Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]  

CANYON, Texas — Registration opens Feb. 14 for West Texas A&M University’s three acclaimed music camps. 

Potential campers can sign up at wtamu.edu/camps. Average total attendance at the camps is about 1,000 students from throughout the region and beyond. 

The music camp season will open with the WT All-State Choir Camp from June 7 to 10. The camp is for students entering grades 9 through 12 who wish to get a head start on All-State Choir auditions, said director Sean Pullen. 

Choir Camp cost is $400 for residential campers and $260 for commuters. Students who have made All-State Choir get a $100 discount. 

The WT String Camp will run June 16 to 18. It is designed for students ages 12 to 18 who play violin, viola, cello, double bass and harp. 

String Camp cost is $295 for residential campers and $195 for commuters. Amarillo Youth Orchestra members get a $45 discount. 

And finally, the 70th WT Band Camp will run July 10 to 16. Established in 1952 by legendary WT band director Dr. Gary Garner, the camp is now a one-week experience designed for students entering seventh grade through graduated high-school seniors. 

Band Camp cost is $635 for residential campers and $299 for commuters. Students who made All-State band or were chosen as Honor Campers the previous year get a $375 discount on residential fees or $149 on commuter fees. 

“The WT School of Music has been the foundation of music education in the Panhandle and beyond for more than a century,” said Dr. Robert Hansen, Regents Professor of Music and director of the School of Music. “The WT Music Camps are an outstanding learning opportunity for young musicians, vital to the growth and continued success of the School of Music and the assurance that these young musicians will perpetuate the cultural wealth of our region for generations to come.” 

Meeting regional needs and fostering an appreciation for the arts are both key components of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World. 

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised more than $85 million. 

About West Texas A&M University 

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs, 39 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.