Music Camp Returns to ISU Campus with Concerts June 21-26

The Music for All Summer Symposium, presented by Yamaha, will return to the Illinois State University campus with its national summer music camp June 21 to 26.  A comprehensive summer camp for high school instrumental music students and high school and middle school band directors, the Symposium brings to campus more than 1,200 student musicians and educators from as many as 35 states and abroad. 

In addition to daytime music education activities for students and teachers, the week includes world-class concerts and concludes Friday with a Drum Corps International competition featuring eight top DCI corps.  Except for a free concert Wednesday night, the evening performances are available as ticketed events to the public.

Wednesday's free concert at 8 p.m. in Braden Auditorium is the Jazz Ambassadors of the U.S. Army Field Band, the United States Army's premier big band.  Though free, tickets are required for admission and are available at the Bone Student Center box office. 

The 19-member ensemble, formed in 1969, has received great acclaim both at home and abroad performing America's original art form, jazz. The band has appeared in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, and throughout Europe.

Tuesday's concert, at 8 p.m. in Braden Auditorium will be Rhythm & Brass, a six-man group founded in 1993 that incorporates influences as divergent as Josquin Des Prez, Pink Floyd, John Coltrane, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Duke Ellington.  Rhythm & Brass searches for the commonality in these influences and fearlessly weaves them all into a single concert experience.

At 8 p.m. Thursday in Braden Auditorium, singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin will perform.  The Anderson, Ind., native replaces the previously announced group Barrage, which had to cancel.  McLaughlin, a classically trained pianist, sang the Academy Award-nominated song "So Close" in the Disney movie "Enchanted."   He has performed on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and has opened on tour for Kelly Clarkson.

Friday's DCI event will include Carolina Crown from South Carolina; The Cavaliers from Rosemont, Ill.; The Cadets from Pennsylvania; the Blue Stars from Wisconsin, the Glassmen from Ohio, the Madison Scouts from Wisconsin; the Colts from Iowa and the Pioneer from Wisconsin.

Information on concert tickets is available at musicforall.org or by calling 800-848-BAND.