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.

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

The International Children's Center at Artek, on the Crimean Peninsua set a new record for Ukraine and Music Camp International.  On May 8, 830 children sang a concert at the Fire Square overlooking the beautiful Black Sea.  The theme of the concert was "Children for Peace."  The Orchestra of Chamber Musical Theater of Simferopol accompanied the children.  And international team of teachers from the United States, Romania, and Ukraine taught the instrument classes.  The camp was divided into two sections so that all children could participate in the classes.  The first seven days was Music Camp in Amber Camp.  The second seven days was Music Camp in Marscoi Camp.  The children of both camps came together to present this historic concert which gave special recognition to Victory Day and Ukrainian veterans.

Kiev Christmas Camp Holds Concert at House of Organ Music

December 28, 2007-January 7, 2008  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.

July 15-21, 2007 Music Camp Goes to Sibiu, Romania, the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2007

The third week of July, Music Camp became part of the summer festivities in Sibiu, Romania, the Cultural Capital of Europe. Although the heat was intense, the children worked hard and performed for a standing-room-only crowd at the Catholic Cathedral in the ancient large piazza. As has always been the experience for a city's first Music Camp perfomance--no one could believe how much the children learned in five days. Eight songs--three languages--and instruments--all performed well in one of the most beautiful historical churches of this medieval city. 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 International has been invited to return again next summer.

July 8-14, 2007 Music Camp returned to Brasov for the third year

Music Camp International is becoming an eagerly anticipated annual event in Brasov, Romania, where it returned for the third straight summer. In addition to the regular classes and the outstanding concert at Aula Universitati, there were additional rehearsals for the children who have been selected to come on the first Music Camp International Choir tour to the United States. The musical motivation that has kept so many children involved in music throughout the year, plus the excitement of so many new children, made this the best Music Camp yet in Brasov!

June 3-9, 2007 Annual Kiev Summer Camp has Concert at DZZ

The DZZ, or National House of Recordings, was the concert location for this year's annual June Music Camp in Kiev, Ukraine. This year's concert was accompanied by the principal players of the National Radio Orchestra of Kiev. This is the first summer Music Camp offered a class in handbells. These beautiful handbells were donated to the Music Camp International for the children of Ukraine by the Schulmerich Bell Company in Pennsylvania. The combined instruments of recorder, guitar, Orff instruments, violin, handchimes, and handbells, played an arrangement of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach.

April 22-27 Artek Music Camp performs for Ukrainian First Lady

Music Camp International was invited to hold its first ever Music Camp at Artek, located on the Crimean Peninsula, on the Black Sea. Artek is owned by the Ukrainian government, and is one of the largest childrens and youth camp facilities in the world. The final concert was performed for First Lady, Mrs. Katerina Yushenko, 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.