Plans are underway for Youth Summer Camps at Good Neighbors Theatre in Byrdstown, Tennessee. First will be the Vocal/Choral Camp for ages 6-18/grades 1-12. The annual music camp program will again be under the direction of Janice Hay Warhurst of Albany, who has been instructor for the music camp since its beginning in 2010.

Dates for the music camp are July 6-10 from 9-11:30 a.m. Registration is $70 per student and the registration deadline is July 1. Call Erica at 931-284-7968 to sign-up your child.

The week will include instruction in vocal and choral technique, note reading, rhythms, sight singing, ear training, musical terms and signs, reading a score and intervallic singing. This year’s program will feature music of American composer Aaron Copeland. Harmonies of many of his works are considered by many to be the sound of American music, evoking the vast American landscape and pioneer spirit. He became one of the twentieth century’s foremost composers with highly influential music that had a distinctive blend of classical, folk and jazz idioms. Copeland was a renowned composer of film scores as well, working on Of Mice and Men, Our Town, and The North Star, receiving Academy Award nominations for all three projects. He eventually won an Oscar for The Heiress.

Parents and all interested in attending will enjoy a performance to see what the participants have learned on Friday, July 10 at 2 p.m.

Warhurst is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music with a degree in Music Education and operates The Music Studio in Clinton County. Her students take classical piano, classical voice, and choral music and include pre-school through adults. She is a frequent competition and workshop judge in addition to teaching her own students.

Involving children and youth in the performing arts is important at Good Neighbors Theatre as they strive to expose the aspects of live theater to young persons in the area. Youth appreciation of the arts is the entire focus of the summer GNT and prepares the young people to be interested in attending and participating in future productions, especially the annual play featuring children. Many who take part have gotten their start in theater by participating in summer camps at GNT.

The summer Drama Camp follows for students having completed grades 1 through 12. Dates are July 13-July 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. A showcase performance will be held Friday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. on stage at Good Neighbors Theater.

The drama camp is a great opportunity for kids to learn about acting and theatre through acting exercise and scene work with a live performance of what they have learned at the end of the week.

Registration for the Drama Camp is $60.00. Deadline is July 1. The drama camp will be led by Tyler Martin, who just completed directing the highly successful children’s production, Snow White, at GNT. For registration or information, contact Erica at 931-284-7968.