Klarinet Archive - Posting 000082.txt from 1996/03

From: Oliver Seely <oliver@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Music Camps
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 1996 12:28:34 -0500

My heart goes out to you Mark. Good luck in your search. I'd like to
offer a tribute to a man who during his entire career sponsored a private
music camp in the San Bernardino mountains. When he stood before
us at the beginning of the two week session and talk about the beautiful
surroundings and how there wasn't anything quite as lovely as a group of
young musicians making good music together we teenagers, hormones at top
activity, listened impatiently in anticipation of the evening party and
dance. We didn't know how lucky we were to be there.

Fred Ohlendorf was the supervisor of music for a long time, maybe 40 years,
in the Long Beach Unified School District. He or his wife had inherited several
acres between Big Bear and Arrowhead, so sometime soon after WWII they
founded Arrowbear Music Camp. His wife took care of provisions and meals
and he corralled as many music teachers as he could in the district to come up
to teach and supervise through the summer sessions. Some of my happiest
memories and my maturing appreciation of good music and the self discipline
that it entails dates from the several summer sessions I spent at Arrowbear.
Music camp organizers and contributors are our modern saints and I just
wanted take advantage of this opportunity to express my appreciation to
the Ohlendorf family and all the other organizers for their contribution to
music performance and appreciation among our young people.

It is my understanding that Arrowbear goes on, but it is a little far from
Michigan. There must be lots of others run on a shoestring as was Arrowbear,
but they tend to operate rather quietly and you have to search them out.
But I agree with you: Going to music camp is a MUST for your kids!
Good luck!

Oliver

   
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