BAND CAMP: STUDENT FROM ENGLAND HELPS INSTRUCT CAMPERS

A 17-year-old student from Kent, England, got his first taste of America Saturday when he arrived in Cape Girardeau to attend a three-week music camp at Southeast Missouri State University.

"I was a bit nervous at first," said the student, Duncan Sutton, "but everyone has been very friendly. I have enjoyed meeting new people."

Sutton had only one negative comment about Cape Girardeau. "It's hot," he said.

He received a scholarship from the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE), which covered expenses for board, food and lodging for three weeks.

Barry Bernhardt, music camps director, said WASBE contacts all schools with summer music camps around the world to see if scholarship assistance could be provided to an international student.

"It's a positive experience for the international student, both culturally and musically," Bernhardt said. "It's also wonderful for the students at the camp to get the opportunity to meet a musician from another country."

He said Southeast offers to sponsor a student every year, but Sutton is the first international student in four or five years who has actually arrived as planned. Southeast is covering Sutton's camp fees, Bernhardt said.

Sutton graduated this year from high school in England and plans to attend the University of London in the fall.

He is a trumpet player for the Kent Youth Wind Orchestra, which is composed of 80 of the best players in Kent. The orchestra paid for Sutton's transportation costs to America, he said.

Sutton said he has been staying with staff members in a residence hall on the Southeast campus.

"I have enjoyed meeting new people, and the staff members have been very nice," Sutton said. "I don't have trouble understanding the accent because we have a lot of American programs in England."

Since Sutton is an accomplished trumpet player, he has been helping out with the elementary students at the camp and getting acclimated to the university this week.

"The campers have talked to him a lot," Bernhardt said. "Music has a universal language, and we have a common bond through music."

Sutton said he is returning directly to England after the music camps because he has to be back for a week of rehearsal.

Sandy Wilson, music camps secretary, said a total of 840 students have signed up for at least one of the camps. The first camp began July 12.

She said the first week is band camp for elementary students, the second week is band and strings, and the third week is band and choral.

The students are sixth-graders through high school seniors. The marching auxiliary includes college students.

Wilson said the camp schedule each day includes three hours of full rehearsals and sectional rehearsals involving individual instruments.

Students are allowed a significant amount of time each day to participate in recreational activities, which are planned by Dr. Ed Leoni. Scheduled events are planned for each evening as well.

On Monday evening, master classes are presented by faculty members. On Tuesday night a concert hour will feature camp instructors as well as Southeast faculty members.

The campers attend Municipal Band concerts in Capaha Park on Wednesday nights, and a dance is held in the cafeteria of Towers on Thursday nights.

The music camp culminates on Friday evening with a concert at 6:15 p.m. in Academic Hall or Rose Theater performed by the campers for their parents.

Wilson said most campers only stay for one week. If not, they must go home for the weekend.

She said the majority of the students are from Missouri, but some arrive from Illinois, Arkansas, Kentucky, Ohio and Iowa.

"We have a lot of returning kids each year," Wilson said. "They always talk about having a very good time.

"It's an excellent learning experience, both musically and socially. We stress the importance of making friends."

The fee for each camper is $175 for the entire week.

Bernhardt said, "We have one of the largest and most affordable music camps in the country. It's a wonderful public relations tool for the university because so many students and parents get a good impression of the campus."

He said when the students graduate from high school and start looking for a college, they might choose Southeast because they feel comfortable and like the people.

"The kids definitely enjoy the experience," Bernhardt said. "We don't shove music down their throats, but we do give them a top-quality musical experience. We hire the best music educators from our area."

He said the students also gain many new friends they often see throughout the school year at other events.