Bravo Waukegan’s Music Camp Connects Students With Music

Take 112 students – some of whom have never played an instrument before – add 17 exceptional music teachers and three special musical guest groups, and the end results can be amazing!

Lake Forest-based nonprofit Bravo Waukegan just finished its ninth season of Bravo Buddies Music Camp, a program available to Waukegan public school students in grades two through eight. Students can attend the four-week camp for $55, with Bravo largely underwriting the cost of this unique program.

Bravo’s mission is to support music in the Waukegan public schools, and the camp is one key way the organization does this. The program enables students to receive two individual music lessons with their teacher every week, and the week ends with “Fun Fridays,” where students join together for sectional and orchestral practice, and also experience a special performance and program from musical guests.

The culmination of the program took place July 12, when the students performed as a group the song “Union Almanac,” which was composed by Ethan Parcell and commissioned specifically for Bravo Buddies.

“Each year, I get so excited about our camp plans and offerings, and this year was no exception,” said Joey Rosin, Bravo Buddies artistic director. “It was incredibly exciting to share with students such talented musical guests, and it was amazing to listen to the students play a song composed just for them.”

Rosin explained that the hand-picked selection of musical guests — which included the Chicago Bears Drumline, the award-winning Axiom Brass Quartet, and Pete Tashjian of Shift: Englewood Youth Orchestra and Dan Trahey of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s “OrchKids” — enabled the students to learn about the creativity that goes into composing and playing music and the importance of practicing regularly.

Camp wouldn’t be complete without the smiling, engaging presence of Camp Director Maria Muhammad and the talented team of teachers, which is largely composed of college music students or recent graduates.

“We were thrilled to offer camp to a record number of students this year,” said Karey Walker, Bravo Waukegan executive director. “It’s very touching to walk down the halls and listen to the students learning how to play music individually and as a group and to see them deepening their connection with music.”

Bravo would like to thank Steve Serck, owner of JAB Produce, for providing fresh fruit as snacks for our students; Trader Joe’s of Libertyville, for providing water; and La Michoacana Premium of Waukegan, for donating ice cream for our special camp celebration July 12. Bravo also would like to thank Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Waukegan for providing the school facilities for camp.

To learn more about Bravo, visit its website at www.bravowaukegan.org or call 847.722.5821.