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by Jenni Ragland
More than 50 young people, many from communities outside Anchorage, traveled to The Salvation Army King’s Lake Camp in Wasilla to participate in the annual Music and Creative Ministries Camp. Many campers travel by Alaska State Ferry, followed by a 500-plus mile drive, while others fly into Anchorage from remote communities. Bandmaster Neil Smith was the music camp director this year. Other special guests included Jennifer Crowell, THQ Music Department intern, and R.T. Carr, from the Santa Clara (Calif.) Corps, who has become a regular at King’s Lake teaching guitar.
Classes included drama, rhythm, guitar, timbrels, band, Holy Hip Hop and chorus. At the final concert, each instructor recognized an outstanding student for the music major and elective classes. In addition, special awards went to sisters Katie and Sarah Grafio, who won the junior soloist and senior soloist competition respectively. Daniel Bass was selected as the junior honor camper with Chelsea Carroll receiving the senior honor camper award. Jenny Kwon received the highest award—the 2010 Outstanding Musician.
Major Sheryl Tollerud, who coordinates the camp each year, said, “Offering quality music programs is a great investment in our children and I’m so excited to see the growth in the music camp program in Alaska.”
–Jenni Ragland
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