The Eastern Music Camp has catered to junior high and high school musicians for over 60 years.

July 9 was week one of the two-week camp. The first week, according to Rhonda Heath, assistant camp director and administrative aide to the music department, is held for junior high and high school band camp, coral camp and piano camp. July 23 starts week two, which is for the shell choir camp and the jazz instrumental camp.

The camp is sponsored by the music department and includes students from all over the country. Heath said that “most come from Illinois, but some came from Michigan and California.” The camp has approximately 500 students in attendance.

The campers start out their day in rehearsals and music classes from 8:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. In class, they learn such concepts as music theory and skills to improve their performance, and in rehearsal they practice pieces they will perform for their family and friends on Saturday during a recital.

During the evenings, the staff of the music camp sets up activities for the campers to participate in, and all the campers really seem to enjoy them, said Heath.

“On Monday we hold a karaoke night which is a lot of fun,” said Heath. “Tuesday we have a swim and pizza party. We also hold faculty recitals, which the campers watch if they choose, and later in the week we have a talent show. We end it with a dance, informal, and we bring in a DJ. All the kids really like that too.”

A lot of the campers come back for following years, with many coming back up until the summer between their senior year of high school and their first year of college when they are not allowed to participate anymore. On average about half of the campers end of up coming back any given year.

Heath also points out that the camp is a great way to recruit students to Eastern.

“The campers and their families come to Eastern and they fall in love with the campus,” said Heath. “It is small and intimate and by the time they get to college they know the campus pretty well.”

The counselors who help with the camps are all Eastern graduates, with some being current Eastern professors. Of the 15 counselors in attendance during the week, about 12 attended the camp during junior high and high school, said Heath.

“We have a happy bunch of energetic people,” said Heath. “Athletic kids and music kids are more energetic, have more of a drive because they have to warm up. They both have to have a commitment to their hobbies. It is expensive but rewarding.”

Claudia Christy, 13, of Tuscola, is excited about her first time at the camp. She is part of the coral camp, and she thinks it is a lot of fun learning new music. Christy expressed her enjoyment of her classes saying, “even though they go a while it is a lot of fun.”

“I like to sing older pieces,” said Christy. ” We are doing a song that is originally a poem by Robert Frost, ‘The Road Not Taken.’ I like the poem, it explains things people my age are going through. You know, choosing now to want to live life and be who you are even if what’s right for you might be different from other people.”

Danielle Shellbers, 12, of Alsip, and Melissa Gonzalez, 13, of Alsip, both received scholarships from their junior high to attend the coral camp.

Shellbers really likes the camp saying she gets to “hang out with friends but also learn new things everyday. I made a lot of new friends here.”

Shellbers sings not because she wants to have a career in it but because she finds it fun.

“I don’t think I can sing but I like to sing with friends,” said Shellbers. ” I think the music camp helps me. I already learned a lot of stuff, like before I really didn’t know what I was doing, but now I can project music better.”

Gonzalez likes the independence of the camp. She and Shellbers have off-campus permission meaning they can go off campus for meals if they choose.

“You feel independent because you get to go to a lot of places,” said Gonzalez. “We got to go to some clothing shops and stuff or even go out to dinner.”

She has been in choirs since fourth grade and would like to continue in high school. She really likes the camp so far and wants to return again next year.

Ben Rardin, 14, of Robinson, attended the camp the previous year and had such a good time he wanted to come back again.

Rardin plays tuba and is participating in the senior band at the camp. He enjoys playing swing when he can, but regularly participates in concert band, jazz band, pep band and marching band.

“I really enjoyed my first time here and made a bunch of new friends,” said Rardin, ” I made a bunch of new friends. The band director was the best thing around. I learned a lot of stuff and had a lot of fun, just like this year so far.”