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NAPLES, FL, June 4-14, 2018-Summer is here! For most Florida students, days of sleeping in and going to the beach would commence. Instead, 400 Collier County middle and high school students are advancing their music skills at the Village School and North Naples Church Music Camp. For the past 15 years and the fourth year on the church and school campus, experienced musicians and teachers have come together to provide an unforgettable week for youth in Southwest Florida. Special guest instructors include Neal Caine, well-known bass player with Harry Connick Jr. Band, and three prominent jazz artists, Dan Miller, Jeff Rupert and Lew Del Gatto. Students have the opportunity to take Beginning and Advanced Band, Jazz and Chorus. Almost every Collier County School is represented. An Oak Ridge Middle School Student said, “It’s a really fun program. We play all day and learn harder music than we learn at school. We also get to meet students from other schools and learn from their different music experience.” The hope is that every student who is interested in learning music or advancing their skills would have an opportunity to attend. No obstacle is too large that students can’t participate; full scholarships are given for students in need and buses are even provided to transport students from Manatee, Immokalee and Golden Gate Middle Schools. Cesar M. was a Music Camper from 5th Grade through high school. This camp impacted his life so much that he is now studying Music Education at Florida Southern College and is in his third year as a camp volunteer. He said, “This camp will always be special to me. I didn’t have the opportunity to buy any instruments growing up because of money, so it put me in the position to do what I love. It has impacted me musically and socially, from learning under famous instructors and musicians, to meeting my best friends.” Thank you to all of the partners that have invested funds and resources to make this possible including: Papa John’s Pizza, Cadence Music for providing free usage of over $58,000 in instruments, JW Pepper, one of the world’s largest music distributors, Champions for Learning and the Community Foundation of Collier County. We firmly believe through this investment in our youth we are building the next generation of Bachs and Mozarts.