Summer Camp Boosts Middle School Musicians

By Susie Kaeser, Reaching Heights Summer Music Camp Director

Music, music and more music. 

That’s the focus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day for middle school musicians participating in the Reaching Heights Summer Music Camp. Registration is now open for the week-long camp that runs from June 8 to 13 at Cleveland Heights High School. The deadline to register is May 4.

The camp serves 6th, 7th and 8th graders who live in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District and participate in their school’s instrumental music program. 

This annual music week has been transforming campers as musicians, team players, and risk takers since 2005. The camp experience inspires commitment and effort, as campers discover their own capacity to master new challenges. 

Created as a community resource to uphold the Heights tradition of musical excellence, the music immersion experience has become part of that tradition. 

A ratio of one staff person to every three campers guarantees success. Expert instruction from music professionals combined with encouragement and personal attention from 25 high school mentors help campers stretch and excel. Daniel Hershman-Rossi, music teacher at Noble and Roxboro, is the music director. 

The Reaching Heights Summer Music Camp is possible because of committed families, motivated students, generous donors who underwrite camp fees when needed, and a strong partnership with the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. A grant from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture provides essential funding.

The camp welcomes all students who are ready to engage. Financial assistance for the camp fee is available.

To register or learn more about the camp visit www.reachingheights.org/summer-music-camp.

The community is invited on June 13 to the finale concert featuring the 140-musician-strong intergenerational orchestra. It takes place at 10:30 a.m. in the Heights High School auditorium.