Pacolet Junior Appalachian Musicians at Tryon Fine Arts Center’s summer camp is planned for July 18 – 22. Kids ages 8 – 14 will receive daily instruction on the instrument of their choice, from banjo, guitar, fiddle and mandolin as well as Appalachian enrichment studies in dance and folklore.

Daily camp hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 12 p.m., snacks and T-shirts are included in the fee. This is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring musicians to become familiar with instruments of bluegrass and old time music, as instruments can be provided by PacJAM for use during camp hours.

Look for lunchtime entertainment that week, to benefit PacJAM at Tryon Fine Arts Center at various venues around town as well. The week of summer camp instruction will end with a public PacJAM student performance at 12 p.m. on Friday, July 22, and a potluck lunch for students and families to follow.

“This is going to be a great week of music for this community’s kids. We have a great line up of instructors, dedicated to the preservation of Appalachian heritage music and related arts through youth education. Master musicians will be sharing knowledge of their craft, to include Bob Buckingham of the Blue Ridge Rounders on banjo, Phil Johnson of the great local duo Phil & Gaye Johnson, on mandolin, the fantastic Worth LeWallen returns to teach fiddle again this year from Columbia, S.C., and Scott Huffman, great side-man of Laurie Lewis on guitar.

Amy Buckingham will be directing camp instruction and activities, bringing her wealth of camp knowledge to provide a truly excellent experience for everyone ” says PacJAM program director, Rebecca Osteen.

For more information on attending PacJAM Summer Camp, or enrollment in the 10-week fall semester that begins on September 14, please visit tryonarts.org, call 828-859-8322, or email pacjam@tryonarts.org.

Sign up for PacJAM Summer Camp today.

– article submitted by Marianne Carruth