About
The Fayetteville Symphony Music Summer Camps are individualized focused morning and day camps that offer small ensemble playing opportunities, daily group and individualized instruction, and masterclasses/lectures for instrumental students.
This summer we are offering three sessions:
String Sinfonietta Camp is a morning day camp for elementary-aged students (ages 5-12) who play violin, viola, cello, or double bass. This camp will be held June 19-23, 2023 from 9am-12pm at Berean Baptist Church. String Sinfonietta Camp is led by FSO cellist, Mrs. Barbara Shipp, FSO violinist, Mrs. Laurel Wachlter, and Ms. Aubrey Davidson. The cost to attend is $200 per-student. Some scholarships are available. For more information click here.
FSYO String Camp will be held June 12-16, 2023 from 9am-2pm. This camp is led by Ms. Kristin Stiteler, Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra Director and FSO violist. Ms. Stiteler will be joined by other professional FSO musicians to provide a unique learning opportunity for students in attendance. The cost to attend is $300 or $350 with lunch included. Some scholarships are available.
FSYO Band Camp will be held June 19-23, 2023 from 9am-2pm. This camp is led by Mr. Tim Parsons, Fayetteville Symphony Youth Band Director and percussionist. Mr. Parsons will be joined by other professional FSO musicians to provide a unique learning opportunity for students in attendance. The cost to attend is $300 or $350 with lunch included. Some scholarships are available.
Student Reviews:
“The teachers were funny, good, friendly, and amazing people!”
“I improved my sound A LOT!”
“I learned stuff that I wouldn’t learn in band.”
“The camp went into a lot of topics not covered anywhere else, so as a player, I became better. It was also fun working in chamber groups which provided a different experience for me.”
What to Expect at FSYO Camp
- Instruction and coaching with directors and professional musicians of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra
- Small ensemble playing, to help each individual excel on their instrument while learning to build musicianship by working in a collaborative setting
- Group discussions on fundamentals, intonation, technique, repertoire, auditions, and much more!
- Culminating concert on the last day of camp
- If there are multiple chamber ensembles for a specific camp, placement auditions may be held the first day to determine ensemble placement
- Music will be distributed the first day of camp
What to Expect at String Sinfonietta Camp
- Master Classes with professional Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra musicians
- Fiddling
- Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble Classes
- FUN Music History and Music Theory Class
- “Snack Time Concert Series” where the students will have the chance to perform for one another, and be able to hear their teachers perform for them as well!
- Final Concert on the last day of the camp – parents are invited to attend!
FSYO String Instructors
Kristin Stiteler
Barbara Shipp (FSYO & String Sinfonietta)
Laurel Wachtler (FSYO & String Sinfonietta)
Kristin Stiteler is a native of Ohio and began playing the violin in 3rd grade. She has taught both band and orchestra classes at all grade levels for over twenty six years in both Ohio and North Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University where she studied both violin and jazz saxophone. She also marched bass drum in The Ohio State University Marching Band, holding the distinction of being the first female bass drum player in the history of the band. Miss Stiteler is an accomplished musician on several instruments and has performed regularly with multiple ensembles. She has performed with several symphony orchestras in Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina since 1997 and she is currently in her 21st year of playing Viola with the Fayetteville (NC) Symphony Orchestra where she held the position of Principal Violist for several years.
Barbara Shipp, cellist, performs regularly throughout eastern North Carolina as both a soloist and chamber musician. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from East Carolina University and a Master of Library Science degree from NC Central University. A former orchestra director for Pitt and Cumberland County Schools, she is now a freelance ‘cellist, private instructor of ‘cello, and co-director of Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra and Sinfonietta. Barbara is a member of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Fayetteville Symphony String Quartet, Carolina Philharmonic, Barton Wilson Symphony Orchestra, Crystal Coast Musicians and Elegant Ensembles. She currently resides in Fayetteville with her son, Ryan, and their many rescued pets.
Laurel Wachtler, violinist, hails from New Mexico, where she graduated with a B.S.degree from New Mexico State University. She has played in numerous orchestras while following her Air Force husband’s career, including Phillips Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland where she was principal second violin. Upon arrival in Fayetteville, Laurel began performing with Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and is in her 25th year. She is a frequent performer with Florence Symphony, Wilmington Symphony, and Carolina Philharmonic. Laurel has been a part of the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church orchestra and The Singing Christmas Tree productions for 13 years. She has maintained an active private studio since 2010 teaching violin and beginning piano. Laurel was the assistant director for FSYO strings and Sinfonietta for four years and has now become the director of Sinfonietta. She is involved with both string youth groups, including summer camps. Outside of music, Laurel’s interests include flying airplanes, scuba diving, hiking, gardening, and singing with The Coventry Carolers. She is also a volunteer tax preparer for AARP’s Tax-Aide program.
FSYO Band Instructors
Ronnal Ford, Woodwind Coach
Tim Parsons
A versatile musician, Dr. Ronnal Ford (@RonFordMusic and RonFordMusic.com) currently holds the second oboe and English horn seat in the Fayetteville Symphony and is one of the principal oboists of the Colour of Music Festival. Additionally, he performs with touring groups like Thee Phantom and the Illharmonic and plays in musical theatre companies around North Carolina. The Fayetteville Symphony has also featured him as a soloist on English horn (Aaron Copland’s “Quiet City”) and Alto Saxophone (John Williams’s “Escapades” from Catch Me If You Can), and the Colour of Music Festival has featured as a soloist in the Vivaldi Concerto for 2 Oboes. In addition to his performance duties, Dr. Ford teaches at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Timothy Parsons is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where he earned a bachelor degree in Music Education and studied percussion under Wayne Campbell, and Dr Tracy Wiggins. While at UNCP, Tim was a member of the Concert Choir, Pembroke Singers, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, a founding member of the Spirit of the Carolina’s Marching band, Percussion Ensemble and University Pep Band.
Tim is currently the Director of Bands at Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, NC. Throughout his teaching career his Concert Bands have received Superior ratings and his students consistently place in the SEDBA All-District Band and North Carolina All State Band. Tim has also served as the conductor for the Southeastern All District Band. Tim currently serves as a music arranger and drill designer for various high school marching bands in North Carolina. His marching band (Jack Britt HS) has won numerous First Place awards and have been named Grand Champions at several marching band competitions across the state. Tim currently lives in Fayetteville NC with his wife Anna, their daughter Elle and their dog Pink.
