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VA
PRODUCTIONS, INC. DRUM MAJOR SUMMER CAMP AWARD
The
Reading Musical Foundation is pleased to announce a new drum
major summer camp opportunity that will rotate
alphabetically throughout Berks County’s public and
parochial schools beginning in the summer of 2007. Thanks to
the generosity of the scholarship establishers, Craig Dodge
and Virginia L. Frederick-Dodge, owners of the Reading-based
video production company, VA Production’s Inc., students
from schools with marching bands will be selected to attend
West Chester University’s Drum Major Academy under the
auspices of George Parks. In the first year of the program
(2007), the following schools will be invited to participate
in the process – Boyertown Area Senior High School,
Brandywine Heights Area High School, Conrad Weiser Area High
School, Daniel Boone Area High School and Exeter Township
Senior High School.
Each
applicant will be considered based on proficiency in music,
diligence, capacities for leadership and teamwork,
participation in other school and community activities, and
financial need along with the faculty members’ input as to
how the student will likely benefit from the experience.
Virginia
Dodge attributes her training in music and marching band as
preparing her for business ownership and providing her with
the skills that enable her to offer specialized creative
services to her clients. “I credit much of what I am today
to my experience as a high school drum major and the
opportunity my parents gave me to participate in a drum
major camp in high school. Such experiences foster
leadership, musicianship, confidence, commitment, and
teamwork in the participants and invigorate their high
school’s marching band as a result of the drum major’s
positive experience and subsequent enthusiasm. Through the
Reading Musical Foundation, we would like to share the
experience, from which I continue to benefit, with high
school students throughout Berks County,” Virginia offered.
Following
participation in the Drum Major Academy, participants and
their marching band director will provide written feedback
on the program and how the student and his or her respective
marching band were impacted.
Comments
from 2007 Recipients:
I
would like to take this time to thank you for such a
wonderful opportunity. I feel more confident about my
leadership skills as a result of what I learned, and I met
people that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Last
week was the first week of band camp at my school, and I
have already seen how Drum Major Academy has helped not only
me, but also my band. My band director was extremely pleased
with how much I learned. This was a great help to him
because it meant less time needed for working with only me
and more time for the band as a whole.
My
conducting was not the only thing I learned at DMA. I also
feel more comfortable leading my band. I learned that I have
to be able to lead myself before I can lead anyone else.
I am
now able to help my band strive for greatness.
Jessica Sclesky (pictured in middle) |