Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp is a summer arts camp in Twin Lake, Michigan, United States, and is located in the Manistee National Forest. In 2006, 7,814 participants were enrolled in Blue Lake's numerous programs. Since its beginning in 1966, over 250,000 students have attended. 2006 marked Blue Lake's 40th anniversary season.

Four of Michigan's Governors have noted Blue Lake as "one of Michigan's great cultural assets." Blue Lake includes the Blue Lake Scholarship Program where representatives travel to schools and award scholarships. Everyone who auditions receives a scholarship in some amount, which goes along with Blue Lake's philosophy of letting anyone, regardless of skill, receive the Blue Lake experience.

In addition to the summer camp, BLFAC hosts several music festivals, a family camp, and programs for adults.

Camp Structure

BLFAC offers several different "camps within a camp", separated by time (when offered during the year) and age.

International programBlue Lake sends four or five groups of tallented young campers to europe for three weeks.

ummer Music Camp

BLFAC has four two-week primary summer camp sessions (identified in most materials as Session I, II, III and IV). Traditionally, the first two sessions were for junior high or middle school aged students while the second two sessions were for high school aged students. For awhile they changed this to junior high during Sessions I and IV, with high school Sessions II and III). Currently, this has changed yet again. Now sessions I and II are primarily high school students while sessions III and IV are junior high or middle school students. There is also a junior camp available called Camp Bernstein, which serves young middle school and junior high students all summer long. The age recommendations are primarily for the comfort of the campers, not only for interpersonal interactions, but also for musical skill level.

Depending on the year, Jazz Bands are organized at least once per each age level (eg: Session I and III or II and IV), and as of 2006 are offered during all four Sessions.

Orchestras are also organized each summer session, with wind instruments allowed in all Sessions.

For all music programs, campers audition upon arrival to be placed into bands or orchestras based on their skill levels. "Symphonic" is used to describe the highest placement possible in Band and "Masterworks" in the Orchestra. Additionally, there are, depending on the number of campers, additional bands and orchestras named with colors (usually Red, White and Blue). For Sessions that allow wind instruments in orchestra, the top auditioning wind players are seated in the orchestras created for that Session.

Art (and Photography)

An Art program is offered at Blue Lake along with the other departments. The Blue Lake Arts program motivates students teaching skills and fundamentals during the High School Sessions. Students take a variety of different classes including: Drawing, painting, fiber arts, ceramics and sculpture. In the Fiber class, students are encouraged to design their own new Looms.

Photography used to be an additionally offered program, but is no longer available.

Choir, Piano, Harp, Dance

At BLFAC other performance majors have places too. The Choir department is split into two groups per session: the SATB choir,the lowest level chior, the SSA choir, a higher level group w/ better sight reading skills, and the Chamber Choir made up of advanced campers from the other two chiors.

Pianists are also a part of the Blue Lake program, having intensive rehearsals and a grand finale concert at the end of each session. Piano Majors are known for having long times to rehearse on their own.

The Harp program, accommodating only 6 harpists per session, is unique from most other music camp offerings. Session II for Harp majors is a special session concentrating on developing skills necessary for orchestral and chamber music playing.

The Dance program was lead for many years by renowned teacher Jefferson Baum, including Advanced Ballet ensemble and Ballet I & II classes. Mr. Baum moved to Arizona and the new director of Dance is Julie Powell.

Theatre

In 2006 a new theatre was added to the Blue Lake campus for theatre majors, featuring a large 700 seat air conditioned theatre with small rooms for Theatre majors class work. Recently the Blue Lake Theatre department has allowed students to select an area of emphasis such as Shakespeare or Musical Theatre and the original contemporary acting program, students are placed into one of the concentrations upon their first audition. In 2008 Blue lake also announced new theatrical minors; Shakespeare and Musical Theatre are now available to students.

Blue Lake Opera Company

The New Theatre also houses performance space for the Blue Lake Opera Company. In 2006 it opened with an original opera "The Last Leaf" by Dr. James Niblock. The 2007 production is Puccini’s "Gianni Schicchi", which is sung entirely in Italian with English supertitles.

Camp Bernstein

Recognizing that younger students may also benefit from the BLFAC experience, Camp Bernstein (most recently located in what was formerly known as "East Point Unit"), affords younger campers a more structured and less competative BLFAC experience which is geared more toward addressing the needs of beginner or less experienced instrumentalists. Campers' receive sectional instruction on their individual instruments taught by the Camp Bernstein counselors (with main camp counselors to fill in what ever sections are not covered by Bernstein counselors).

Camp Bernstein is open to students going into grades six through eight, and it is only open to band and orchestra students. However, Camp Bernstein does offer free electives in art, drama, choir, jazz and music appreciation. It is a common option for students who are new to summer camp settings.

Daily Schedules

For most campers, their daily schedule is fairly standard. From the BLFAC website "Campers begin their day at approximately 6:45 am by getting up and ready for breakfast. Mornings are filled with classes and rehearsals. After lunch, students have a break for rest, recreation, an elective course, or individual practice. Afternoon classes and rehearsals end around 4:00 p.m., leaving plenty of time to rest and clean up for dinner. Evening activities conclude each day with arts performances or camp fun. Unit Directors call lights out with Taps."

Fall and Spring Sessions

During seasons other than summer, BLFAC hosts a variety of adult learning programs, as well as marching band camp facilities and a Suzuki camp.

Camp Facilities

Campers are all housed in one room cabins, with approximately 11 campers and 1 staff person per cabin. Six cabins are placed close to each other in Units, headed by a Unit Director. Male and female Units are clustered close to each other, with one gender at each end of the campus.

Male units: Bandwagon, Broadway, Big Band, Highlights, and Canvas (so named because it was originally composed of canvas tents, but now, it features cabins with the names of famous artists who painted on canvas)

Female units: Promenade, Aria, Billings Point, Sleepy Hollow, West Point, Oakridge, Novella, Left Bank, Siena, Villanelle, and Dolce.

Historically, the units had other names, which are mostly lost to time. Bandwagon, however, was Zodiac Unit at one point in the camp's history.

Faculty other than cabin counselors and unit directors stayed in the Faculty Village across the road from the main camp area.

Once relegated to swimming in Little Blue Lake, (where leeches were a possible danger) campers are now able to take advantage of two swimming pools. Campers also have a variety of sports fields (for soccer, frisbee, etc), and myriad other activities.

Dining is most often in Marek Hall, except for certain special "pizza party" evenings once per session. Campers can also purchase small snack/candy/soda items at the Camp Store located in the Main portion of the camp (central to the male and female cabin areas).

Rehearsals for full band and orchestral groups happen in one of two main performance "shells", Stewart Shell and Bartlett Shell. The Masterworks orchestra rehearses indoors in an upper room of Marek South, in the temporary home of Snite Theater. Large sheltered practice facilities as well as smaller unsheltered areas are scattered throughout the camp, spaced so as to minimize interruption and disturbance from other groups. Two new piano practice buildings serve as individual practice sites, and Art Barn facilities as well as a full dance and theatre area are designated specifically for those functions.

The Instrument Museum, originally operated by Gilbert Stansell, has an array of musical instruments, many of which are functional. The museum collection ranges from primitive instruments from ancient Eastern and Western cultures to modern synthesizers.

BLFAC also maintains an on-site health facility.

Camp Uniform

Blue Lake campers are required to wear a distinct uniform. All campers must wear a light blue polo shirt with the Blue Lake logo on the upper left side. The polos must always be paired with blue jeans or slacks of a darker shade blue than their polo. Campers wear a badge with their name on it, and the color of their name on the badge represents the number of years they have been a camper (white = 1, yellow = 2, red = 3, green = 4, blue =5+) Badges can also show whether or not a camper has a boyfriend or girlfriend or a date to the dance at the end of the session. If you have a date, your name is turned upside-down; if you have a boyfriend or girlfriend your badge is turned upside down. Counselors wear red badges all the time. Vegetarians used to receive green badges, but now they receive bright green "veggie" stickers for their badges.

For formal events females must wear navy blue skirts or slacks, and males must wear navy blue dress pants. Campers must also wear their sweaters (or the brand new uniform FLEECE, as of summer 2008) or have them around their shoulders or waist. The camp dance on the second Friday is the only time that campers may modify their uniform. The bottom button may be unbuttoned, shirts can be untucked, and sleeves may be rolled up and the collar may be 'popped', or unfolded. At the camp carnival on Tuesday, campers are permitted to wear non-uniform clothing.

Blue Lake's International Exchange Program

Each year, BLFAC sends six touring groups to Europe - Orchestra, Northern Winds, Southern Winds, Jazz band, choir, and ballet ensemble. While at camp students apply to be a part of one of the ensembles. Each year an average of 350 Blue Lake students are a part of the program. An average of 10 to 15 European and Asian music and dance groups travel to Michigan for a two-week tour and a visit to Blue Lake.

Before leaving for Europe each BLFAC group attends Intensive Week. Intensive Week is a rigorous program designed to prepare students for the numerous concerts they will perform overseas. It also gives students and staff an opportunity to meet each other. After Intensive Week, most groups go on a mini-tour in the Midwest for several days.

Blue Lake International students leave for Europe in early to mid June. During the three weeks they are there the tour groups usually visit seven locations in two to four countries, most commonly in France and Germany. Throughout their stay in each city, the groups rehearse their music and give one or more performances featuring a variety of musical styles. Students perform concerts in auditoriums, schools, churches, or outside. These concerts can range from one hour to two and a half.

While in Europe, Blue Lake International students stay with European host families, providing them with a unique first-hand cultural experience. Host families host one or more students depending on availability. Students can go sight seeing, shopping, and socializing with their host families. Some stops have large social gatherings for all the students and their host families. Typically, host families also attend the concerts their host students are involved in. While language barriers can exist, most host families have at least one bilingual person. Blue Lake International Students are also encouraged to learn foreign languages as well.

After the European tour the groups return and have a homecoming tour one to four weeks after returning. The homecoming tour is usually three days. It consists of a concert in a town usually in Michigan and then a concert at Blue Lake summer camp. After the final concert, students are taken home by their parents.

Many groups plan reunions through emails and online blog groups. Most students also stay in contact with their European host families, and some even return to Europe see them again.

Summer Arts Festival

The Summer Arts Festival at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp features camper, staff, and other talent from all over the world. Located in the scenic Stewart Shell, the Blodgett Recital Hall, and the Howmet Playhouse, the Summer Arts Festival is alive nearly every night. Past performances done by artists not attached to the camp have included the Northshore Concert Band, the Grand Rapids Symphony, the Andiamo String Quartet, the Artesian String Quartet, and the US Army Field Band and Chorus. Many works have been premiered at the festival, most recently "The Last Leaf" composed by James Niblock.

Public Radio

Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp serves the West Michigan Community with its public radio stations, WBLV 90.3 FM in the Muskegon area and WBLU-FM 88.9 in Grand Rapids. The stations are listener supported, and can be listened to online at Blue Lake's website.

Notable Alumnus

James Carter attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp when he was in the eighth grade. One day, when Gilbert Stansell was showing students his enormous musical instrument collection (now the Blue Lake Museum), he came across a talented young camper. He called his son and said "Fritz, you've got to come over here right now. You won't believe what this 8th grade kid can do with almost any instrument in the museum!" James Carter was picking up and playing instinctively every instrument Gilbert Stansell would let him handle. Gilbert Stansell later stated that he believed James to be "perhaps the most naturally gifted young performer I have ever heard."

External links

* [http://www.bluelake.org Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp]

References