by Lydia Van Dreel
Adult avocational horn players have lots of opportunities to play: community bands, community orchestras, and horn clubs, to name a few. Lately, new summer band/orchestra camps are all the rage with adult musicians who want an intensive, immersive experience in the summertime. Midsummer Musical Retreat, hosted by Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, is one such summer camp that hosts about 200 adult campers for one week each summer. Performance activities include Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Choir, and Chamber Music. Students can also sign up for a wide range of elective classes, from barbershop quartet, to music theory, to drum circle, to gentle yoga. Along with plenty of enriching music and music-related activities, there are a wide range of social activities as well, making this week long musical immersion and wonderfully fulfilling summer camp opportunity for adults. As the horn instructor for the week, I am blessed to teach a crew of horn aficionados, many of whom come back year after year to enjoy all of the offerings of the camp, including a daily horn sectional and horn ensemble readings. New campers are quickly embraced and encouraged in the horn group!
The environment is very supportive and non-competitive. Students of all levels and abilities are welcome. When registering, students fill out a self-assessment form to help the camp directors place students in desired ensembles. Everyone is there to learn and have fun! For more information on Midsummer Musical Retreat (MMR):
