A Buffet Crampon E12F Clarinet donated for Vienna Band Camp

The Vienna Band Camp is the largest band camp in Northern Virginia, with an annual enrollment of approximately 500 students and a staff of over 25 professional musicians. This summer band camp is open to students in grades 4 through 9, and runs four hours per day for four weeks. Students are placed in one of four bands based on experience and ability. In addition to two full band rehearsals and a sectional rehearsal, students receive a one-hour group master class with a specialist on their instrument each day. The master classes focus on tone, technique and scale knowledge. This summer, a record 540 students attended the Vienna Band Camp, of which 132 were clarinet students. Clarinetist Betty Bley heads the clarinet program at the camp, and arranges for numerous vendors and clarinetists to donate equipment, supplies and recordings which are used as prizes during special clarinet competitions and “clarinet fun days,” where students dress themselves and their clarinets in patriotic colors or as movie-themed characters. (Don’t worry – no clarinets are harmed during the festivities!) The clarinet students are treated to a Buffet Crampon Clarinet Petting Zoo by Bruce Silva of the Washington Music Center, providing them an opportunity to play a wide variety of Buffet clarinets. In addition, Buffet Crampon USA and Washington Music Center team up to donate a Buffet Crampon E12F clarinet that is given away at random to one lucky clarinet camper each year. This year’s winner was Andrea Mok, who just completed sixth grade at Forest Edge Elementary School in Reston, Virginia.