Christmas in Kiev celebrates its 6th season

Music Camp International conducted its 6th annual Christmas in Kiev from December 28, 2009-January 8, 2010.  This year's Camp combined some of the blind children who had participated in their own Music Camp in May, with children who had the gift of sight.  It was the first time these children have joined together for a concert of Christmas masterpieces.  This year's concert was held at the beautiful Philharmonic Concert Hall in Kiev. Watch video of the choir performing both Hallelujah! and Magnificat.

June 28-July 3, 2009 Music Camp Goes to Sibiu, Romania, the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2007

June 28-July 3, 2009 Music Camp returned to Sibiu, Romania. This charming medieval city was the cultural capital of Europe in 2007 when Music Camp held its first Camp there. Daily classes and rehearsals were at the Brukenthal School.  The concert was in the Catholic Church in the Piata Mare on Friday, July 3, at 3:00.  Music Camp went to Sibiu in response to an invitation from the Inspector of the Ministry of Education. Principal players from the Sibiu Philharmonic accompanied the children.

Music Camp for the Blind and Children with Visual Impairments

May 20-30,2009 Kiev, Ukraine

Music Camp International had the honor of helping focus the national spotlight on the talents of blind and visually impaired children.  With one Music Camp in the morning at school #11, and another in the afternoon at school #5, and an international teaching team, Music Camp International did what has never been done before--conduct a Music Camp and concert with blind children.  The concert on May 30, was the featured event for the International Children's Day.  First Lady, Mrs. Katerina Yuschenko spoke and said, "I was told that this was to be a concert given by disabled children.  But I have not seen any disabled children here, but only gifted and talented children who have no limit to their abilities."

Three children's charities collaborated to host the concert at Ukraine House.  Music Camp International joined with Pryyateli Ditey (Help the Children) and Ukraine 3000 to provide outfits, food, and transportation to bring the children from their boarding schools into heart of the city.  The historic event was televised throughout the country.

Easter With the Masters

Music Camp International launched a new festival in Cluj, Romania, from April 12-18.  Easter With the Masters is designed to feature the choral masterworks that celebrate the Easter season.  This year the children sang selections from Handel's Messiah.  The concert was at the beautiful Biserica Reformata, which is known for its exceptional acoustics. This festival, which was endorsed by the Ministry of Education, is projected to become a regional and eventually a national festival, drawing participants and audiences from the entire country, and eventually the continent.

Music Camp Goes to Zaporozhye

March 16-22, 2009, Music Camp International was invited to come to Sichovyi Collegium, a comprehensive boarding school in Zaporizhia, Ukraine to conduct a Music Camp.  These 300 eager students and the Music Camp staff became one big family for a week as we all lived at the school, ate together, rehearsed together, and had fun making music together.  The concert on March 22, was at the beautiful Glinka Philharmonic in the city center.  Members of the Philharmonic orchestra accompanied the children.  Philoharmonic conductor, Vachislav Redya, invited Connie Fortunato, founder and president of MCI to stay for an additional week to serve as a jurist for the international children's music competition that he hosts each year.

Kiev Christmas Camp Holds Concert at House of Organ Music

December 28, 2008-January 7, 2009  Music Camp International held its annual Christmas Camp, with its concert on Orthodox Christmas Day, January 7.  The beautiful Polish Cathedral, Dom Organi Muziki, was the site of the concert.  The magnificent acoustics made the children's voices sound like angels.  The smiles on their faces made them look like angels.  The magnificent carols of Christmas enraptured both the performers and the audience in magical moments of music.

Odessa Opera Theater Hosts Nearly 1,000 Orphans from Moloda Gvardia Camp

The magnificent Opera Theater in Odessa, Ukraine, hosted an historic concert on June 15, 2008.  The newly rennovated Opera Theater, which re-opened last October, was the site of a concert for 960 social children from the nearby children's center, Moloda Gvardia.  The children, who came from every region of Ukraine, were sponsored by the Ministry of Youth, Family, and Sport, and Minister Yuriy Pavlienko.  Music Camp International collaborated with Pryyateli Ditey in bringing the concert to Odessa Region.  Special greetings were read from President Yushenko, the First Lady and Ukraine 3000, as well as the Odessa Region Governor's Office, and the Odessa City Mayor's Office, who made the arrangements for the Opera Theater and orchestra.  A motorcade of 23 buses was escorted by Odessa police as the children were transported to the theater.  The stage only held 540 children.  The other 420 occupied the partierre.  The children sang to a full house.  As one dignitary said, "The music of these children, and the spirit of today will live in this Opera Theater forever!"

Music Camp International Sets Ukrainian Book of Records at Artek

In April 2008, Music Camp International was invited to return to Artek International Children's Center, located on the Crimean Peninsula, on the Black Sea. And on May 8, 830 children performed a concert at the Fire Square overlooking the beautiful Black Sea. The theme of the concert was "Children for Peace." The concert established a new record for the Ukrainian Book of Records, and was televised throughout the country. The Orchestra of Chamber Musical Theater of Simferopol accompanied the children. An international team of teachers from the United States, Romania, and Ukraine taught the instrument classes.

Artek is owned by the Ukrainian government, and is the largest childrens and youth camp facility in the world. During its first Music Camp at Artek in 2007, Music Camp International's founder and director, Connie Fortunato had met Ukraine's former First Lady, Mrs. Katerina Yuschenko, and many dignitaries who were attending a pedagogical conference, including the head of UNICEF. The concert was filmed for television, and aired on June 1, 2007, which is Children's Day--a national holiday in Ukraine.

April 8-14, 2007 2nd Spring Camp in Cluj fills the Cathedral

Music Camp International returned to Cluj, Romania for its second Spring camp. Nokia, whose Eastern European headquarters are located in Cluj, partnered with Music Camp International to provide this outstanding opportunity for the children in this major Romanian city. This year the concert was held in the Reformed cathedral in the old city. The excellent acoustics make this a frequent concert site for many performing groups. The cathedral was filled to capacity--with not even standing room available by the time the children began their concert.

January 6, 2007; Kiev, Ukraine--CHRISTMAS CAMP PERFORMS TO PACKED OPERA HOUSE

A choir of 150 children sang to a packed house at the National Opera Theater on Orthodox Christmas Eve, January 6, 2007. Music Camp International's third Christmas Camp brought rave reviews from local newspapers and national television. The evening brought several new features to this family celebration.

A bell ensemble of ten students performed along with other children playing violins and handchimes. The beautiful three octave set of English handbells was a gift to Music Camp International and the children of Ukraine from the Schulmerich Company of Sellersville, PA--manufacturer of the bells.

Members of the National Ballet along with students from the National Academy portrayed the text of Handel's Messiah while the children sang this magnificent music.

The audience had an opportunity to participate also. They first sang a familiar Ukrainian carol, and then joined to sing the story of Christmas Eve--For Unto Us a Child Is Born. Connie Fortunato, founder and conductor, promised them, "Plan now to be with us for Christmas Eve 2008 and we will again sing the beautiful music of the season!"