Clinton Teens Love Summer Music Camp at Mississippi College
Clinton teens never travel far to step up their talents at Mississippi College’s summer music camp.
Whether they’re singing, playing the piano, violin or guitar, they believe their short trip to the Clinton campus delivers long-lasting benefits.
Mississippi College music camp attracts dozens of students from all over the Magnolia State and as far away as Texas and Louisiana. But there’s always a solid bunch of Clintonians signing up, and for good reason.
“It gives me the opportunity to be around people with a passion and love for music,” Gabi Jones says.
A Clinton High student, Gabi is enrolled for the third straight year at Mississippi College’s summer music camp.
In late June and early July, Gabi received voice lessons from award-winning MC music professors. She practically grew up on the Clinton campus. The 15-year-old is the daughter of MC history instructor Missy Jones.
As they sing at the Jean Pittman Williams Recital Hall or develop their piano skills in small practice rooms inside Aven Hall, the students go non-stop for five days in late June and early July. A worship band, choral conducting and piano ensemble are some of the newest classes.
Music camp highlights include a concert at Swor Auditorium Friday evening. There’s time for students to make new friends in the residence halls, enjoy meals in the cafeteria and get to know the MC campus as they learn. It’s not all work and no play.
“Everybody knows we are here to have fun,” says Emily Katherine Dacus.
Taking voice lessons, the 2015 Clinton High graduate is the daughter of Mississippi College music professor and extraordinary singer Viola Dacus. An incoming MC freshman, Emily, 17, plans to become an art major on the Clinton campus.
This year’s MC summer music camp marks its tenth anniversary. The group of nearly 50 students is loaded with kids from Clinton and other metro Jackson communities. They come from communities like Hattiesburg, Vicksburg and Crystal Springs, too.
“We always have great support from Clinton parents sending their students to camp,” says music camp director Bob Knupp. “We hope to keep the camp a meaningful experience as we enter the second decade of MC@MC.”
A music camp counselor and MC music education major, Christa Kettler, 22, of Madison has fond memories of her experience as a music camper a few years ago. “It’s cool to be on the other side,” says the Madison Central High graduate. “That’s the reason I came to MC – I loved music camp here so much.”
Heather Almekdad, 15, of Fayette, a student at Cathedral High in Natchez, is 100 percent sold on the benefits of music camp. “It is very inspiring,” she said. “There are a lot of talented people here. Dr. Viola Dacus is one of the best teachers.”
The 2015 music camp marked the arrival of MC choral activities director Mark Nabholz. The new leader of the MC Singers, Nabholz until recently served as choral director at Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina.
Sporting his blue MC@MC T-shirt, Nabholz quickly went to work with his colleagues to share their musical gifts with the students as Independence Day festivities neared across the USA.
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