July 10/10: Singers in the Evening Concert

Singers in the Evening Concert, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Saturdays at CAMMAC are very busy. Classes go on as usual in the morning. In the afternoon the children who have participated in the children's program do a concert. I admit I missed that and spent the afternoon in the water and then playing music.

After supper the student concert takes place. This year it started a little differently with a procession by all (singers and instrumentalists performing a round, followed by some performances in the boathouse. Then this boat came with two singers. The rest of the concert took place in the main concert hall. It always ends with a choral performance, this year accompanied by the orchestra. Not all classes perform (thankfully - as some years the concert has gone on endlessly) - and this year's version was over before ten.

As I have been going to CAMMAC for over twenty years, I have friendships that go back. A wine fueled conversation near the lake, under the stars is de rigeur before we all head home on Sunday. There are so many stars visible without city lights. I love to see them accompanied by the song of the bull frogs. Later we heard loon calls - such an iconic sound of Quebec lakes.

July 7/10: Low Sun

July 7/10: Low Sun, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I started coming to CAMMAC in 1988 when my children were small. During morning classes there is a children’s programme for children from 4 ½ to 11. They do some musical activities (Orff, choir, recorder, the possibility of chamber music) as well as other activities – sports, swimming and a variety depending on the staff that week. It can be anything from woodworking, arts and crafts, folk dance or other forms of dance. During evening classes the children have some kind of game activity. This was part of why this was an ideal vacation for me. While I enjoyed my music classes, my children had fun, made friends (some of whom they still are in touch with) and had the opportunity to learn something new.

I, too, have made lifelong friends. Each year when I come back, it is like coming back to family and new people find their way in. After one season at CAMMAC they are part of this extended family. s

Situated about 1 ½ hours from Montreal, CAMMAC attracts both English and French speaking people. Participants come from all over Quebec, Ontario, other parts of Canada, the US and some have come from as far away as South Africa and Japan. People move in and out of English and French (but unilingual people can manage while having the opportunity to learn a bit of the other language) and range in age from the very young to seniors. Music keeps us all young. No one cares what people do for a living – just about what we all live for – the joy of music.

Despite the busy schedule there is always time for good conversations – over meals, which can be eaten in the dining room or outside on the porch. With afternoons free, it is delightful to play music with others or just chat – this week in the lake as we all try to cool off. But even the lake is warming up and each day is slightly less refreshing. You have to swim further out to find the cold spots..

The bugs are hungry this time of year, too. Going for an early morning or evening walk can feel like being the buffet table for the local insects.

To see more photographs click here.

July 6/10: Evening

July 6/10: Evening, originally uploaded by susanvg.

We are grappling with the heat – fans are on in most places and the main concert hall is air conditioned. Bedrooms are like steam rooms – thank goodness for fans. A dip in the lake provides temporary relief but the high heat and humidity soon are felt and the feeling of coolness quickly past. Classes go on and we laugh, play music and make new friends.

Many classes take place in practice huts in the woods, with windows on three sides. It is wonderful to play and look out on the trees . This year I have no classes in those studios, which in one way is good as they are getting very hot. My classes are in studios in the basement of the main lodge. The atmosphere may be less interesting, but the temperature counts for a lot this week.

Tuesday night is always a student concert with everything from singing to instrumental work and some energetic drumming by some of the teenagers.