Although the academic year is winding down, the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance is heating up for an exciting summer of music, dance, composition and more!
Advanced Choral Conducting Workshop, June 3 – 5
Join us in Kansas City for a workshop focusing on conducting technique for the choral conductor. Current high school and university faculty as well as graduate students in conducting are welcome to apply. Participants may enroll either as conductors or as observers. Conducting spots are limited to eight participants.
UMKC Percussion Workshop, June 4 – 6
The UMKC Percussion Workshop provides students in high school (Grades 9 – 12) and middle school (Grades 6 – 8) the opportunity to hone their technical skills and improve their musicianship by working with UMKC Percussion faculty and guest artists. Teachers will present a variety of master classes and conduct rehearsals in preparation for the final percussion ensemble concert to showcase the repertoire learned in the workshop. If you’re a percussionist who wants to grow as a musician and have fun doing it, then this workshop is for you!
Kansas City Saxophone Workshop, June 9 – 13
The Kansas City Saxophone Workshop gives high school students (Grades 9 – 12) the opportunity to study with renowned saxophone performers and instructors. Workshop sessions are designed to help students discover and realize their full artistic potential while building technique, studying solo classical literature and learning the fundamentals of jazz style and improvisation. Students will also perform in saxophone quartets and large saxophone ensembles coached by the distinguished faculty. Whether you’re looking to make All-State band, preparing for college auditions, or are just trying to improve, this workshop is for you!
Conservatory Dance Intensive, June 10 – 14
The Conservatory Dance Intensive gives high school students (Grades 9 – 12) the opportunity to study with renowned performers and instructors. This five-day intensive consists of classes in ballet technique, pointe, modern technique, composition, and supplemental classes customized for participants, like partnering, yoga, nutrition and choreography. Especially valuable as a “boot camp” in preparation for other summer intensive study, this week is full of insights and rewards that will serve dancers throughout their educational and professional careers.
Kansas City Conducting Symposium, June 16 – 21
KCCS is an inspirational program for instrumental conductors (orchestral and wind ensemble) wanting to improve at the art and skill of conducting. In its 10-year history, college and university faculty, conductors in the schools, as well as graduate students and upper-division undergraduates studying conducting have attended.
KCCS participants conduct a chamber music ensemble five times during the week on repertoire chosen by Steven D. Davis. Postural analysis to help move in a healthy manner is a vital part of the week as well. Additional sessions have been presented on topics such as: pedagogy, gesture, rehearsal techniques, chamber music coaching, historical contexts, philosophy and literature. Steven D. Davis, alongside numerous UMKC Conservatory faculty and distinguished guest clinicians, has designed a symposium to help conductors serve their musicians and offer ways to make an immediate difference with any ensemble.
Summer Composition Workshop, June 16 – 21
Composers ages 14 and up will broaden their horizons and hone their craft in this mix of classes and small group sessions with UMKC composition faculty. This exciting week-long experience helps young composers find their creative voices while improving their musical skills and joining the community of composers and new music lovers. Participants in our standard track will have their compositions critiqued and discussed with distinguished faculty, allowing each composer to grow artistically while creating new music. Focal areas on composition pedagogy and electronic music are also available. Throughout the workshop, composers participate in discussions of notation, music theory, counterpoint, orchestration and improvisation. Participants will listen to, analyze and discuss the music of our time as well as the great achievements of the past.
UMKC Double Reed Institute, June 17 – 21
The UMKC Double Reed Institute provides high school students (ages 13 – 19) the opportunity to work with UMKC double reed faculty, play chamber music, learn the craft of reed making, and perform. Double reed (oboe and bassoon) students will benefit from learning to play music in a variety of settings including master classes, lessons and chamber music. All students will also have the opportunity to learn to make their own reeds in dedicated reed-making classes.
UMKC Jazz Camp, June 23 – 27
Steeped in the rich jazz history of Kansas City, the UMKC Jazz Camp brings world-renowned performers and jazz educators to Kansas City to work with talented young instrumentalists ages 12 and up. Jazz Camp co-directors Bobby Watson and Mitch Butler and distinguished clinicians provide insight and inspiration to student combos in a welcoming environment. Participants form lasting friendships as they delve deep into jazz in intensive combo rehearsals and coaching sessions. Daily master classes with Jazz Camp faculty, theory and improvisation classes, and frequent faculty performances provide a well-rounded experience that touches on all aspects of jazz performance and history. Jazz Camp participants improve technical and improvisational skills and aural acuity while studying the standards of the past and new, innovative literature. All instruments are welcome. The UMKC Jazz Camp concludes with a public performance by the student combos.
For more information or to register for one of our exciting workshops, visit conservatory.umkc.edu/festivals. Questions? Contact us at music-ce@umkc.edu or call (816) 235-2741.
–Jessica Riggins, all photos: UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance
