This week, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Charles Whitney, founding Board Member of Olympic Strings Workshop. With a deep passion for music and the arts, Dr. Whitney has been instrumental in the success of our camp over the years. As a musician who has progressed through the district music program, I can distinctly recall Dr. Whitney standing in the wings, always supporting us from the sidelines.
Many years ago, Dr. Whitney remembers giving violin soloist, Monique Mead, a ride from her hotel to the high school to teach a masterclass for the PAHS Chamber Orchestra. During this session, he witnessed a beautiful event—with simple bow technique adjustments and guidance from Monique, the students improved right before his eyes! Experiences like this one are what sparked Dr. Whitney’s idea for a music camp focused on helping students aspire to achieve their fullest potential as musicians.
Planning and running a summer strings camp is no easy task. From booking venues and managing finances to transporting instruments and ensuring students are happy and fed, planning must occur months in advance. As the Treasurer of Olympic Strings Workshop, Dr. Whitney speaks with representatives all the way from Seattle down to San Francisco to ensure our camp can run as smoothly as possible. What started out as a day camp based in the local high school orchestra classroom in 2018, has grown into a week-long program attracting students from across the country.
Dr. Whitney says the most rewarding part of running this workshop is attending the final concert. Getting to hear the whole performance put together without any stops and starts is truly incredible. What starts as a group of students who have never played as a group before transforms entirely after just a few days playing together. He says, “It’s amazing how much better it sounds after just a week!”
In the future, Dr. Whitney would like to see OSW return as an “away from home” experience to give students more independence and opportunities to bond with fellow musicians. In the end, fostering growth in musicianship not only helps the students themselves, but school orchestra programs and the Port Angeles Symphony as well.
