Sherman Chamber Ensemble Offers Youth Summer Camps, 6/24

The Sherman Chamber Ensemble is pleased to announce its 2013 summer songwriting and musical theater camps. Taking place June 24th through June 28th at the Pawling Middle School and July 8th through 12th under the auspices of the New Fairfield Parks and Recreation Summer Camp, these hands-on creative workshops are open to students ages 10 through 15. All levels of musical ability are welcome, and students do not need to play an instrument in order to participate in this program. Registration is open to young people from Pawling, New Fairfield, Sherman and any other town, including summer visitors to the region.

With enrollment limited to 15 young people in each session, participants have a unique opportunity to be part of all aspects of creation of their own work of musical theater, from writing the songs to choosing roles to portray in the final performance. Past campers have enthusiastically endorsed the experience, listing their likes as "the instructors," "the way we staged the play," and "the songs we wrote." What they didn't like - "When camp ended!"

Returning as camp instructors are Sherman Chamber Ensemble Artistic Director Eliot Bailen and Pawling High School theater teacher Stacy Dumont. During the five-day session participants will work to create an original musical production. Students will divide their time between collaborative songwriting and acting with the goal of presenting a short musical theater piece. As time permits, instruction on bass, guitar and drums will also be offered.

Eliot Bailen's songwriting workshops have won acclaim throughout the tri-state region. He has been the winner of the Parent's Choice Gold Medal, numerous ASCAP awards and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Pawling 8th graders have worked with Mr. Bailen to create songs based on their reading of John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Shermanites will know Mr. Bailen from "Song to Symphony," including last fall's "Sherman Grows Together" production, which involved virtually the entire Sherman School. Mr. Bailen's model for "Song to Symphony" was the subject of a New York Times feature article. Mr. Bailen, a concert cellist and guitarist, is founder of the Sherman Chamber Ensemble, which is dedicated to bringing a wide range of musical styles to its audiences and to musical education.

Stacy Dumont is a Special Ed. and Theater teacher at Pawling High School. She is NYS certified in Theater and holds a BA in Drama from Fordham University. Mrs. Dumont is co-founder of the Brewster (NY) Theater Company, for which she has offered theater workshops and directed main stage children's shows. Her acting classes have been offered at Town of Southeast's Culture Camps and other venues. Ms. Dumont currently offers acting coaching and drama programs for students and young adults, including those with a variety of disabilities.

For the Pawling camp, tuition for the 5-day workshop plus final performance is $100 per pupil.. For a registration form or more information, contact the Sherman Chamber Ensemble at 860-355-5930 or info@shermanchamberensemble.org. A registration form may also be printed from SCE's website at www.shermanchamberensemble.org.