Ontario Music Centre 2009

Attendees at 2009 Ontario Music Centre music camp will make music, dine daily with Juno Award nominees

Everyone who attends the 2009 Ontario Music Centre (OMC) music camp this summer will have an opportunity that most amateur and professional musicians can only dream of: to make music, learn from and dine on a daily basis with several 2009 Juno Award nominees.

Michael Occhipinti, a guitarist and the artistic director of the camp—which runs this year from August 2 to 16 in Lakefield, Ontario—recently was nominated for a Juno Award in the category of Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, for the recording 'Sicilian Jazz Project.' This is the eighth time Michael's musicianship has been honoured in this way. With his band The Sicilian Jazz Project, Michael creates contemporary works based on the traditional pieces, incorporating new voicings, rhythms and harmonies. Also an extraordinary music educator, Michael will be teaching guitar and composition at the music camp.

Barry Romberg is a drummer who, with his Random Access Large Ensemble, also has been nominated this year in the category of Contemporary Jazz Album, for the CD 'Existential Detective.' Last April, the band won the Best Electric Band Award at the 2008 National Jazz Awards. Barry will teach percussion during the first week of the OMC music camp, August 2-9. That week focuses on jazz, world and folk traditions.

Vocalist Maryem Tollar and saxaphone and Arabic flute player Ernie Tollar have been nominated for the World Music Album of the Year for their CD 'Cairo to Toronto.' They will be instructors during the first week of the music camp.

Michael, Barry, Maryem and Ernie will perform at a concert on August 6. The rest of the OMC's faculty members will perform at concerts August 3 and 10. The concerts are open to camp attendees and anyone from Lakefield and beyond; a small fee is charged to people who are not attending the camp.

WHAT: Ontario Music Centre's Summer Camp, Lakefield College School, Lakefield

WHO: Faculty members include Juno Award nominees Michael Occhipinti, Barry Romberg, Maryem Tollar and Ernie Tollar

WHEN: August 2-9 (Jazz, World and Folk Traditions) and August 9-16 (Classical, Chamber, World and Folk Traditions)

WEBSITE: www.cammaclakefield.ca