This year's music camp was a great success! About one hundred people attended the camp. The program is in two sections. The first five days is Leadership Camp, designed for church music leaders. The second part is regular music camp for kids of all ages, lasting two weeks. This year there were two guest teachers from the United States: Louima Lilite and Jim Jensen. Louima had come to music camp as a young boy and is an example of what an impact music camp can have. He developed a love for music that brought him to the United States to continue his study of music. He is currently at the Eastman School of Music in New York completing his Ph.D in vocal pedagogy. Louima completed his undergraduate degree in piano performance from Biola University in California.

Jim Jensen was the other guest teacher this year. Jim's background includes over 30 years of ministry as a Worship Pastor in Oregon. He has degrees in violin performance and choral conducting. Laurie Heneise Casseus, daughter of Ivah and Harold Heneise and wife of UCNH president Jules Casseus and originator of music camp, taught piano hymnology and was camp coordinator.

This year there were 18 leaders in the Leadership session. Classes included music theory, conducting, leadership discussions, private and group lessons, aerobics, and evening chapels. The theme of the camp this year was "Let Everything that Has Breath Praise the Lord". Louima said, "My first American thought was to simply teach them a chorus under the same title that we sing often at North Baptist Church in Rochester. However, the teacher in me prevailed and we decided to ask them to write their own songs in their own language. So Friday evening we learned the first Haitian rendition of that text and I was simply blown away by the level of talent. The writer is a former piano student of Dephanie (my wife) in previous summer camps. His name is Esaie (Isaiah). We congratulated and thanked him profusely."

The next two weeks of music camp opened July 19 with 80 students. Some campers came with instruments. But many former students did not come this year due to financial difficulties. Louima Lilite said, "Several students wrote to say how heartbroken they were for not being able to afford camp. The fee seems exorbitant to them but it is only $80 US for 12 days of instruction, food, lodging and materials. Without the scholarship funds we were able to raise, 30 fewer students would have come. It's just that the poverty in Haiti has risen to such a level that it is hard to describe. In the midst of such misery, we get to bring beauty to the community through our music. I played three classical piano pieces by Debussy and Chopin. Everybody just loved it, and afterwards some of the young boys who weren't students at the camp came to me and said that perhaps they could play the piano like me someday. I told them it was possible."

Jim wrote, "During the final student-leader concert we enjoyed a beautiful song on soprano recorder (like a flute) and a jazz arrangement on alto saxophone. Many students had prepared pieces on keyboard, and all of them played with joy. Wester, the tall bassist, was quite amazing. He can make a bass guitar sound like a melodic instrument with various accompaniments and special sound effects. Three anthems were performed by the mass choir and were directed by UCNH music majors. Each student directed a different stirring African anthem with rhythm accompaniment and improvised dance. Maestro Lou and I directed the choir also. Hand-chime choir, solo clarinet and several pianists also performed."

Music camp is offered every summer. Please keep it in your prayers. This camp is offered every summer. Eighty dollars is a small sum to pay for the priceless opportunity to offer to those whom God gifted with music. Would you designate part of your offering towards the camp? Perhaps you could be one of the volunteers for this camp. The director, Laurie Casseus, is always looking for volunteers who can teach. Perhaps you could be one.
Don't miss this experience! Louima writes: "I am humbled to think of how God has used me in Haiti but I rejoice when I see the work He has done in me by going on that trip. I challenge you to dare to do things that go outside of your comfort zone, because you will be amazed to see how much God can do in you and through you."