String Music Camp strikes the right note

The delight that participants of the Strathcona County String Music Camp express over their musical weekend at Camp Van Es tells the tale of people doing what they love to do.

The founder of the camp is Murray Vaasjo, a violinist of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Alberta Baroque Ensemble. He has also founded the Sherwood Park Youth Strings and the Wye String Ensemble.

“This was the eighth year of the camp,” he said, “and we decided tha we would stay at Camp Van Es for the final free concert. And Tofield is the closest town, so it would be fun for people to know about it and make it part of their fall (activities).”

The weekend also included the John McPherson Jazz Trio for a free concert Friday night and a string quartet session, also free, on Saturday night. The Sunday night concert featured the amateur members of the group who played in the camp’s chapel.

“It was wonderful,” said camp organizer Miriam Ferguson. Musician Cheryl Goyer of the Ardrossan area says people came from Tofield, Hay Lakes and … For more see the Sept. 22/15 Mercury