Refers to the Interprovincial Music Camp (sorry pilot readers). I drive to McKeller (near Parry Sound Ontario) to attend the 60th annual concert at Camp Manitou on Lake Manitouwabing.

I took a few photos at the camp, click on the icon below.

Camp Manitou

The camp was founded by the Wise family in the late 50’s. The focus was excellence in Arts, Music and Sports for older teens. IMC eventually became the music programme, split from the main camp and taking over the entire facility for the last 2 weeks of the summer, culminating in the annual concert on the day before Labour Day.

How Does it Work

Faculty arrive 2 weeks out and campers arrive 8 days out. Campers audition immediately on arriving and are sorted into 1 of 4 groups: Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra. I attended as a violinist 50 and 49 years ago, I placed in the Concert Orchestra the first year and the Symphonic Orchestra the second year.

This Year’s Concert

Chorus – This is a new feature this year; all campers form a choir to sing O Canada and another piece; an excellent innovation.

Beginners Band and String Orchestra – something new since the last time I looked in on IMC. The campers were playing band instruments for the very first time; the string players were not quite as inexperienced as that but almost; of course, the campers were adorable but although I understand the logic of such a programme, I feel that it is a compromise of the ethic of the IMC.

Concert Band – Very good indeed, their first piece was outstanding, great conductor.

Symphonic Band – I thought that they were excellent but I got the sense from some of the players that they didn’t feel it was their best effort.

Concert Orchestra – Loved the conductor, I felt that the strings faded at times during the performance, their show stopper was the Russian Sailors’ Dance which I played in 1974 with my high school senior orchestra; the Concert Orchestra was better than we were.

Symphonic Orchestra – Outstanding and they knew it; the conductor prepared the ensemble very well indeed; I was struck by his handling of the Concert Master and First Chair positions, they rotated among 3 strong leaders including the first chair of the second violins; this is quite unusual but very effective.

I have a lot to say about my time in IMC, let me know if you are interested; it was hugely influential to me.