This is the third year of our music camp. This camp is specifically designed for string players 14 years of age and up and will be full of musical activities for all levels. Whether you play violin, viola, cello or double bass, you are sure to learn, meet new people and have fun. This year once again, we are adding Thursday evening to provide camp participants fully coached chamber music groups. Chamber music groups will provide you with one of your most rewarding music experiences.
Sectional and orchestra rehearsals will be held during the day. Friday and Saturday evening we will enjoy concerts performed by our professional coaches or camp participants. A final concert, open to the public and invited guests, will be held on Sunday evening in Sherwood Park at the Wye Hall.
Come and share a beautiful country retreat in all its autumnal splendour while enhancing your string playing abilities, joining inthe camaraderie of a string orchestra or enjoying yoga and nature walks. It surely is a great way to kick start your individual musical season.
Our Camp Director, Conductor and Music Coaches
DIRECTOR: Murray Vaasjo
Murray was born and raised in Edmonton and attended the University of Alberta where he received a Bachelor of Music degree. He has been a member of the Okanagan Symphony, the Victoria Symphony, the Arden Ensemble, National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the Edmonton Youth Orchestra. Murray studied with Sally Thomas in Meadowmount, New York and with Shirley Givens and Sidney Humphries in Victoria. In 1990 Murray returned to Edmonton to join the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and also plays in the Alberta Baroque Ensemble. Murray is also active as a teacher and is the co-founder of the Wye String Ensemble.
CONDUCTOR -Lucas Waldin
Lucas Waldin became Resident Conductor for
the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in the 2009 - 2010 season. This mentorship position is made possible
through the Canada Council for the Arts. Mr. Waldin graduated in 2006 from the
Cleveland Institute of Music with a Masters in Conducting. He has performed with
L'Orchestre du Festival Beaulieu-Sur-Mer (Monaco), Staatstheater Cottbus
(Brandenburg), and Bachakademie Stuttgart. Lucas was assistant conductor of the
contemporary orchestra RED (Cleveland), director of the Cleveland Bach Consort,
and a Discovery Series Conductor at the Oregon Bach Festival. In 2007, he was
invited to conduct the Miami-based New World Symphony Orchestra in masterclasses
given by Michael Tilson Thomas. In Lucerne in 2009, he also participated in a
masterclass led by Bernard Haitink, with the Lucerne Festival Strings.
A
native of Toronto, Lucas Waldin has spent summers studying in Europe, including
studies at the International Music Academy in Leipzig, the Bayreuth Youth
Orchestra, and the Acanthes New Music Festival in France. On this continent, he
has studied under the renowned Bach conductor Helmut Rilling at the Oregon Bach
Festival, and has attended conducting masterclasses with the Tafelmusik Baroque
Orchestra in Toronto. Mr. Waldin received a Bachelor of Music degree in flute
performance from the Cleveland Institute, studying with Joshua Smith.
VIOLIN - Virginie Gagné
Born in Montréal, Virginie started to play the violin at age three and entered the Montreal Conservatory of Music at eight, where she later received a Bachelor degree with honours both in violin and chamber music. She furthered her studies at Rice University in Houston, Texas with violin teacher Sergiu Luca. Virginie has received prizes in violin at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, the Canadian Music Competition and the Canada New Music Competition, among others. She also won First Prize in Canada at the Desjardins International Development Competition in the writing category. Her orchestral experience includes concerts with Les Violons du Roy, I Musici de Montréal, the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. She currently plays first violin with the Edmonton Symphony
Orchestra.
VIOLIN - Anna Kozak
Anna Kozak joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in 2001 after winning an
international audition. Previously she lived in Toronto where she studied with
Andrew Dawes, David Zafer and Joan Barrett, among others. After obtaining a
Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto in 1995, she moved to
Calgary. There she studied with Edmond Agopian and received a Master of Music
degree from the University of Calgary.
Anna has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (including the
European tour in 2000), Kensington Sinfonia, Calgary Bach Society, Red Deer
Symphony, Okanagan Symphony and various travelling productions. In Calgary she
was a member of the Vad Ensemble (piano trio) and the Bell'arte String Quartet.
Anna has taught violin at the University Settlement Music School in Toronto and
the Mount Royal College in Calgary. She is fluent in three languages and besides
music she enjoys long walks with her husband and their Great Dane "Berdo".
VIOLA - Rhonda Henshaw
A native of Edmonton, Rhonda holds a Bachelor of Music with distinction from the University of Calgary; she graduated with an Artist Diploma from the Vancouver Academy of Music, where she studied under Gerald Stanick. Rhonda's studies have also taken her to the Banff Centre for the Arts, studying with Karen Tuttle. Rhonda's orchestra experience includes the National Academy Orchestra, the Okanagan Symphony, the Vancouver Island Symphony and also toured parts of Asia and Europe with the Jeunesses Musicales World Youth Orchestra. Rhonda joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra in 2002.
CELLO & BASS - Julie Amundsen
Julie was born in Edmonton and received her early cello instruction at the University of Lethbridge and Medicine Hat Conservatories. In 1998, she received her Diploma for Kunsterlische Ausbildung from the Hochschule fur Musik und Theater, Hannover where she studied with Frederick Jurgen Sellhelm and Klaus Heitz. During her studies there she was awarded the 19th century Lorenzo Ventapane cello for excellence in performance. She appeared regularly in the cello section of the North German Radio Philharmonie Hannover.
Over the last few years she has performed two full seasons with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as well as being a guest player with a number of other orchestras and chamber music groups. She has also taught several semesters at the University of Alberta. In 2003, Julie completed graduate studies with Tanya Prochazka at the University of Alberta, receiving her Masters of Music. She currently enjoys performing with the Bonnie Doon Trio, adjudicating in various music festivals in Alberta, as well as teaching a class of cello students ranging in age from six to sixty years old, all lovingly known as "her kids".
RATES
The rate of $300 includes the 4-day camp with instruction, all meals and dormitory accommodation, if desired, but you must bring your own linen or sleeping bag and towels. For those who would prefer hotel accommodation rather than somewhat "rustic" camp cabins, a special rate is available from the Holiday Inn Express, Sherwood Park ($109 per night with one king or two queen beds for up to 2 adults and 2 children per room). The rate is $50 less than the regular rate and includes a hot breakfast each morning. In order to get the special rate, one must call the hotel directly rather than booking on the internet and ask for the String Music Camp block. Both local and direct toll-free numbers are on the website. Please contact the hotel with any additional questions at manager@hiesherwoodpark.ca.
Take advantage of our early bird registration of $250 by August 1, 2010
Please note: Cancellation deadline with full refund is September 1 2010; cancellations received after this date are subject to a $10 administration fee.
Space for recreational vehicles is available for an additional $9 per night and includes electricity but no water or drainage.
The facility also offers a swimming pool (bring your bathing suit and towel), fire pits and picturesque walking trails.
Please note that the management of Van Es Camp strictly prohibits the use of alcohol on its premises.
Questions may be directed to Julie at: (780) 922-2874 or julie@penybryn.ca
2010 CAMP SCHEDULE
THURSDAY EVENING (September 9, 2010)
Fultonvale School, Sherwood Park (Address:52029 Range Road 224, Sherwood Park - - see directions at bottom of this page)
6:00 - 7:00 pm Welcome
7:00 - 8:00 pm Orchestra - 1st music read
8:00 - 9:00 - Chamber Groups
FRIDAY EVENING (September 10, 2010)
Van Es Camp
6:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner
7:00 - 9:00 pm Orchestra
9:10 - 10:00 pm Staff Concert
SATURDAY (September 11, 2010)
Van Es Camp
7:30 - 8:30 am Breakfast
9:00 - 10:50 am Sectionals
10:50 - 11:00 am Break
11:00 - 12:00 pm The Baroque Concerto OR Free Time
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 pm Percussion Workshop
2:00 - 3:00 pm Chamber Groups
3:00 - 5:00 pm Orchestra
5:00 - 6:00 pm Ti Chi OR Free time
6:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner
7:00 - 8:00 pm Staff Concert
8:00 - 9:00 pm Swimming OR free time
9:00 pm Bon Fire
SUNDAY (September 12, 2010)
Van Es Camp
7:30 - 8:30 am Breakfast
9:00 - 9:50 am Sectionals
10:00 - 10:50 am Chamber Groups
10:50 - 11:00 am Break
11:00 - 12:00 pm Yoga OR Free Time
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 - 2:30 pm Chamber Groups Concert
2:30 - 2:50 pm Coaches’ Corner
3:00 - 5:00 pm Orchestra
5:00 - 6:00 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Depart for Wye Hall
7:00 pm Final Concert & Reception
Our final concert and reception, open to the public, will be held on Sunday evening at 7:00 pm at the Wye Community Hall in Sherwood Park.
Directions to Fultonvale School(52029 Range Road 224, Sherwood Park).
If you are coming East on the Whitemud, keep going East as far as you can - go overtop Highway 14, across Highway 21, through a stop sign on Range Road 225, until you take a 90 degree turn South onto Range Road 224. Come 2 Km. South. Fultonvale School in on your left (East side of road). There is a sign for the Strathcona Olympiette Centre.
If you come via Highway 14, come East past Highway 21 and turn left (North) on Range Road 224. Go 2 km. further through a stop sign on Township Road 520). Fultonvale School in on your right (West side of road). There is a sign for the Strathcona Olympiette Centre.
If you come from Sherwood Park, come out either Baseline or Wye Road and turn South on Highway 21 to Township Road 522. Turn East (left on 522) through a stop sign on Range Road 225, until you take a 90 degree turn South onto Range Road 224. Come 2 Km.
South. Fultonvale School in on your left (East side of road). There is
a sign for the Strathcona Olympiette Centre.
Selected Participants' Comments on
String Music Camp 2009
The Wye String Ensemble's second music camp
was held in early September, 2008 at Van Es Camp and Conference Centre, located
on 100 acres secluded by woods on the shores of South Cooking Lake.
Aaron always gives
tips one won’t forget after camp. He really knows how to bring out the best in
an orchestra. I am a fan of Aaron as a conductor, the music selections were
great – someone seems to find the right balance. It was great fun to play The
Four Seasons. Aaron is great – encouraging, but also challenges the
players.
Rhonda was
extremely energetic and fun. She made rhythms easier to understand by word
associations. Rhonda did a great job “working” through all difficult moves. I
really enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the chamber group this time.
Liked the selection and appreciated Rhonda’s coaching. Rhonda was a wonderful
coach for our string quartette.
Virginie has a
sweet, gentle way of teaching, and she is very patient.
Anna is a pleasure to
learn from. Amazing! Excellent!
Both concerts were
interesting and engaging.
Excellent percussion workshop – he made rhythm so
fascinating and exciting. The Rhythm workshop is a great opportunity for me as a
string player to improve my rhythmic skills.
Kudos to the board
for keeping the dream alive. I had a very good time sitting beside a
professional; it was a treat and a great learning experience.
String Music Camp 2010
Julie was born in Edmonton and received her early cello instruction at the University of Lethbridge and Medicine Hat Conservatories. In 1998, she received her Diploma for Kunsterlische Ausbildung from the Hochschule fur Musik und Theater, Hannover where she studied with Frederick Jurgen Sellhelm and Klaus Heitz. During her studies there she was awarded the 19th century Lorenzo Ventapane cello for excellence in performance. She appeared regularly in the cello section of the North German Radio Philharmonie Hannover. 
