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July 15, 1999
By SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- Music filled the air this week as 60 students worked up pop and classical musical selections during the 6th Annual Pops Camp at the United Church of Christ. The young musicians will perform nine pieces they have practiced at camp at two appearances Friday afternoon at Heritagefest. Participants play string instruments such as the violin, cello, viola and string bass. Percussion instruments will be used in one of the selections. "For most of these students, this is the only orchestral music they get to experience," said Paula Anderson, program director of the New Ulm Youth Orchestra and New Ulm Suzuki School of Music, "It exposes them to an art form that is not readily available in this area." Anderson, who has organized the camp for the past six years, has been a Suzuki School of Music violin and viola teacher in New Ulm for the past 12 years. About two-thirds of the students at the Pops Camp are her students. "When kids come back year after year, they progress and they can perform more difficult music," said Anderson. New Ulm Area Civic Orchestra Conductor Frank Heck made a special appearance at the camp Thursday morning. Heck started conducting and directing the local orchestra in 1975. Several of this year's Pops Camp teachers played in the orchestra under his direction. Several of the Anderson's former students returned to the camp this year to mentor and teach. Camp Director Carl Rieke, a former violin student of Anderson's, came from Georgia where he has worked as an orchestral director in Clayton County for the past two years. Other former students assisting and teaching at the camp are Mark Berger, native of Gibbon, who is entering his fourth year of study at Boston University as a violin performance major; Anna Kiecker, who is beginning her fourth year at St. Olaf studying economics and Asian studies; Crista Bohlmann, from New Ulm, who is studying music at Mankato State University; and Betsy Stadola, who is a cello teacher and cello performance major at Mankato State University. Margaret Louters, of New Ulm, also helping at the camp, is a cello teacher and performer in the local area. "One of the most fun things about this is that the former students have returned to help out," said Anderson, "And it's gratifying to see them still playing their instruments and that music is such a big part of their lives." The camp attracted students from Mankato, Lake Crystal, Winthrop, Fairfax, Cambria, Hector, St. Peter, Alexandria; and one girl came from Watertown, S.D. Camp specializesin orchestral music |