User:Cannon Music Camp

Cannon Music Camp is a three-week music-filled retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Hosted by the Hayes School of Music on the campus of Appalachian State University, Cannon Music Camp offers the most comprehensive course of musical instruction in the Southeast, with intensive college preparatory work in performance and music theory. Campers participate in daily ensemble rehearsals and music theory classes in an atmosphere that elevates everyone’s musicianship. Campers receive one-on-one instruction in weekly private lessons. Open to serious student musicians who are rising high school freshman to graduating seniors. Applications open December 1st and close the day prior to camp.

Cannon Music Camp is for serious student musicians who are rising high school freshman to graduating seniors. Campers learn and perform with the Hayes School of Music Faculty. Finale Performances are held in Rosen Concert Hall. Attending the summer camp is a great way to learn about the Hayes School of Music, faculty, and staff along with the campus and surrounding area of Boone, North Carolina.

History

Since 1969, the camp has developed into one of the most prestigious summer music programs in the United States and has made a particularly positive contribution to the growth and development of the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University. Historically, Cannon Music Camp was also a cornerstone for the development of the University's summer cultural program, "An Appalachian Summer." In the Spring of 1968, after several years of discussion, a committee of music faculty members (Dr. Nicholas Erneston, Dean of the School of Fine and Applied Arts; Dr. William Spencer, Chairman of the Department of Music; Dr. Charles Isley, Dr. Joseph Logan, Mr. Walton Cole, and Mr. MacWilliam Disbrow) was appointed to develop a plan for the establishment of a summer music camp on the Appalachian State University campus. It was noted that many successful school and departments of music at universities throughout the United States were operating summer music camps and institutes in an effort to train young musicians and to establish a pool of students who might then attend the sponsoring institution.

Until this time, beginning a program of the this type on the Appalachian State University campus would have been most difficult, as housing facilities were limited. With the university demonstrating a sharp increase in enrollment during the 1960's, four new residence halls were under construction and would be ready for occupancy prior to January 1, 1969.

In October 1968, a formal proposal indicating the rationale, operating procedures, instructional organization, and budget was submitted to the university administration. At this time an advisory board consisting of several university administrators (Dr. Paul Sanders, Provost; Dr. O.K. Webb, Dean of Student Affairs; Dr. Nicholas Erneston, Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts; Dr. William Spencer, Chairman of the Department of Music; Mr. Robert Allen, Director of Public Affairs; Mr. Ned Trivette, Director of Business Affairs) was appointed to work with the Department of Music Camp Council.

January 9, 1969, Dr. William H. Plemmons, President of Appalachian State University, and Mr. Robert Allen, Director of Public Affairs, met in Kannapolis with Mr. Charles A. Cannon, Chairman of the Board of Cannon Mills. Mr. Cannon was most interested in assisting the university with this project. With his generous gift of $10,000, definite plans were made to begin the first session in July of 1969. The new summer music program was named Cannon Music Camp, in memory of Mrs. Ruth Cannon and in honor of Mr. Charles A. Cannon.