History of the Prince William County Summer Band Camps

2003: A group of directors revived the Summer Band Camp program to give students the opportunity to reinforce and enrich the efforts of our talented middle school band directors across the county. The first summer included a half-day concert band and half-day jazz band camp held during one week at Beville MS, headed by Mr. Kirk Troen. Music and Arts Center graciously served as our corporate sponsor.

2004: Mr. James Pratte took over hosting responsibilities at Benton Middle and expanded the camp to two weeks devoted to each ensemble setting. We added a student chamber music element which gave students individualized instruction on their instrument and further added the talents of more local music educators. For the first time, two levels of concert band were present to give students more targeted instruction for their experience level. An activity period was added to reinforce the non-musical benefits of music education.

2005: We were honored to present the summer concert band welcoming Dr. Stephen Walts to our county at the summer administrators’ meeting. Two levels of jazz ensemble were offered to meet the needs of different experience levels. Students enrolled in the jazz camp were offered the chance to participate in a doubling class which allowed them to learn saxophone as a second instrument.

2006: Local musician and business owner Mrs. Donna Peck was responsible for the addition of our website, www.pwcmusiccamp.org which allowed for ease of registration and accessibility of information. Mrs. Jaime Holscher joined the team of head camp directors.

2007: A faculty recital element was added to the concert band camp giving children the opportunity to realize their music education as a life-long skill. A percussion camp was added to give these students much-needed individualized instruction, headed by Mr. Brandon Neal. The jazz ensemble was invited to perform for a county wide administrators conference attended by superintendent Dr. Stephen Walts.

2008: Mr. Chris Gillespie took over hosting responsibilities at Gainesville Middle. A daily team building activity was added to both the concert and jazz camps. Students were also given the opportunity to learn electric bass as a second instrument in the jazz band.

2009: Summer Camps return to Benton Middle School and Mr. Carlos Gonzalez is welcomed as a camp director. We are proud do debut a revitalized website and a new camp logo.

The future of the summer band camps include plans for the expansion of both concert and jazz camps to offer three levels. 

 

Camp Directors 2009

James Pratte, Band Director, Benton Middle

Jaime Holscher, Band Director, Woodbridge Middle

Carlos Gonzalez, Band Director, Stonewall Middle

 

Prince William County Summer Band Camp Staff 2009

Steven Ballas, Band Director, Gainesville Middle

Shannon Gunn, Music Technology teacher, Woodbridge HS

Kurt Holscher, Asst. Band Director, West Springfield High

Mr. Eric Huang, Band Director, Gar-Field High

Brandon Neal, Band Director, Rippon Middle

Donna Peck, Local private bassoon teacher

Michael Polk, Former Asst. Band Director, Benton Middle

Nestor Toro, Band Director, Beville Middle

Master Sgt. Tom Wheeler, US Navy Band. Private French horn teacher

Michele Dowling, Music Education Major, Virginia Commonwealth University

Monica Gonzales, Outstanding 12 th Grade Percussionist, Hylton High School

Andrew Gambarani, Outstanding 12 th Grade Percussionist, Forest Park High School

Patrick Slevin, Percussion performance major, Northwestern University

 

Prince William County Summer Band Camp Staff Has Included

Alicia Brodt, Choral Director, Bull Run Middle, private clarinet instructor

Matt Brodt, Band Director, Battlefield High

Kathy Firestone, Band Director, Bull Run Middle

Christopher Gillespie, Former Band Director, Gainesville Middle (camp director)

Jessica Garber, Former Band Director, Benton Middle

Patrick Gillespie, Local private trombone and baritone teacher

Angela Myers, Former Band Director, Bull Run Middle

Christopher Mallory, Former Band Director, Freedom High

Christopher Neal, Asst. Band Director, Lake Ridge Middle

Ivan Perez, Band Director, Freedom High

Doug Silver, Band Director, Godwin Middle

J.R. Snow, Former Band Director, Forest Park High

Paul Tobin, Trombone performance major, West Virginia Univ.

Kirk Troen, Former Band Director, Beville Middle (camp director)

Master Sgt. Greg Twombley, US Army Band. Private saxophone instructor

Claire Walker, Percussion performance major, DePaul Univ.

Brenda Weckerly, Former Band Director, Porter Traditional