Spark! Music Camp ignites love for music in youth

Kona Choral Society recently held its Spark! Music Camp at Kealakehe Intermediate School.

With a large group of volunteers and area professional musicians, the three-day, free music intensive was hosted during spring break, March 22-24, at the Kailua-Kona area school. The camp had 64 keiki participants in grades kindergarten through eight from 12 schools. All tuition was paid for by private donations.

“Thanks to the hard work of talented guest instructors and dedicated volunteers, our second camp was again a huge success for parents, community members, and the kids! The program featured a variety of musical experiences including: ’ukulele and keyboard classes, choral instruction, a demonstration by the Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra, show-and-tell concerts by singers from around our community, and an end-of-camp ho’ike (“sharing”) concert for parents,” Youth Chorus Committee Chairman Susan Gleed Leonard said.

Choral instructors included Honolulu choral director Diane Koshi (grades 3-5); choral director and professional voice teacher Rebecca Chock from Oahu (grades 5-8); and local, private voice teacher Wendy Buzby, who led grades K-2 and yoga warm-ups. KCS accompanist and Kealakehe Intermediate School teacher Gloria Juan taught ukulele and keyboard while Mary Garris, teacher and owner of Kona’s Junior Music Academy, also taught keyboard.

“Show-&-Tell” guest musicians from the community included seven members of Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra, women’s barbershop quartet Kona Sea Notes, jazz vocalist Binti Bailey, and Kona Choral Society singers Stephen Cline, Wanee McCabe, Alan Hale and Bernaldo Evangelista. Teacher and opera singer Wendy Buzby also demonstrated.

Camp accompanists were Vaina Barton and Bernaldo Evangelista.

Planning is underway for the reopening of Kona Choral Society’s weekly children’s and youth chorus program for the upcoming school year and for future Spark! Camps.

Info: www.konachoralsociety.org, kcsyouthchorus@gmail.com. ■