Conservatories ignite
corps music programs
Delegates
take new skills back to their local corps
Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi Division teaches students
that music is ministry
The Alabama-Louisiana-Mississippi
Divisional Music Conservatory started off the summer with great excitement and
anticipation. A new conservatory building was completed in spring 2006, and
this summer was the first year delegates were able to use the new facility.
The conservatory, under the direction of Sergeant Kim
Cundiff, hosted 14 beginner delegates and 27 advanced delegates during the
camping season. Delegates participated in theory, recorder class, brass bands
and chorus along with electives of guitar, piano, drama/mime, voice, hand bells
and other forms of ministry. In addition to their music classes, delegates
enjoyed Bible classes and night meetings that helped them enjoy fellowship with
other delegates.
Guest instructors for the music
conservatory were Captain Bill Mockabee, Major Darrell Kingsbury, Patrick
Connelly, Captain Theresa Riggs, Captain Todd Brewer, Phil Laeger, Bernie Dake,
Dr. Richard Holz, Robert Snelson, Jill Snelson and Jude Gotrich.
Delegates were able to minister to campers who were at Girl Guard
camp, Adventure Corps camp, Sunbeam camp, Alabama Community camp as well as the
corps families in Greenwood, Miss., and Jackson, Miss. The conservatory
graduation was held on July 16 at the Jackson, Miss., Corps with the divisional
secretary for music, Major Michael McDonald, officiating in the ceremony.
Throughout the summer, delegates received knowledge and
training that helped them develop their musical talents. "The
transformation from individual delegates to a group focused on how their
talents can be valuable forms of ministry was amazing to see," Cundiff
said.
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Brass beginners
go beyond the basics in Florida with new staff and new
schedule
The Florida Division's 2006
summer programs graduated to the next level under the 
leadership of B/M Stephen Burn,
divisional music director, and B/M Ron Smith - assistant divisional music
director. Everyone who attended the conservatory programs had to play a horn
and received a private lesson every day. This has given the division's
brass musicians a new impetus for the future. Many of the young people came
with no experience but left being able to play from the tune book.
Senior and Junior conservatories were attended by 72 of
Florida's finest youth. A new schedule and new staff were added to assist
campers in their musical and spiritual growth. Kas Sipe, the special guest for
Senior Conservatory, was involved in every facet of the program. The hard work
paid off. While at Camp Keystone, campers performed for people of the Clay
County and Ocala Corps. They were also given the opportunity to let their hair
down at the Disney MGM Studios and Magic Kingdom.
The
Florida Division took 30 musicians to TMI, where they explored their God-given
talents in a beautiful setting. The division is particularly proud of Adam
Hudson and Kori Hensell who won the Territorial Commanders Scholarships.
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Arkansas-Oklahoma
Division takes homework seriously
The 2006 Arkansas-Oklahoma Conservatory of
Music focused much attention on leadership development. While staff strived to
continue a long-standing focus on personal musical growth in each of the
students, personalizing each student's course of study to maximize their
conservatory experience through band, choir, Bible study, private lessons,
theory and elective tracks, a unique class was developed to help students take
what they learned and apply it at the corps level.
This
class, called Corps Cell Groups, allowed each corps represented at the
conservatory to meet as a corps once a day to develop mock music programs that
can be done at the corps level. Each group was coached by staff members, but
was led by the students themselves as they discussed the needs of their corps
and how they can take on leadership responsibilities when they return home. The
students began to recognize qualities of leadership within themselves.
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Georgia
commemorates 20 years of service at the Lyman C. Kimball
Conservatory
The Georgia Division's
Lyman C. Kimball Conservatory celebrated a monumental 20 
years of service this summer. Through
this program, students have been making new friends, developing their talents,
and coming closer to Christ since 1986.
This year there was
a young delegation for senior conservatory, with an enrollment of 32 students,
but their age did not hold them back from achieving great heights. The Kimball
Band performed at the welcome service for the new divisional leaders, Majors
William and Debra Mockabee, and the Kellner Band, which included four beginners
and achieved a level 3 AIES piece for graduation. There were 43 others who
attended Junior Conservatory.
Ministry through music and
gospel arts was brought to the forefront with help from divisional guests
Captain Douglas McClure, Captain David Swyers and Major Leisa Hall. The many
styles of worship were accompanied traditionally by brass band and chorus, as
well as through various electives brought to life each week by the students.
The Griffin, Marietta and Lakewood Corps witnessed new
avenues of worship, including dance, drama, praise and worship, timbrels, hand
bells, percussion ensemble and puppets. The 2006 Lyman C. Kimball Conservatory
was a great success, not because of the exceptional musical achievement, but
because the students went home with a mission to enhance the worship of their
corps.
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Maryland-West
Virginia leads students to recommit
There were 57 in attendance at the
Maryland-West Virginia Division Conservatory this summer. Twenty-nine of those
delegates attended conservatory for the very first time. The many beginner
instrumentalists progressed rapidly in their time at the conservatory.
Electives were offered in guitar, timbrels, drama and dance. All
delegates received a private lesson each day and participated in chorus and
theory classes.
Senior Conservatory participated in camp
worship services, where many of the delegates recommitted their lives to God.
Delegates visited the following corps to perform: Frederick, Md., (Sunday
service and outdoor concert); Grafton, W. Va., (morning service); MWV
candidates' farewell service in Clarksburg, W. Va.
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Carolinas Music
and Arts Conservatory exposes delegates to many art forms
Pool parties, boat rides, Pig pick'n (a Carolina barbeque) and
a trip to Carowinds theme
park were just a few activities
enjoyed by North-South Carolina students who attended the Carolinas Music and
Arts Conservatory this year.
The annual conservatory offers
three different majors: instrumental, vocal and drama. As well as receiving
instruction in their area of concentration, students also have classes in the
other majors so that they're exposed to a variety of music and art forms.
Dedication and commitment to practice helps students improve their craft.
The conservatory also conducted the Sunday services in Gastonia,
N.C., on July 9. The praise band led worship, the CMA band accompanied the
congregation, the chorus provided special music and the drama group contributed
Scripture presentations. A small band ensemble provided musical entertainment
for residents of the Catherine Booth Gardens across the street.
At the
CMA Conservatory, students were given musical and artistic instruction,
opportunities to worship and venues for performance. They had fun and enjoyed
learning at the same time.
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Kentucky-Tennessee
Division pays homage to Major Street
Kentucky-Tennessee's music conservatory was an opportunity for
the 23 delegates to expand their musical knowledge and to understand the role
of music in leading others in worship. Special guests - which included Majors
Ronnie and Sharon Raymer, Robert and Jill Snelson and Bandmaster Ken Chapman
and his wife Jesse - led the delegates in musical training, Bible studies and
evening programs. The delegates were encouraged to see their role as one of
service to the body of Christ and to understand the importance of their
ministry to others.
The program was run by Captain Jon-Phil
Winter with Mr. Dan Bowles leading music instruction. Under their leadership,
the delegates visited a local church where they led the service and then
enjoyed a covered dish lunch. Fun was also in big supply with trips to Kentucky
Kingdom and Nashville Shores and evening programs that left the delegates
covered in ice cream, syrup, flour and eggs and saw many conquer their fears by
eating bugs and bobbing for pickles in minnow-infested waters.
Graduation was an opportunity for the delegates to display to
family and corps members how much they had progressed in their musical
training. The graduation also served as an opportunity to dedicate the music
conservatory program to Major Otis Street, whose influence on the music program
in the division continues to be felt and is greatly remembered. The music
conservatory will now be known as The Major Otis Street Music
Conservatory.
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National Capital
and Virginia Division brings innovation and master instruction to
TMI
For the second year running, NCV's
music conservatory had a full house of assorted 
young musicians from the complete beginner
to the accomplished soloist. Every delegate participated each day in one of
three bands, women's chorus, men's chorus, full chorus, Bible study and
music theory.
Conservatory students also chose one special
elective class to experience different ways of worshipping. Each year Christina
Anderson (divisional gospel arts director) has ensured that new gospel arts
classes and opportunities are presented. Conservatory 2006 added a popular
Stomp (percussion) class in addition to Sign & Mime.
Another innovation was the introduction of afternoon master
classes for the various instruments of the band by guest Bandmaster Jamie Hood
from Basle, Switzerland.
Awards were presented to Kevin
Downing and Rebekah Schramm (Divisional Commander's Scholarship), Tyler
Chambless and Chelsea Newsome (alternates) and C.J. Carlson (honor delegate).
Band awards were given to Rachel Newby, ShaQuerria Hobbs and C.J. Carlson.
Chorus awards went to Julinda Davis and Dan Winters.
Other
award recipients were Gabrielle Villafuerte (Scripture memorization); Kevin
Downing, Rebekah Schramm, Ann Li and Raven Davidson (theory class awards) and
Kevin Downing also won the soloist award. Elective awards were presented to
Ashley Seager (Sing Solo), Tobyas Smith (Stomp), Kevin Downing (Keyboard),
Michael Good (Sign & Mime), ShaQuerria Hobbs (Timbrels), Emily Philips
(Drama) and Gabrielle Villafuerte (Dance).
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Texas Conservatory adds piano
instruction to lineup, students rejoice in more ways than
one
The 2006 Texas Music Conservatory
exceeded all expectations with 147 in attendance. The Junior Conservatory
attracted record numbers with 76 young people. The seven-day conservatory
focused on teaching the concepts of music theory and playing brass instruments
in addition to presenting a children's musical called "Splash
Kingdom." Its message, the certainty of salvation, was woven into the
week's expression of love for God through music and arts.
Seventy-one delegates attended the four-week Senior Conservatory:
48 came to study brass instruments, 15 pursued drama and eight enrolled in the
piano track. Through auditions, brass track participants were placed in the
Steadman-Allen Band, the Leidzen Band or the Heaton Band.
The drama track studied dance, mime, puppetry and acting. Under
the leadership of Roberta Osmond, the group of 15 young people performed during
Sunday visits and presented a choreodrama, titled "Stand Alone," at
the graduation of the conservatory.
New to the Texas
Conservatory this year was the addition of a full-time piano track. These
students studied piano with B/M Jesse Fry for two hours a day instead of brass
or drama. The eight students represented seven different corps. Although some
of them were new to the piano, by the end of the four-week intensive course,
they were playing songs in the primary chords in three different keys.
Conservatory electives included piano, dance, drama, newsletter,
art, praise and worship team, percussion, timbrels and brass. Conservatory
guests Bernie Dake (THQ) and B/M Jason Burn (Sierra Del Mar Division) added
greatly to the conservatory experience for the young people.
As the students developed their musical skills at the Mabee
Conservatory, they also were taught about applying the same disciplines in
diligent pursuit of the Lord.