Southwest Community Concert Band Offers Local Summer Band Camp

The Southwest Community Concert Band is offering its 8th annual Summer Band Camp open to first year school band students, junior high, middle school, and incoming freshmen band students. The instructors are dedicated, highly qualified music educators/performers from the Chicago area. The band is an all volunteer organization, averaging 60 musicians, performing at year-round seasonal and summer outdoor concerts in local communities. The goal of the Summer Band Camp program is to promote music education through a positive experience structured to help students develop their musical talents.

Founded in the fall of 1981, the Southwest Band began under the direction of Milton Potter, a local school band director. Current director, Ray Forlenza, is the band director for Kirby School District 140 in Tinley Park and has been the musical conductor of the Southwest Community Concert Band, since 2000. Prior to running the Summer Band Camp for the Southwest Community Concert Band, Mr. Forlenza was instrumental in organizing and running Moraine Valley Community College’s program for eleven years.

The Southwest Community Concert Band’s mission includes service to the community. In 1996, the band started a Winter Band Day program, a non-competitive festival designed to promote the enjoyment of music among junior high and middle school band students. This year was Winter Band Day’s 18th year! In 2006, the band began performing its first Holiday theme concert that requests non-perishable food items for the price of admission. The band collects more than 500 pounds of food at each concert, which is donated to area food pantries each year. In 2007, the band began the Summer Band Camp for Young Musicians, attracting over 80 students from local band programs to last year’s Camp.

The week long Summer Camp is open to all area students entering middle school through 9th grade with at least one year of instructional playing experience. The band will be offering an optional Jazz Band, Theory, or Improvisational classes for interested students. Band Camp will be supervised by an adult staff and this year's Camp will be held at the Eagle Rock Community Church located at 14367 W. 159th Street; Homer Glen, IL 60491.

Band Camp starts at 8:30 AM and ends at 3:00 PM. On Friday, the campers will be provided with a pizza lunch, followed by an afternoon of recreational activities. Band Camp culminates with a closing Camp Finale Concert at 7:00 PM. 

For complete Summer Band Camp information, please visit the website at www.swcommunityband.com