From piano to all manner of arts and science, University of Texas Permian Basin has a plethora of summer camps this year.
Young Llerena, a new piano adjunct at UTPB, said the piano camp runs from June 1 to 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The age range will be 8 to 18 and they need a certain level of proficiency.
Along with Llerena, it will feature musicians Gayle Bizzell, Shari Santorelli and Hyun Lee.
“We are so honored that they’re willing to join our first piano camp because they know this area so well. They’re so respected. They are wonderful pianists, teachers, educators, artists. I’m getting so much support even though it’s my first time. I feel like I have strong backing from them …,” Llerena said.
She said the university has been thinking about hosting a piano camp for several years.
They are hoping for 10 to 15 students.
“Since this is our first year, we don’t know how it’s going to turn out, but we’re just hoping for the best and we’ll also learn as we go …,” Llerena said.
Students will be able to have complimentary private lessons every day.
On the third day, students will perform in the lobby of the CEED Building. Students also will have a chance to have master classes in the Rea-Greathouse Hall at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center.
Students also will be able to use the Steinway Spirios.
“Permian Basin: A Natural Resource Phenomenon, Virtual Colloquium” is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 2-3. Visit tinyurl.com/4rwbvwbj or call 432-552-2220.
The event is hosted by the Natural Resource Center at UTPB.
Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Scott McKay said there are a lot of people who don’t know about the natural resources in the Basin.
McKay said this is a good primer if you want to know the basic geology and chemistry and environmental science of the region.
“We’re going to talk about the earthquakes. Industry people will talk a little bit about the industry. We’ll also talk about the different water. A lot of people don’t know we have a huge amount of water in the Permian Basin. It’s just 1,400 feet deep. … It’s not lack of water; it’s just lack of drinking water that we have,” McKay said.
They will also cover how you get water from wells at 400 feet versus produced water.
“A lot of people make a lot of produced water, but actually brine water is just as big of an issue, but no one thinks about it,” McKay said.
A cybersecurity camp will be held June 10-11. Hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 432-552-2220.
It is open to rising ninth through 12th grade students.
A Biomedical Research Camp is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 13-16 and June 20-23 at the UTPB Science and Technology Building.
“… We have some very big-time researchers in the biomedical area …,” McKay said.
They do research into strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, muscular dystrophy and ALS.
“… They’re really doing some groundbreaking work in that area. Students get to go in there and actually work with them for a while …,” McKay said.
The campers will also be working with state-of-the-art equipment.
Rachelle Woolston is again offering a musical theater camp from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 27 through July 1 at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center. The evening of July 1, there will be a performance by the students in the Rea-Greathouse Recital Hall.
She’s hoping for 15 to 20 students. Student workers will help out and there will be a social coordinator to help with activities and games.
“What we’re trying to pitch is that they’re going to learn singing, acting and dancing … all three parts of musical theater. The performance at the end will be new music that they are learning — some solo pieces, maybe some duets, some dance numbers; maybe a whole scene that has some music in it, and then some chorus numbers, as well, so it will be a mixture of everything,” Woolston said.
Students will learn about choreography and there will be a master class where they will discuss an element of performing — whether it’s auditioning, stage directions for acting, or technical theater. They may have one of the student workers sing and they will talk about that performance.
After the master class, they will have lunch, which is provided by the school. There will also be social activities and they will break up into smaller groups where they will have coachings and lessons. At the end of the day, they will have group ensemble and choral singing.
There will be a performance at the end of the camp.
She added that she loves seeing the students grow and change.
“I think it’s something that the community needs. I feel like there’s some good stuff for elementary age kids,” Woolston added.
Tim Feerst, UTPB adjunct professor of percussion, spoke about band camp. Dates will be June 6-11.
Orchestra camp will have the same dates. The age range will be 8 to 18.
It will be the same for orchestra camp.
Typically, Feerst said, they will start at 9 a.m. and finish at 5 p.m. Lunch will be on campus, provided by the residence dining hall.
On Wednesday, they will have a pool event from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. On the Saturday before the concert, the afternoon will be filled with rehearsals followed by a 7 p.m. concert.
“At this point, we expect to have anywhere from 20 to 30, possibly more (students). Monday through Friday we will be on the main campus at UTPB at the same time as the orchestra camp,” Feerst said.
“We did this to give all of our kids an authentic college experience, as well as utilize the pool area and the football field for games and activities. We will have a joint concert at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. on Saturday on the Midland campus of UTPB,” Feerst added.
Aimed at middle through high school students, it’s recommended that they have at least one year of experience on their instrument.
“We see the opportunities with these camps as great recruitment for our university, but in addition to that, they are also great initiatives to share with the community, to get the community involved in music and to be able to communicate with our fellow citizens in our community with music,” he said.
Feerst added that he is looking forward to the camp.
“It’s always great to be able to do events like these not only does it help our university but it’s through our university that we’re able to help our surrounding community,” Feerst said.
Orchestra camp also is June 6-11 at the UTPB campus.
Jean Gomez Fonseca, director of orchestral activities, said it will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., also on the main UTPB campus.
There will also be elective classes such has yoga, photography, musical theater, conducting, music theory and dance.
“They can do other things besides music, if they want to,” Gomez Fonseca said.
Campers are encouraged to wear masks, but they will not be mandatory, he said.
Members of the West Texas Symphony, school teachers, UTPB staff, faculty and students will be helping. Gomez Fonseca said he got many good comments from last year that the students improved in UIL competition, thanks to the camp.
Gomez Fonseca said they had a great experience last year.
“… This is going to be our second one, but hopefully they are going to be happy and we are going to learn as well and keep improving,” he added.
Mario Kiran, professor of art and chairman of the Department of the Arts, said the art camps are returning this year for students 12 to 18. Held at the Charles A. Sorber Visual Arts Studios on the main campus, it will run Monday through Thursday.
The first week is June 6-9 and will include screen printing and digital photography.
The second week, June 13-16, will include 3D printing and animation.
Digital photography and animation are new this year, Kiran said.
Last year, they had 15 students and this year they are expecting 20 to 25.
“It is fun. Last year, we introduced 3D printing … because we got new 3D printers. It was just a trial run. It was pretty successful …,” Kiran said.
“We will provide the digital SLR cameras that the kids can use, and by the end of the week, they should have printed product of their work,” he added.
The camp is a good way to introduce youngsters to the art programs at UTPB and showcase the technology that’s available.
They will also have snacks and drinks and all the supplies will be provided.
Two choral camps are also planned. The large school camp will be July 13-15 and the small school camp is July 18-19. The camps will be at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center.
Frank Eychaner, associate professor in the music department at UTPB, said they will have some of the most effective teachers in the state at the camps.
It is aimed at students who want to build their skills, but have some fun, too.
As the local institution of higher learning, Eychaner said UTPB is very committed to, and excited to bring, opportunities to young men and women from all over the region.
