Subject: 🄁 May News from MCMA šŸŽ¶

  May 2025

   STUDIO NEWS

May has arrived, bringing flowers (and black flies). The buzz of summer's arrival is undeniable -- as we joyfully roll down our windows and closely review our calendars for June, July, and August. Speaking of which... MCMA is putting the finishing touches on another summer of phenomenal programming! We're giddy with anticipation for the incredible learning, collaboration, and creativity that await our students. Read on to discover details about all things MCMA summer, along with: May Student of the Month, summer camp registration, Jazz in June festivities, a spring recital announcement, teacher appreciation, Bagaduce Music, guitars for sale, and important upcoming dates.

STUDENT OF THE MONTH

Meet our May Student of the Month! Evelyn began her learning with Dan Wenger in July of 2024. Dan has this to say about his student:


"We started with a piano skills focus, but have since broadened our focus to include other musical skills and interests. We've worked together on holding a few different grooves on the drum set, singing and playing an instrument at the same time, while learning music theory -- like note-reading, chords, and scales -- along the way.


I really want to highlight how courageous Evelyn can be as a musician. She's always willing to try new ideas, even if they're challenging (or different -- like dancing a two step in the waiting room to practice finding the beat). Between the trust she puts in me as I learn the best ways to teach her and the courage she practices in accepting the challenges I offer her, Evelyn has inspired my own growth as a music educator. I look forward to continuing to find those challenges with her; her joy when musicking is absolutely contagious. Go Evelyn!ā€

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION

Mark your calendars for another incredible summer of MCMA programming! Alert your friends, neighbors, and family (far & wide)... and start planning now for these transformative learning experiences, meant to empower student musicians with collaborative, innovative, performance-relevant instruction! *Scholarships are available to all summer camps.

GIRLS ROCK MINI CAMP

June 30 - July 3

(9am - 12pm)

Girls Rock is a spaceĀ for girls to get together and be in a band! It's important for women in music to stick together and empower each other. This intensive 4-day experience is an opportunity to dig deep into skills, repertoire and the experience of rocking out with other musicians in a supportive, creative, FUN space.

BLUES INTENSIVE CAMP

July 7 - July 11

Performance at NABF

Blues Intensive camp is a deep dive into the heart and soul of blues music! This immersive program welcomes young musicians to explore the rich history, techniques, and improvisational spirit of the blues. Participants will develop their musicianship through group jam sessions, expert instruction, and hands-on rehearsals... all culminating in the once in a lifetime opportunity for students to take the big stage at the North Atlantic Blues Festival on Sunday July 13.

GIG CAMP

July 28 - Aug 1

Performance at Maine Lobster Festival

Students in Gig Camp will get a taste of everything that’s involved in beingĀ  a part of a gigging band; from choosing, rehearsing and polishing for performances to recording a demo and marketing their group locally. They will learn how to book a gig and set up their gear for a performance. There will be performance opportunities throughout the week, including performing at the Maine Lobster Festival!

JAZZ INTENSIVE CAMP

Aug 11 - Aug 15

*NEW FORMAT*

(12pm - 3pm)

FREE OF CHARGE to all participants (*thanks to the generosity of the Eric Davis Jazz Fund*), this experience will differ from a typical MCMA day camp. The camp willĀ involve as much playing, listening, improvising, thinking and sharing as humanly possible, all geared toward developing a different idea of what "Jazz" means to a young person in 2025, and how the concepts of jazz can support our musical development and expression. Enrollment is by invitation or teacher nomination (band teacher, private instructor, school teacher -- or, in certain cases, parent). Click the button below to nominate a student.

Click the button below FMI on all MCMA SUMMER CAMPS and to register! 

JAZZ IN JUNE

MCMA is excited to support Camden's Jazz in June Music Festival again this year. Mark your calendar for June 13, 14, and 15 ... and get ready for some unforgettable performances!

MCMA FACULTY JAZZ ENSEMBLE

FRI, JUNE 13

12:30pm - 2:00pm

On Friday afternoon, from 12:30pm to 2:00pm, the MCMA Faculty Jazz Ensemble -- led by Tom Luther and joined by special guests (including student performer Mason Contakos on drums) -- will grace the Camden Village Green with a FREE performance! They'll be playing music by Yazz Ahmed, Duke Ellington, Gregory Porter, an original composition written for this event, and a special "audience participation" segment featuring a piece by Charles Mingus. Start making a picnic plan with your friends & family now...and prioritize this fabulous kick-off-to-summer soundtrack!

MCMA LATE NIGHT JAZZ JAM

FRI, JUNE 13

9:00pm - 11:00pm

On Friday night from 9:00pm to 11:00pm, after the Jazz In June headliner performance by Julia Keefe at the Camden Opera House, MCMA's Late Night Jazz Jam will be held at Camden's Bistro La Cave.Ā Led by bandmates of theĀ lateĀ Eric Davis (Dave Clarke on guitar and Bill Batty on drums, joined by Ezra Rugg on bass and Dan Wenger on trombone), the jam is sponsored by the Eric Davis Jazz Fund. Donations will be collected at the jam for the Fund.

ERIC DAVIS JAZZ FUND

Eric Davis was a prolific and beloved figure on the midcoast jazz scene for many years. Eric passed away in early 2019, but ensured through the establishment and endowment of his fund that a legacy of jazz study and performance would continue throughout the area. Each year since its inception, the Eric Davis Jazz Fund has sponsored Midcoast Music Academy's Jazz Intensive Camp, allowing young music students who could not otherwise attend to take part.

JAZZ IN JUNE

MAIN ACTS

The weekend will be full of dynamic performances, as Camden Opera House is hosting a stunning line-up. Don't miss out! Purchase tickets to the Julia Keefe Quartet for Fri evening June 13 (with opening act The Greg Abate Trio) ... and purchase tickets to Spyro Gyra for Sat evening, June 14. Want more details? Check out Jazz in June's website to plan your ultimate jazz weekend itinerary!

SPRING RECITAL

SAVE THE DATE: SUN JUNE 22

Mark your calendars for the upcoming MCMA spring recital:Ā Sunday, June 22 at 2:00pm at the Strand Theatre in Rockland!Ā Students who have been studying at MCMA since the beginning of this semester are invited to participate. Students should be on the lookout for an email with a link to the sign up form, and students should be talking to their instructors about their interest in performing. The deadline to sign up for the recital is Tuesday, May 27.

TEACHER APPRECIATION

MCMA FACULTY

MCMA is blessed with incredibly skilled, compassionate, talented, innovative teaching artists. THANK YOU to Amelia, Amory, Dan, Evan, Heather, Jeff, Khaya, Mark, and Tom for your dedication to your students and the art of teaching! Our community is immeasurably richer for your heart, your soul, and your contributions!

BAGUDUCE MUSIC

BLUEGRASS SUMMER DAYS

MCMA is always eager to celebrate our musical community beyond the Midcoast. Just down the road in Blue Hill, our friends at Bagaduce Music facilitate seriously stellar programming ... like their upcoming Bluegrass Summer Days series. Showcasing American Roots at its finest, those performances are worth prioritizing as you make your summer plans!


Bagaduce Music also offers a one-of-a-kind music lending library for folks near and far. Accessible through their website, The Bagaduce Music Lending Library houses a remarkable collection of printed sheet music of varying genres. Browse away and be inspired! And while you're at it, make a note of other good things to come from Bagaduce; there are plenty on the horizon!

GUITARS FOR SALE!

COURTESY OF STRING THEORY

String Theory, the new guitar shop in Camden, is offering some wonderful guitars, and a great amp, for sale -- right at MCMA. Stop into the lobby to check them out! And stop by String Theory the next time you're in Camden to support a musician-centric local business!

UPCOMING DATES

  • Fri, May 9: Community Jam

  • Mon, May 19: in-house summer lesson registration opens

  • Mon, May 26: Memorial Day (MCMA closed)

  • Tues, May 27: public summer lesson registration opens

  • Fri, May 30: Memorial Day lessons (at their usual time)

  • Fri, June 13: MCMA Faculty Jazz Ensemble on the Camden Village Green

  • Fri, June 13: MCMA Late Night Jazz Jam at Bistro La Cave

  • Sun, June 22: Spring Recital


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