69th Annual WT Band Camp

The WT Band Camp was held on the WTAMU campus this summer for its 69th time. Our camp enrollment was over one thousand students—a feat that I would have deemed impossible a few years ago. Canyon is one of the finest places in the country to hold a summer camp as it is a safe community with an ideal location. The entire community of WTAMU and the city of Canyon are incredibly supportive of the large numbers of students, faculty, and staff. It truly is a win-win for the area and the students. Over a hundred teachers and staff join the WT wind and percussion faculty and staff to create a summer camp environment that is second to none. The visiting directors are among the finest teachers in the southwest. Our camp is the envy of the state, largely due to the enormous support from all of the band directors and private teachers that recommend the WT Band Camp each summer to their students. Without this level of support and expertise, the WT Band Camp would not be what it is today. 
 
I’m often asked why we have a band camp each summer. The WT Band Camp is the single largest recruiting event at WTAMU. Not only for the School of Music, but the entire university. The WT Band Program receives 80% of its students from the band camp. Without the band camp, there would be no more TMEA or CBDNA performances, nor would our marching band be as sizeable or successful. The WT Band Camp’s success has often been a source of support financially for the School of Music. Today, the WT Faculty’s current focus is on funding scholarships for music majors. We have named these scholarships in the name of Dr. Ted DuBois. DuBois’s involvement with the camp is highly regarded by all of us that are associated with the camp. Why are scholarships needed and necessary? All of the best and brightest graduating senior musicians in the state of Texas will receive a music scholarship from a university in the United States. We want it to be at West Texas A&M University. For that to become a reality—we must be competitive with our scholarship offers.
 
The WT Band Camp is a great experience for the students that attend each summer. Without a doubt, that is our first mission. However, the recruiting and funding of new students is a close second and is done very well at the camp with the help of so many of our amazing alumni, former faculty, and friends. 
 
Go Buffs!
Don Lefevre
Director of Bands
West Texas A&M University