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PrintCOLUMBIA — Mizzou Band Camp is on pause until 2011. The 2010 camp for junior and senior high school students has been canceled because of staffing changes, according to an announcement from University Bands. This would've been the 17th year for the camp.
Michael Knight, who had previously directed the camp, is stepping down at the semester's close from his position as associate director of bands at MU and director of Marching Mizzou.
- Michael Knight, who had previously directed Mizzou Band Camp, is stepping down at the semester's close from his position as associate director of bands at MU and director of Marching Mizzou.
He's taken a position as director of bands and head of instrumental music at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis., after six years with MU.
MU School of Music Director Robert Shay said Knight's new position will "allow him to change gears somewhat and focus on his interests in concert bands and music education" in an e-mail to School of Music students, faculty and staff.
"I am very excited about this new opportunity," Knight said in an e-mail to members of Marching Mizzou. "I feel fortunate to have shared the past six years with you and your predecessors."
Junior and senior high students signed up for band camp will be notified of the cancellation Wednesday, said Matt Levins, University Bands administrative assistant.
Mizzou Band Camp usually attracts between 45 and 60 junior and senior high students from around Missouri each summer, Levins said. It features concert, jazz and chamber ensembles and workshops.
Levins called the camp an opportunity for kids to interact with college students and get a taste of college life. MU music education majors serve as camp counselors.
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It is truly a shame that this camp will not be taking place this year. It is such a wonderful event that the University of Missouri offers to Middle School and High School students across the Mid West. As a future music educator, I hope that this decision is only temporary. I want to be able to send my students to Mizzou Band Camp.
I agree with Jared that this is truly a shame. My grandchildren, musicians all, have enjoyed summer band camps in the state where they live.
This appears to be poor planning. There should have been a contingency plan for such an occurrence. After all, a key person in ANY such program might become absent for any number of good reasons. People sometimes become suddenly ill, are injured in accidents, etc.
Our summer science and engineering campus, held at Missouri University of Science & Technology, are "back stopped" for key personnel. Short of some global event like the Second Coming, the show goes on. (Enrollment for this year's programs was closed early due to all sessions being filled.)