YaYa goes to Music Camp

The day that I picked up Mr. SP from music camp and heard his awesome concert, I dropped off YaYa. She was able to go a day early so that I didn’t make two trips, and then stayed for two weeks.  We have a little tradition of taking a picture in front of the logo on the dining hall when I drop her off each year.  It’s pretty fun to see the pictures for all the years.  This was her fourth year at music camp, and her fifth and sixth weeks of attending camp.  Music camp has become such an anticipated thing each summer that she didn’t even complain about me taking her picture this year.  (Mr. SP decided that his annual picture would be in front of the flags outside Howard Hall).  Taking the annual picture is  traditionally followed by her excitedly running away from me toward her favorite two weeks of summer.  

She had a fantastic two weeks at camp, with so many amazing opportunities to play in the honor wind ensemble and lots of chamber groups.  I didn’t get to hear her first concert, which she said was her favorite, but I really loved getting to listen at the second concert when I picked her up.  The music chosen for the concert was so interesting and there were many beautiful moments.  It was really fun to listen to the quality of musicianship.  Music camp is such a special, magical place.  It’s amazing what they can accomplish in one week.
Because there aren’t that many oboes each week, the oboe students really get a lot of one on one teaching from the amazing faculty.  YaYa really liked working with the oboe teachers both weeks.  

YaYa has an amazing group of friends that have become so close.  They met last year and all camp back for week 3 this year.  Music camp friends were some of the best friends I had growing up, and I’m so happy YaYa has amazing music friends from all over too. One of these friends lives in Canada, one in Nebraska, and one in Wisconsin.   We were super lucky to bring the Wisconsin friend back to Minnesota on our way home for an overnight at our insanely crazy house before her parents picked her up the next day.  It takes a lot to put up with us for an 8 hour car ride and then an overnight stay at our house, but she handled it with ease and grace. YaYa still can’t get that sassy pose down!