Summer Strings Camp

July 21 to July 25, 2025
9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Summer Strings Camp is an orchestral training camp designed for string players who are looking for an enriching and fun summer experience making music and new friends. Students will have the opportunity to sharpen their ensemble skills by playing orchestral arrangements of popular songs. Daily activities will feature orchestra rehearsals, sectionals and enrichment activities with guest instructors. Enrichment topics will include music theory, musical theatre/drama, fiddling, improvisation, and recording. The week will conclude with a pizza party lunch on Friday and a final performance on Friday afternoon for family and friends. This camp is suitable for ages 7+, as well as those with a minimum proficiency of RCM Level 3 or Suzuki Book 2. The ability to read music is required. Any questions regarding required skill level can be directed to Joy Schuster: joy.schuster@gmail.com

Students may be dropped off early between 8:30am and 9:00am, and picked up between the hours of 4:30pm and 5:00pm.

Cost: $395

To inquire about financial assistance, please email office@gymc.ca

Conductor Joy Schuster

Joy Schuster, as a teacher with the Suzuki String School of Guelph, is a familiar face at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. She graduated, with honours, from Michigan State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Music Education. Joy then went on to teach in the beautiful state of Maine where she was teaching full time as a “string specialist” in Grades 3–8. In 1989, Joy immigrated to Canada where she taught with the Hamilton school board and the Hamilton Suzuki School of Music. Joy is the director of the GYMC String Orchestra program, concertmaster of the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, and director of the CSO Youth Orchestra.

Enrichment Activities / Guest Instructors

Musical Theatre / Drama with Penny & Pound Theatre

Penny & Pound is dedicated to inspiring, educating, and empowering artists and audiences through the transformative power of theatre. Their mission is to create meaningful, high-quality productions that foster creativity, inclusivity, and community engagement. They strive to provide a platform for diverse voices, cultivate emerging talent, and use storytelling to spark conversation, connection, and change. Whether onstage, backstage, or in the audience, they believe in the power of theatre to enrich lives and bring people together.

Fiddling and Improvisation with Elena Spanu

Elena Spanu received her Bachelor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Western Ontario, where she studied with Robert Skelton, Virginia Baron and Mel Martin. She moved on to complete an Artist Diploma in Baroque Violin at the University of Toronto. There, she studied with Jeanne Lamon and other members of Tafelmusik. Elena has also studied with such notable teachers as Kelly Parkins and Burton Kaplan. 

Elena has received teacher training in the Suzuki Method at the Southwestern Strings Suzuki Institute (SOSI). She has completed training in books 1-8. Her teacher trainers have been Edmund Sprunger, Daphne Hughes, Kathleen Spring, Allen Lieb and Brian Lewis. Elena currently holds the seat of principal second with the North York Concert Orchestra. She is also a regular section player with the Niagara Symphony. 

Recording with Josh Fairbairn (Equilibrium Audio Group)

Josh Fairbairn is a highly experienced audio engineer and equipment technician with over 25  years of experience in audio and music production. After graduating with honours from the Toronto Film School’s Sound Technology program, Josh embarked on a diverse career spanning touring and live sound, location sound, and film post-production. He has been involved in hundreds of live shows, the productions of dozens of albums and singles, several live event recordings , and the production of several films and film scores. 

Currently, he owns a studio in Kitchener that focuses on mentoring and educating teens interested in pursuing careers in the audio industry, and a service business that has clients all over Canada. He also works as a paraprofessional at WRDSB’s Eastwood Collegiate in their Gr 11/12 Music Production course, which he has helped develop over the last 8 years.