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A two-week camp for STRING QUARTETS!
Held at Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington, on the shores of Lake Washington.
Camp Nirvana is presented by Chamber Music Madness, a non-profit organization.
Mission: We are dedicated to the musical, personal and ethical development of teenagers through chamber music. Students will deepen their understanding of music, improve their playing and become more confident and expressive musicians.
Bastyr University is situated on the northeast shores of Lake Washington, nestled in 315-acre St. Edward State Park. We have access to a swimming pool, sports facilities, miles of nature trails in evergreen forests, and secluded beach access to Lake Washington. Bastyr’s vegetarian and organic food service is known nationally.
Curriculum:
The foundation of the camp is the study of string quartet masterworks. Twenty students are selected and formed into 5 string quartets. Each quartet focuses on movements from two contrasting works, the violinists trade off playing 1st violin. The quartets stay together for the 2-week camp. Repertoire is assigned in the spring, and music is sent to all students well ahead of camp.
In addition, we have quartet sight-reading nights where students mix in with those not usually in their group. Other activities include all-camp chamber orchestra, fiddling, improvisation and contra-dance. Leslie is an expert in Baroque dance, so students get to try all sorts of new things!
We have a strong emphasis on leadership training, personal development including Karen’s special brand of “stage fright therapy”.
We enjoy offering some special events to spice things up: in the past this has included a dance party and an excursion for a picnic at the beach.
The camp concert is held in the last day at Bastyr Chapel. The chapel is known around Washington not only for its beauty, but also for its superb recording acoustics. Past camps have included the creation of a professional produced CD of the camp concert.
Registration information:
Students of the violin, viola and cello, age 15-20 are eligible to apply.
Applications, and videos, if applicable, are due along with the application fee. As enrollment is very limited, we advise this deadline or sooner. Live auditions will be arranged for the 2 weeks after deadline. Due to the challenge of matching up playing ability and experience levels, full prior commitment is essential. Because of that, the full tuition is due upon acceptance. A video about camp is available to borrow, as are past camp CD’s.
Audition should include ten minutes of solo music; including two contrasting works. This should feature, if possible, one piece from either the Baroque or the Classical period. Please include a 3-octave scale, mm=72, 4 notes per beat, slurred by 8. If your piece does not include spiccato, please include a brief sample of your spiccato stroke. The spiccato should be a controlled bounced stroke, as in how one would play eighth-notes in a work by Mozart.
We are looking for a high level of technical accuracy, but also in your unique musical personality and sense of style. Just do your best!
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