Visual and performing arts camp a high note for Manatee students

Students participating in the School District of Manatee County's art and band camps develop their artistic talents.

By Liz Ramos
| 1:30 p.m. June 9, 2023

Hezekiah Coblentz, a Braden River Middle School sixth grader, says he likes all the teachers at band camp.

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Hezekiah Coblentz, a Braden River Middle School sixth grader, listened intently as Shane Falco, a french horn instructor, played a song.

Coblentz then picked up his French horn and tried to hit the notes exactly as Falco did.

Coblentz's one-on-one lesson with Falco gave him an opportunity to advance his musical talent during band camp June 7 at Braden River Middle School.

Coblentz said band camp was going well, and he liked all the teachers.

"I wanted to continue to learn more before I go into advanced band," he said about participating in band camp.

Falco said it's amazing to see the progress students make in only a few days. The camp ran June 5-15.

"I really love seeing each student blossom," Falco said. "I get the opportunity to work one-on-one with the students and help them embrace their strengths and weaknesses."

Band camp is one of five visual and performing arts summer camps through the School District of Manatee County. Students across Manatee County schools were able to participate in camps for band, orchestra, chorus, art or theater and dance.

Next door at Braden River Elementary School, students were learning various aspects of art including painting, drawing and digital art.

Sierra Owen, an eighth grader at Braden River Middle School, said she wanted to participate in art camp because it's a good way to express herself.

She loved the digital art portion of camp because she found it interesting to see the different types of art that could be created using photography.

Charlotte Haverstick, a student at R. Dan Nolan Middle School, plays trombone with the beginner band.

Drake Trombetta, a rising eighth grder at Braden River Middle School, has fun playing snare drum.

Milan Ruggiero, a rising freshman at Parrish Community High School, plays crash symbols while Landon Merrill, a rising eighth grader at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, plays triangle during a percussion sectional.

Elizabetta Morar, a rising sixth grader at Buffalo Creek Middle School, paints the Lorax while Emma Duarte, a rising sixth grader at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, paints Goo from "Inanimate Insanity."

Sierra Owen and Maggie Blanton, who are rising eighth graders at Braden River Middle School, work on a digital arts assignment.

Remi Walker, a rising eighth grader at Buffalo Creek Middle School, and Emma Tarbet, a rising eighth grader at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, love the digital arts portion of the art camp.

Joleisa Simons, a rising seventh grader at Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, works on painting the sky.

Marc Besio, a rising eighth grader at Louise R. Johnson K-8 School of International Studies, works one-on-one with Andrea Vella, the band director at Southeast High School.

Joe Gibson, an art teacher at Carlos E. Haile Middle School, takes Haven Wood, a rising seventh grader at Haile, through how to draw a person.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.