Sarah Bowe is currently pursuing a doctorate in Choral Conducting at Louisiana State University where she co-directs the LSU Chamber Singers, mentors undergraduate conductors, teaches undergraduate aural skills for the LSU Music Theory department, and serves as a section leader at St. Alban's Chapel in Baton Rouge. Over the past year she has conducted the LSU Chamber Singers and the LSU Women’s Chorale, and has prepared the LSU Tiger Men’s Glee Club for performance of Mozart’s Requiem. 

Sarah holds an MM in Choral Conducting and a BM summa cum laude in Music Education and Music Theory from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her conducting mentors include Dr. E. Wayne Abercrombie, Dr. Tony Thornton, and Dr. John Dickson. She is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Society for Music Theory, and the American Choral Directors’ Association. 

Prior to graduate study, Sarah was an active music educator in Massachusetts and held teaching positions in Winchendon, Woburn (her hometown), and Springfield. Her experience includes work with secondary choir, band, classroom music, and summer theatre productions for students K-12. She is especially passionate about middle school music education, and in her most recent teaching position helped to implement a choral program for at-risk youth in an urban school. 

​We're excited to have Sarah back to work with our vocalists at camp! We are still looking for MALE VOICES to fill out the choir, as well as trombone, french horn, bassoon and orchestral strings. Only 23 more days until we see your smiling faces at registration! 

Gary L. Partridge received his Bachelor of Music Education from The Hartt School, University of Hartford, and his Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Connecticut.  He has studied conducting with Larry Rachleff, William Revelli, William Willett, and Alan Gillespie.
 
Mr. Partridge has retired from Music and Arts Centers where, as an Educational Representative, he managed school accounts and served as an advocate for Music Education in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts for the national company.
 
In his twenty-two years at Renbrook School in West Hartford, he was Director of Music and conducted the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble.  Both groups annually earned Superior Awards in festivals in the U.S. and Canada.  Renbrook School commissioned W. Francis McBeth’s “The Dream Catcher”, and performed the premier of that work in September 1996.  The Concert Band appeared at the Connecticut Music Educators Association In-Service Conferences in 1997 and 2001.
 
He is in his twentieth year as conductor of Capitol Symphonic Winds at the Hartt School.  Capitol Symphonic Winds was a featured performing ensemble at the 2004 Connecticut Music Educators Conference. 
 
As Director of Bands at Central Connecticut State University, Mr. Partridge directed the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, and the Blue Devil Marching Band from 1985 to 1996.  The Blue Devil Marching Band was featured at half-time shows in Foxboro, Massachusetts for the New England Patriots.  He was the conductor of the Concert Band at Laurel Music Camp for many years from 1990 to 2003, and is returning to Camp this Summer. 
 
He has conducted numerous All State, Regional, and District Bands throughout the country and is active as an adjudicator and clinician.  He continues to adjudicate for Classics Festivals, Heritage Festivals, Music in the Parks, and is a frequent adjudicator for the Rhode Island Music Educators Band Festival.  He is a member of many professional organizations, having served the Connecticut Music Educators Association as adjudicator chair for the All State auditions, and as Festival Chair for the Northern Region Middle School Music Festival for twenty years.  He is a member of the International Bandmasters Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu.
 
Gary is a longtime friend of LMC, so we're excited to have his baton back in front of our campers in Weed Lodge! We are still looking for trombone, alto saxophone, orchestral strings and male vocalists to fill out our ensembles. Make sure you get registered soon as spots are filling up fast!!!!!!

HELLO LAUREL MUSIC CAMP! Only 34 more days until the happiest day of the year! We cannot wait to see all of your smiling faces :)

We are finally able to announce the site of our 2016 Concert, and we cannot be more excited to return back to Naugatuck HS! NHS was the home of our LMC concerts for many, many years back in the day. They have recently completed some beautiful renovations to their campus, but more importantly to us their new auditorium will be a fabulous venue for our concert!

Address: 543 Rubber Ave, Naugatuck, CT 06770
Concert starts at 7PM on Friday July 1st

We already have 170 campers and JCs registered to come to camp this year... we're filling up fast! If you haven't registered yet, make sure you head over to our registration page and get it done!

Ron Ciasullo is the Director of Jazz Studies and Assistant Director of Bands at Cheshire High School in Cheshire, Connecticut.  He has taught for 29 years in the Connecticut Public Schools, the last 18 at Cheshire High School.  He received his education at The University of Bridgeport where he studied with Neil Slater and Mike Carubia.   Mr. Ciasullo’s Jazz program has received honors throughout the state and New England.  His groups have performed with some of the biggest names on the jazz scene today including Terell Stafford, Gary Dial, Luis Bonilla, Randy Brecker, Dick Oatts and many others.  His responsibilities at Cheshire High School include teaching not only the CHS Jazz Ensemble but also multiple jazz combos, classes in Jazz History, Jazz Improvisation, Music Technology and The History of American Popular Music. He also assists with the CHS Concert and Symphonic Bands. In his spare time he loves spending time with his wife and two children; mentoring both who themselves are on paths to become future educators.  Mr. Ciasullo is also an avid student of American history and often travels to visit and study the important places at which pivotal historical events occurred.

Ron is going to have a great first year as our guest Jazz Band conductor up in Griffin with those jazzers. We're excited to hear those funky beats from up the hill! SPACES ARE FILLING UP QUICKLY for this year's camp season, so if you haven't registered yet make sure you get to it! Visit our registration page to get more information! 

Maestro Ertan Seyyar Sener is the conductor and musical director of the New Britain Symphony Orchestra, a role he assumed during the 2014-2015 concert season. During the previous season, Mr. Sener served as the guest conductor of the New Britain Symphony for their 65th anniversary celebration concert, “On Time”, during which he led the orchestra in works by Charles Ives, Hayden, and Beethoven.
Mr. Sener, a resident of Simsbury, holds a degree in conducting from the Hartt School of Music. While at the Hartt School, he studied under and was mentored by composer/conductor Gene Young, while William Willett encouraged his connection to music education. Following graduation, Mr. Sener studied in California with prolific American composer, Lou Harrison. His past conducting positions have included president and associate conductor of the Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra and assistant conductor of the Manchester Symphony.
Mr. Sener has been on the Hartt School Community Division faculty since 1992 and currently teaches music history, theory, and ear training, as well as percussion performance. He is a talented musician as well as a conductor and has performed as percussionist with the Waterbury Symphony, the Wallingford Symphony, the New Britain Symphony, and the New Britain Chorale. Additionally, he founded and performs regularly with Steel Sunrise Steel Drum Band and is the music director of the Simsbury Community Band.

We're excited to have Ertan join us in the boat house this summer; now we just need to fill out the orchestra! How would you like to share an ice cream with a friend at camp? We are still looking for string players, low brass and woodwinds and male voices to fill the limited spaces we have at camp for the 2016 season. If you refer a friend that signs up you both will get a free ice cream on us....it's a win win from the trading post. For questions on the referral program, email our registrar Kim Friend by clicking here. 

HELLO LAUREL MUSIC CAMP!!!! We miss you. Really. 

We hope your holiday season started off well. We have a gift to share with you: OUR 2016 CONDUCTORS ARE FINALIZED! YOU CAN START GETTING EXCITED!

Concert Band
UPDATED 1/1/2016
Unfortunately, Keith is unable to rejoin us this summer due to overlap with other professional responsibilities. But never fear, Gary Partridge is here! Gary is a longtime friend of Laurel Music Camp, having served as the Concert Band guest conductor several times in our history. Gary is currently a Senior Artist Teacher and Director of Capitol Winds at the Hartt School Community Division. 

Jazz Band
Ron Ciasullo; Director of Jazz Studies, Cheshire HS
- Ron joins us for his very first camp season in the jazz shack! We can't wait to see what those jazzers come up with under his direction. 

Choir
Sarah Bowe; Pursuing a DMA for Choral Conducting at Louisiana State
- Sarah liked us! She really liked us! She'll be back for her second camp season this year. She just finished up her Master's degree at UMASS, and she's keeping busy at LSU where she is Assistant Graduate Conductor of the Tiger Glee Club and the LSU Chamber Singers. 

Orchestra
Ertan Sener, Conductor of the New Britain Symphony, Music Director of the Simsbury Community Band
- Ertan joins us for his very first season at camp after seeing many of us enjoy a week in the woods over the years. We hope his new home in the boat house will suit him well. 

Keep your eyes pealed for more in-depth profiles of our conductors AND for our official opening of registration!
​

This summer, our week ending concert will be back at East Hartford Middle School. This is a great concert facility in central CT; our 2013 concert was held at this venue. The concert is on Friday July 3rd at 7PM. 
EHMS is located at 777 Burnside Avenue East Hartford CT 06108. 

We still have some instrumentation needs to fill out our ensembles: 
- TUBAS!!! (we know you are out there!)
- Trombone
- Tenor and Bari Sax
- Clarinet
- Male Voices (Tenor/Bass)
- ALL ORCHESTRAL STRINGS!!! 

If you haven't had a chance to register yet OR you have a friend that plays one of these instruments, GET ON IT! Sign up over at our REGISTRATION PAGE! 

Have a great day! :)

Hey Camp! Less than two months until camp! We hope you're just as excited as we are :) Today we are taking a closer look at this summer's orchestra conductor: Dr. Dan D'Addio!

Daniel D’Addio currently serves as Professor of Music in the Department of Music at Central Connecticut State University where he teaches trumpet, chamber music, and courses in music theory. As a conductor, he is Artistic Director of the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra and Music Director of the Connecticut Youth Symphony.

We love Dr. Dan, and we're so excited to have him back at Laurel! For all you string players out there, playing with Dr. Dan is a HUGE treat and a great opportunity! Here's our Q&A with him:

What is your main instrument?
Trumpet


What is your favorite instrument?
My daughter's instrument – Cello!

What is my favorite European Country?
Austria. I lived there for a year as a Fulbright Scholar. Don't ask when – it was a long time ago!

What is the first thing you do upon arriving at camp?
Plug in my Latte/Cappuccino Maker in the Conductor's Cabin! 

What is your favorite color of bug juice?
I have been told it's blue. Is that right? ;)

What was your favorite performance as an instrumentalist/singer?
Playing the first classical music concert at Toad's Place in New Haven. Again don't ask when – it was a long time ago!

What's the best advice anyone has given you as an educator and/or conductor?
Never give up! 

Name an interesting non-music hobby/interest.
Watching my daughter participate in horse riding shows. Playing with my Black Labrador Retrievers, Jack and Reba! (Dr. Dan is training Jack to be a certified therapy dog!) Watching the New York Mets! 
Another interesting tidbit... I graduated from both The Ohio State University and The University of Michigan. You would think that everyone would like me. But alas, I get grief from both sides. I love my schools! Go Bucks! Go Blue!


What is your favorite band/orchestra/jazz/choral piece?
"Nimrod" from the Enigma Variations by  Edward Elgar


Thanks Dr. Dan!!!!! We can't wait to make music with you!! Campers: don't forget to get registered over at our website: CLICK HERE!

Hey Camp Family! Today we showcase our guest conductor for the smallest performing group we have at camp: the Jazz Band. Gary Blumberg, or Gary Blu for short, is one cool cat and can't wait to work with all of the future campers in the Jazz Shack.  

Gary has a degree in Music Composition from SUNY Binghamton and took graduate courses in commercial arranging and audio engineering at The New School. He worked as an assistant arranger at New York Rock & Soul Revue, as well as working as the music copyist for all of the Steely Dan tours. He performs and records with many local artists and big bands and also opened Rancho Cucamonga Studio, where he produces and records local songwriters. 

Here is our Q&A with Gary: 

What is your main instrument?
Flutes and saxophones

What is the first thing you do upon arriving at camp? 
Breathe deep, take in all the magic that is Laurel, hug Bill Glenister, Bridget, then everyone else. 

What is your favorite color of bug juice?
Um, well, let's see... Blue!

What's the best advice anyone has given you as an educator and/or conductor? 
Listen!

Name an interesting non-music hobby/interest
Golf

What is your favorite band/orchestra/jazz/choral piece?
Whatever is being rehearsed at the Jazz shack. 

Name one funky tune that every wanna be jazzer should listen to to get pumped up for camp
I would have to say that "What is Hip?" has been synonymous with the LMC Jazz Band even before my tenure, and it's a staple with DJ Vjskuss (AKA Will Valenti).  

Hey all you prospective campers! We hope you're looking forward to camp as much as we are! Today in the blog we are on part 2/4 of our blog series highlighting this summer's conductors! Today features our band conductor Keith Hodgson!

Mr. Hodgson is the Director of Instrumental Music at Mainland Regional HS in Linwood, NJ where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, AP Music Theory and Freshman Seminar Technology classes. He is also the Director of the top Jazz Ensemble, TRI-M Music Honor Society and the Chamber Ensemble program. He has held the conducting post of the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble since it’s founding in 1997, is an active guest conductor, clinician and guest speaker and Head Director of an annual three week summer European music tour. Keith is the Past President of the New Jersey Music Educator's Association, a National Board Certified Teacher, a Grammy Nominated Music Educator Quarter Finalist, and the recipient of the 2014 NJ Governor's Award in the Arts for Leadership in Music.

Here is our Q&A with Keith: 

What is your favorite color of bug juice?
Blue

What was your favorite performance as an instrumentalist/singer?
Any Laurel Concert!

What’s the best advice anyone has given you as an educator and/or conductor? 
“Teachers… Continue to polish your lantern, so others may follow it’s light.”

Name an interesting non-music hobby/interest
NBA Basketball

What is your favorite band/orchestra/jazz/choral piece?
All Mahler symphonies.

What is your favorite instrument?
French Horn!

What is your favorite European country?
Austria!

Thanks Keith! We can't wait to get playing with you this summer! Did we not ask your burning questions? Comment below, we'll try to get to them! Didn't register for camp yet? WELL GET ON IT!! Visit our Registration Page for more info. Check back in next week for a Q&A with our jazz band conductor, Gary Blu!