This summer young people throughout the territory, and beyond, came together at Resonate and Central Music Institute (CMI) to develop their talents and skills, express themselves through various art forms, and learn to live in community with each other and in unity with our Triune God.
In its third year, the Resonate Worship Arts Conservatory, which emphasizes dance, drama, praise band, and visual media, had a theme of Trinity, which was incorporated with daily devotions (Morning Manna), in small group sessions and the finale program. All eight divisions were represented in the 68 students, who were joined by a delegation from the Latin America North Territory.
Captains Vinal and Brenna Lee served as chaplains and concentrated on elements of the Trinity, on which students reflected in small groups while building community.
Guest instructors included Edward and Kellyn Mylechreest from the Eastern Territory. Edward serves as the divisional music director for the Pennsylvania and Delaware Division, while Kellyn is a professional dancer and instructor in New York City. Together, they provided instruction in dance and drama. They also modeled immersive worship where the elements of dance, drama and music combined into a unified presentation of praise.
Christian drama troupe 321 Improv brought their talents to the stage. Working solely with suggestions from the audience, they created a unique program of drama and humor.
In addition to daily technique classes in their major emphasis, students explored elective classes in audio recording and engineering, beginning guitar, beginning keyboard, choreography, graphic design/program media, musical theater, photography, song writing, visual arts, and worship planning.
The finale program brought all groups together in a unified presentation focusing on the Trinity and community, with each element leading into the next and each discipline adding a unique expression of praise.
While Resonate is relatively new, Central Music Institute (CMI) marked 90 years this summer. With the theme “#nofilter,” CMI challenged 180 students to live honest and transparent lives in Christ. Again, all divisions were represented, along with students from Latin America North, the Caribbean, and South America West.
Students focused on majors in instrumental and vocal with guests Philip (Pip) Hannevik, a professional conductor from Norway, and the Rev. Donté Ford, Assistant Professor of Music and Associate Chaplain for Worship Arts at Wheaton College. Each displayed a high level of musicianship and Christian witness. Pip intentionally prayed for each member of the Wonderland and Faculty bands by name at the end of the rehearsals, one section of the band each day.
Majors Dan and Stephanie Sawka served as chaplains, encouraging students to see God, themselves and others more clearly and to live unfiltered lives. Students began each day with Morning Manna and participated in Sealed Orders, private prayer and reflection, before dinner.
Aubrey Logan, a professional singer and trombone player, presented a concert demonstrating her expertise in both disciplines. She included one of the student choirs as backup singers in her performance of “316,” based on the well-known passage from the Gospel of John. Aubrey also spent instructional time with the trombone section of the Wonderland Band, giving insights from her career.
The students’ daily schedule included two periods of major classes (five bands and two choruses), a technique class focused on their major instrument or vocal part, an elective class (piano, guitar, ukulele, drama, dance, handbells, timbrels, visual arts, conducting, composition, praise band), and one of three mixed voice choruses (CMI Chorus, Crosby Chorus, Dorsey Chorus).
Special events included solo contests for each performing group plus piano, guitar, and band vocalists. There were also recreation tournaments for students and faculty in disc golf, volleyball, Baggo, chess, soccer and pickleball.
Evening programs included a Sunday evening praise meeting with the Central Territorial Staff Songsters, which included several CMI faculty and students; student night which pitted cabins against each other in a friendly video contest which displayed the students’ creativity; and two student showcases featuring each of the major performing groups.
The camp ended with an alumni weekend—the first in many years—to celebrate the 90th anniversary of CMI, the faculty band concert, Electfest (featuring elective classes) and the final awards program. The concluding Sunday worship service allowed for reflection and dedication.
See a full list of award recipients on our website at salarmycentral.org.
