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)