MCA’s Assemblé

Nutcracker Season is Just Around the Corner!

It’s almost time for one of the Dance Repertory Company’s favorite productions to get underway! Nutcracker auditions are just around the corner and we are looking for everyone from Mother Ginger children to parents for the party scene. Auditions will be held at the Valéncia Arts Center on Thursday, September 6th at 4pm.

For those dancers who would like to prepare for the audition process, we are offering Pre-Audition Workshops on August 29th and 30th. For more information on time and tuition cost, please visit our website at www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org or call the main office at 507-453-5500. We are excited for our 2012 production of the Nutcracker!

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ParadeVolunteers Needed!

MCA is asking for parent and student volunteers to march in the Goodview Days Parade this August 19! Dance students will dress in Nutcracker costumes to promote our upcoming production. Parents and music division students are invited to pass water bottles out to the crowd and pump everyone up for the upcoming MCA year!

If you are interested in helping with decorating the float and/or costume fittings, please email mca@smumn.edu or call the main office at 507-453-5500. We look forward to having many MCA families join is in an afternoon of great fun!

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MCA ASSEMBLE SUMMER 2012

MCA Dance Division News

Summer Dance for Young Students

MCA is offering several class and camp options for young students this summer. For the 3-4 year olds, discover your first dance class with our Creative Movement class in July. Kids ages 8-12 can take our Clogging for Kids class on Mondays in July to learn traditional folk dancing. If you have a child in grades K-3, they may want to take our week long Dance Me a Story camp where they will learn the story and choreography of a fairy tale and perform it for their family and friends at the end of their camp experience. Students in grades 4-8 can participate in our Dance the Day Away camp. Students in this camp will take classes in technique, theory and choreography. Students will then perform a final showcase for friends and family at the end of the week.

Dance Me a Story: June 25-29, 9-11:30am

Showcase: June 29, 11:00 am, FREE admission

Tuition: $100, scholarships available

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Dance the Day Away: June 24-29, 1:00-4:30pm

Showcase: June 29, 4:00 pm, FREE admission

Tuition: $150, scholarships available

Summer Dance and Fitness Classes for Teens and Adults

MCA has a wide variety of dance classes for students ages 13-adult this summer. In June, we will have our Intermediate and Advanced Ballet workshops. On Mondays in July, students can chose from many different dance styles to get them up and moving! Choose from Clogging, Teen & Adult Irish Dance, Teen & Adult Ballet, Musical Theatre Dance, or develop strength and flexibility in our Power Piyo Class.

For more information on class times and dates, please refer to our online catalog at www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org. Many of these course offerings will continue in the fall, so if you are unable to make the Summer session

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MCA ASSEMBLE SUMMER 2012

Returning this summer is a small ensemble camp for students in grades 7-12 who play an orchestral string, woodwind or brass instrument. During this camp, students will become better musicians by playing in a small ensemble setting and will attend classes in sight singing, theory, history, and composition. These classes are designed to give students the opportunity to move around, share their ideas and develop their musical creativity and expression. At the end of this week long camp, students will showcase their hard work in an informal concert. Chamber Music Camp: July 23-27, 2:00-4:30pm Tuition: $100, scholarships available, half off for private lesson students. Chamber Camp concert: July 27, 4:00 pm, FREE

Chamber Music Camp is Back!

Summer Private Music Lessons

Develop your musical training over the summer by taking one-on-one lessons with a highly qualified MCA music instructor. During these lessons, students will work on posture, technique, expression, self-evaluation, and music literacy. Call today for information on lessons in flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, cello, mandolin, guitar, banjo, piano, and voice.

*Brass lessons will continue in the fall.

MCA Music and Theatre Division Camps MCA is proud to announce our Theatre Camps, Destination Imagination and Broadway Bound! are back again for another summer of fun and drama! During this summer's theatre camps, we will be working on building characters while building the students' character at the same time. Working together and learning together will give students valuable skills that they will use throughout life's many scenes. This summer, the camps will include a musical theatre component to further develop the student’s creativity and understanding of the musical theatre aspect of acting and performing.

If you have a kid who loves to be dramatic and be on the stage, this is the perfect camp for them! Registration will remain open until filled. Theatre Camp I is open to students entering grades 2-5 in the fall and Theatre Camp II is for students entering grades 6-8.

Theatre Camp I: Destination Imagination Theatre Camp II: Broadway Bound!

June 18-22, 9:00am-11:30am June 18-22, 1:00pm-4:30am

Showcase: June 22, 11:00am, FREE Showcase: June 22, 4:00pm, FREE

Tuition: $100, scholarships available Tuition: $150, scholarships available

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MCA ASSEMBLE SUMMER 2012

Dear MCA Community, Growing up in rural West Virginia taught me the importance of providing communities with accessible arts and cultural experiences, no matter the size. Without the support and encouragement of my parents and the opportunities available through the local state college, my exposure to these sorts of things would have been severely limited. Through years of violin and voice lessons, musicals and plays, karate classes, and Latin classes I gained not only an understanding of arts and cultural experiences, but also a profound appreciation for them as well. You don't have to have a background in a particular area in order to enjoy and appreciate it; you just have to be open and willing to engage in it fully. Education, appreciation, and accessibility go hand in hand and are at the heart of MCA's mission. The fact that MCA and its mission focus on the community and the betterment of the students as not only artists and audience members but as community members and people in general, was what drew me to the organization. Whether someone chooses to participate in one class or one hundred classes, the end goal is for him/her to reach his/her full potential in all aspects of life and this is truly inspirational. The manner in which the community supports the students and is involved in MCA is so heartfelt and the energy is contagious. I look forward to working with the families and students of MCA and to continue carrying out the mission of the organization. Sincerely, Joelle Harris Managing Director

Joelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in theatre studies with a minor in vocal music from Capital University and a Master of Arts in arts administration and non-profit management from the University of Akron. She previously served as the executive director of Columbus Children's Theatre. Joelle joined the MCA team on May 21st and worked with previous director, Christine Martin, on learning the ropes of our wonderful organization. Join MCA faculty and staff for an Open House Thursday, June 14, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Valéncia Arts Center to meet and welcome Joelle to the MCA community.

MCA Welcomes New Managing Director, Joelle Harris!

Open House, June 14, 5:00-7:00pm

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MCA ASSEMBLE SUMMER 2012

Announcements

MCA would like to extend an enormous thank you to Jeff & Dee Strom and Jim & Laura Armstrong for serving as the Friends of MCA co-chairs during the 2011-2012 academic year. They will continue as co-chairs for the upcoming academic year.

Friends of MCA is the parent volunteer committee of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. For more information on this group or to find out how you can be involved, please contact us at mca@smumn.edu.

Thank you Strom and Armstrong families!

Welcome New Summer Faculty!

We would like to extend a warm welcoming return to dance instructor, Jen TeBeest for our Summer dance classes! We would also like to welcome Summer guest instructors, Madeline Bryant, Dave Gudmastad, Dustyn Martincich,Chris Medina, Stephanie Milling, Jeffrey Peterson, and Ty Streibel.

Welcome also to our newest piano and voice instructor, Camie Schneider who will also be instructing Theatre Camps. We are thrilled to have such talented teachers on the MCA faculty!

For MCA updates, reminders and event information, follow us on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook!

Congratulations O’Shea Family!

Congratulations to Lindsy and Patrick O’Shea on the birth of their daughter, Eleanor Louise. Eleanor (Nora) was born on March 25th . Best wishes to Lindsy, Patrick, and big sisters Evie and Vera!

MCA ASSEMBLE SUMMER 2012

Save the date! • June 10, Flute Choir performs at Project FINE benefit, Signtatures Lounge, 4-7pm

• June 14 Open House to meet Joelle Harris, VAC, 5-7pm

• June 15 Winona Arts Camp Reception, MN Marine Art Museum, 5pm, FREE!

• June 22 Destination Imagination Showcase, VAC Academy Theatre, 11am, FREE!

• June 22 Broadway Bound! Showcase, VAC Academy Theatre, 4pm, FREE!

• June 29 Dance Me a Story Showcase, VAC Academy Theatre, 11am, FREE!

• June 29 Dance the Day Away Showcase, VAC Academy Theatre, 4pm, FREE!

• July 21 Summer Dance Intensive Showcase, VAC Academy Theatre, 7pm, FREE!

• July 27 Chamber Music Camp informal recital, VAC Recital Hall, 4pm, FREE!

• Aug 16 Concert on the Lawn, VAC, 6pm, FREE!

• Aug 19 MCA marches in Goodview Days Parade

• Aug 29-30 Nutcracker Pre Audition Workshops

• Sept 5 Semester I Open House, 4-7pm

• Sept 6 Nutcracker auditions, 4pm

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts

at the Valéncia Arts Center

1164 West 10th Street Winona, MN 55987

MCA Summer Faculty and Staff • Michael Charron, dean • Joelle Harris, managing director • Tammy Schmidt, director of dance • Mandy Moburg, director of music, administrative assistant/private flute and piano instructor • Avin Honecker-Sherman, dance instructor • Christine Martin, dance instructor • Rachael Moore, dance camp instructor • Jacqueline Paulsen, Nia instructor • Jennifer TeBeest, dance instructor • Nicole Volner, dance camp instructor • Cory Meier, theatre camp Iinstructor • Dustin Moburg, Guitar Class/Ukulele Direct instructor • Ryan Ballanger, private clarinet/saxophone instructor • Matthew Byrnes, private piano, guitar and banjo instructor • Aleah Harvey, private piano instructor • Katy Kosiek, private saxophone instructor • Lindsy O’Shea, voice instructor • Rachael Ryan, Private Cello Instructor • Camie Schneider, private piano/voice and theatre camp instructor • Marie Stier, Private violin/mandolin instructor • Randi Campbell, Winona Arts Camp instructor • Jill Krase, Winona Arts Camp instructor • Julie Johnston, Winona Arts Camp instructor