Clinton Kids Enhance Talents at MC's Summer Music Camp

Attending from Clinton are music campers (front row) Sherlee Chandler, Erin Johnson, Mary Carlos, Olivia Smith, (second row) Claire McIlwain, Garret Grady, Sam Gearhart, and Tanner Prevost.

Clinton children had a blast at Mississippi College’s summer music camp. At the same time, they also polished their skills, whether it’s playing an instrument or making sweet sounds with their young voices. 

A record 63 students attended MC’s fifth annual music camp that wrapped up on Saturday, July 10, and the group included eight children from Clinton schools, both public and private. 

As they stopped for a Thursday afternoon photo session on the steps of Mississippi College’s campus across from Aven Hall, it was hard for the students to curb their enthusiasm on another sweltering summer day. 

“I love music – it is one of my passions,” said 16-year-old Clinton High student Mary Carlos.  An incoming junior next month, Mary plays flute with the award-winning CHS Band at Arrows football games. “It was a music-filled week,” she said. “It’s also a lot of fun.” 

Learning music theory at MC’s residential camp “helps me understand reading about music,” chimed in Claire McIlwain, 13, who will be an 8^th grader at Clinton Junior High starting in August. Claire was a member of the school choir and recently began learning to play piano as a hobby. 

Sam Gearhart, 14, who will become a 9^th grader at Mt. Salus Christian School this fall, says the camp boosted his piano-playing abilities. “We learned a lot of sight reading and to write music on a computer,” he said. 

Some of the Clinton children attending last week’s music camp said they want to become performers and eventually land roles on Broadway in the heart of New York City. 

Geared to students in grades 7-12, the camp attracted students from Clinton, Starkville, Florence, Brandon, Hattiesburg and communities across state lines in Louisiana. The MC program offers classes in theory, music history, music technology, piano and voice. In addition, the students also experience choir and music theory workshops. 

Led by Mississippi College music faculty members Carol Joy Sparkman and Robert Knupp, MC’s first camp began in 2006 with 36 students. There were 59 signed up last summer. Others like Music Department Chairman James Meaders and professor Angie Willoughby, a noted pianist in Central Mississippi, were part of the talented lineup of instructors.

For more information, contact MC's Department of Music at 601.925.3440.