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Collaborative energy filled the halls of Yukon University this past week, as musicians young and old gathered for the Yukon Summer Music Camp.
The annual week-long camp has been around since 1987. It gives attendees the opportunity to polish their skills and learn new instruments. This year courses ranged from instruments — like cello, fiddle, trumpet and rock band — to vocals, audio-technical equipment and tune-filled toddler-parent classes.
“It’s a really distinct blend where we pull world class instructors from around Canada together with our local instructors,” said Ben Johnston-Urey, the producer of the camp. “There’s this wonderful kind of collaboration that occurs in this enrichment that people are able to engage … and get some fresh perspectives and get inspired through music.”
Johnston-Urey says something else that makes the camp unique is that it doesn’t have age restrictions.
“The youngest camper we have this year is three months and the oldest is almost 90.”
Shari Heal attended the first unofficial music camp in 1986, and has attended almost every year since then.
Shari Heal has been attending the Yukon Summer Music Camp since it began. Every year she tries something new — this time it’s how to use a full drum kit (Isabella Calissi/CBC News)
“I was 11 years old and I did beginner band,” she recalled. “I had never touched a clarinet and I got a chance to do that and play with the big band. I also took the choir that year and I loved it so much that I’ve been coming back pretty much every year since, and that was a long time ago.”
For Heal, music is a hobby that she is very passionate about — taking what she learns from the camp and applying it to her own practice throughout the year. One thing she loves about the camp is how it gives her a chance to try different things.
“So I have literally tried it all. I played jembe (a type of hand drum), an accordion and harp and cello, beginner flute, and I’ve done musical theatre.”
The camp also introduced her to the cello, which is now her main instrument.
She said the spirit of the camp hasn’t changed over the years.
“It’s all about people wanting to learn music together and make music together…. We’ve got like little tiny toddlers all the way up to — I was in a choir last night with someone who’s 77 years old. So it’s pretty great.”
Xavier Davis, right, doing rock band at Yukon Summer Music Camp. He borrowed an electric cello from a friend — and now wants to get one himself. (Isabella Calissi/CBC News)
Another camper, Xavier Davis, 10, has been attending the camp since he was seven. This year he’s playing the electric cello in a rock band – which differs from his usual concert cello, which he has been playing since he was six.
“The teachers work so hard to put this stuff together and it’s like super fun,” Davis said.
His hopes are to keep coming to the camp as long as he can – and even eventually become an instructor.
“I wanna teach kids, get them to know that cello is a good instrument. It’ll be fun. Just like when I was young, I [was taught] by a teacher. And then I’ll be like, now I’m teaching kids how to learn cello and how great it is.”
Ellen Thompson leads workshops and classes for kids and their parents — getting everyone to participate and learn about music together (Isabella Calissi/CBC News)
One instructor who actually accomplished Davis’s dream is Ellen Thompson. She started attending the camp in 2000, when she was about nine years old. Now, she runs a full studio in Riverdale, with a focus on piano and early childhood music.
“I took the classes I’m teaching now … so it’s come full circle,” Thompson said.
Originally, Thompson said she had no intention to teach, but got asked to do it – eight years later she is still teaching at the camp – alongside other well-known musicians.
“It was an awesome opportunity to get the foot in the door and I would be meeting so many amazing teachers from across Canada. So we’re building awesome friendships through this camp.”
Wesley Hardisty, a famed northern fiddler, was one of this year’s instructors at Yukon Summer Music Camp. (Isabella Calissi/CBC News)
Johnston-Urey said the camp has grown in recent years – with some people coming from around the world to attend.
“We have campers that are coming from as far away as Sweden this year to join in the camp experience, and to have that kind of international attention. You know, it’s really wonderful. The Yukon is a special place,” he said.
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