship awards will be available at this point.
For more information, visit umflint.edu/music/youth-programs or call the UM-Flint Music Department office at (810) 762-3377.
