The Dallas Wind Symphony hosted their third annual Summer Music Institute for Dallas Independent School District band students June 8-12, 2009. The five-day band camp offers a musical training experience unlike any these inner-city youth will ever likely receive. Over 310 Dallas ISD students from the 5th-11th grades attended the camp at Moises E. Molina High School in southwest Dallas.

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"This is a tremendous opportunity for students to take a major step forward with their musical studies during the summer," said Michael Hinojosa, Superintendent of Schools for the Dallas Independent School District prior to the camp. "Students who participate not only get to dedicate significantly more time to improving their musical skills but they have a great time in the process."

The students were initially divided into four different ensembles; the Varsity, Concert, Symphonic, and Honors Bands. After that, each day offered a total of three hours of rehearsal with their respective bands and three hours of sectional and instrumental instruction. Thirteen different musicians, all professional musicians and members of the Dallas Wind Symphony, provided the private instrumental instruction.

Each year, the highlight of the Institute is the Camp-wide concert that occurs on the last day. This is when each of the four bands showcases the skills learned during the week. And, once again, it was a blast. The bands played incredibly well. The amount of improvement from day 1 to day 5 remarkable. Best of all, the auditorium was full with parents, family members, friends, band directors, Dallas ISD administrators, and more. What a great afternoon for the 310 students who took the stage!

In addition to the musical instruction and concert, the students received bus transportation to/from camp, lunch, a daily musical recital/performance by DWS musicians, a camp t-shirt, and a Dallas Wind Symphony CD. All of this, and the 30 hours of music instruction are provided for only $25 per student (many of whom also receive a small scholarship as well – thereby reducing the cost even further).

The Dallas Wind Symphony continues to be committed to the local student population and works diligently to ensure the Summer Music Institute remains affordable. Helping the DWS to do just that is Sterling Bank, the presenting sponsor of the Institute. Bruce Bradford, Regional C.E.O. of Sterling noted “We were thrilled to sponsor the DWS and the Summer Music Institute. We have been a long-time supporter of the Wind Symphony and our support of the Institute furthers our belief in and support of our local community. There’s nothing more important than the education of our children and we’re excited to be able to help!”

In addition to Sterling Bank, the Wind Symphony introduced other Summer Music Institute sponsors including The Communities Foundation of Texas, the Community Trust Bank of Texas, the Bank of Texas, the Theodore & Beulah Beasley Foundation, Williamson Music Company, and many other individual contributors.

This year, the conductors of the four different bands for the Summer Music Institute were Ms. Margaret Wis – Band Director at Austin Academy, Garland; Mr. William Owens – Composer/Clinician FJH Music Company, Ft. Worth; Mr. Steve Sauerwein – Band Director J.W. Williams Middle School, Rockwall; and Mr. Phil Alvarado – DWS Board Member and Band Director at Rowlett HS.

The Dallas Wind Symphony is highly regarded, considered by many to be the premiere civilian windband in the world. However, according to Wind Symphony Founder/Executive Director Mr. Kim Campbell, concerts are just a small part of the bigger picture; “Music affects us all – no matter the age. We know music instruction for the young helps to train the mind. It instills confidence, enhances math skills, teaches cooperation, listening, self-discipline. If we can help to do that with the Institute, what better way to help our youth, our schools, our community?”

The Summer Music Institute is just one of the varied children’s education programs offered by the Dallas Wind Symphony. They also annually host the Invitational Windband Festival (a two-day long band competition), an essay contest for Dallas ISD middle-school band students, an annual side-by-side concert with the Wind Symphony of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and teach clinics, masterclasses, and sectional rehearsals for students of all ages.