The Winifred Crawford Dibert Foundation in Jamestown is sponsoring the Chautauqua Music Camps’ 18th year of instrumental education during Week Eight at Chautauqua Institution.
Peter Lindblom, a native of Jamestown, New York, is the director of the Music Camps and assistant principal trumpet player in the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. He grew up coming to Boys’ and Girls’ Club as a kid every summer, later joining the Music School Festival Orchestra. Having always dreamed of playing in the CSO, Lindblom saw his desires soon became reality in the early ’90s after he successfully completed his audition. For him, there’s transcendental value in being a fellow of the music profession.
“There’s fulfillment in knowing that you’re contributing something kind of above and beyond just everyday life,” Lindblom said.
There are four schools of music: the middle school band camp, the Chautauqua jazz camp, the Chautauqua orchestra camp and chamber music camp. The participants vary from fifth- to 12th-grade students.
The demographic of the Music Camps, Lindblom said, is typically 60 percent Chautauqua County-area students and 40 percent from the grounds.
During Chautauqua’s last waning weeks, Lindblom sees the Music Camps as a strong attraction.
“We found a lot of those kids and their families are coming to stay Week Eight, just to do the camp,” Lindblom said.
Lindblom said it’s been “really neat” to see the program grow, noting the interest of area students as well as those who apply from across the country.
In addition to the music lessons and rehearsals, students experience all of Chautauqua with their all-inclusive week gate pass.
“The kids love being here,” Lindblom said. “We [serve] a lot of kids who don’t get on the grounds very much for any other reason.”
Lindblom is also grateful to the Dibert Foundation, which has sponsored the camp for many years.
“We’re proud to continue our support and long relationship with Chautauqua Institution and the Chautauqua Music Camps,” said Bob Ostrom, president of the Dibert Foundation. “It’s always been a pleasure to support this program, and the four board members, which include Jane Becker and myself, are excited to see their performances at the end of the week.”
Over the extent of their stay, the approximately 130 students, under the supervision and instruction of about 30 highly qualified staff members, will utilize Elizabeth S. Lenna Hall, McKnight Hall, Fletcher Music Hall and the Carnahan-Jackson Dance Studios, with four weekend concerts to cap their stay.
Students will also have a chance to talk to members of the CSO about what it’s like to be a professional musician. Lindblom often parallels the dedication and diligence to that of a professional athlete.
“We look at it kind of like a world-class athlete, because if you’re going to make money in it, and you’re going to be successful, you got to know you want to do it and you’ve got to put the time in that’s necessary,” Lindblom said.
Lindblom knows that being a public teacher or school educator in music has its delight and advantages, where one can enjoy music “for a lot less pain” than performing. But to be a performer, Lindblom said, “you really have to be able to shut the door and not do anything else.”
