For people who are passionate about music and theatre

The long, lazy days of summer are just around the corner. For adolescents, summer should be a magical time not only to rest and re-generate but also to connect with friends, try new things and explore creative pathways. This summer’s Music Academies at St. Michaels University School not only provide this, but also the chance to rehearse and perform in front of live audiences.

SMUS offers three unique summer academies for students who want to explore their passion for music. SummerBand is a chance to go beyond the traditional band class, with three different options to choose from. Switch Band is a two-week program designed for students with at least one year of band experience who would like to try a new instrument. The Big

Band Jazz workshop is for students who would like to

experience jazz as part of a big band. Senior Jazz Intensive and Combos consists of groups of 4 to 8 players who work in small ensembles that focus on improvisation, rhythm and small group arrangements.

SummerStrings is an exciting program that will give students a chance to take their skills to the next level through masterclasses and string ensembles.

Students enjoy a challenging and fun atmosphere with performance and collaboration and a focus on technique and ensemble experiences. These workshops are a great way to kick off the summer, with classes starting right after Canada Day on July 3. Musical Theatre Academy offers everything an aspiring actor would want – a chance to learn firsthand about auditioning, rehearsing and performing. Instruction is aimed at enhancing performance skill and learning about development of full-length musicals. Students are taken through the audition and casting process, assigned roles, and then focus on vocals, microphone use, character development, stage presence and movement. The outcome is a series of showcase performances as part of the Victoria Fringe Festival. Students will be perform Disaster!, a recent Broadway hit and parody of the 70s disaster film genre.

With expert instructors, small class sizes, and modern facilities, SMUS Summer Music Academies offer a fertile environment for youth to flex their creative muscles. Summer Music Academies are appropriate for students, grades 6 through 12. A limited number of bursaries are available.

For details on these and other programs, visit: smus.ca/academies. Call Education Extension at: 250-370-6120.