Big Sur Fiddle Camp

2020 WAS A VERY INTERESTING YEAR FOR OUR ORGANIZATION. FEBRUARY 1ST WE HELD A SPECTACULAR FUNDRAISING CONCERT IN CARMEL VALLEY WITH OUR SUPPORTIVE TEACHERS AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL FRIENDS MEETING THE STUDENTS MORE THAN HALF WAY FOR AN OVER THE TOP NIGHT OF CLASSICAL PIANO FROM COLUMBIAN PIANIST KRISTHYAN BENITEZ, VIOLIN SUPREME FROM EDWIN HUIZINGA (TORONTO), SINGER FIONA GILLESPIE FROM NEW YORK, CLASSICAL CELLIST, GEORGY GUSEV FROM RUSSIA, WILLIAM COULTER, CLASSICAL GUITAR,HEAD OF THE UCSC GUITAR DEPARTMENT, AND JOHN WEED CELTIC FIDDLER SUPREME. ALL OF THESE GENEROUS PERFORMERS PLAYED WITH THE STUDENTS AND SOLOS TO ENDLESS APPLAUSE, STANDING OVATIONS AND A GREAT OUTPOURING OF DONATIONS FROM A PACKED HALL.THEN COVID HIT, AND OUR PLANS FOR SUMMER CHANGED DRASTICALLY. WE CANCELED CAMP AS NORMAL, BUT INSTEAD HELD TWO MINI CAMPS OF 9 STUDENTS EACH. IT WAS SPECTACULAR TO WORK IN SUCH SMALL INTENSE GROUPS, AND HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE MORE OF BIG SUR AS WELL. OUR CONCERTS WERE RESTRICTED TO PARENTS AND RELATIVES. MANY OF THE STUDENTS WROTE AND PERFORMED THEIR OWN COMPOSITIONS, WHICH ARE NOW GOING ONTO A CD.WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE PLUSES AND MINUSES OF HAVING MUCH SMALLER SESSIONS. AT CHRISTMAS, BOTH IN OAKLAND AND IN BIG SUR WE HELD MINI CONCERTS ON THE STREET AND OUTDOORS AT POST RANCH WITH OUR STUDENTS AND A FEW OF THE TEACHERS