Florida Orchestra joins forces with YMCA for free summer arts camp

The Florida Orchestra and the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg are joining forces to offer a free music and arts summer camp to reach kids who might not have the opportunity to learn to play instruments.

The camp will be held June 14 through July 9 for ages 8 to 12 at the Childs Park YMCA. For four weeks, children will get daily lessons on the violin, piano and visual arts at the recreation center in St. Petersburg.

In a news release from the orchestra, the project was called an “example of two powerhouse organizations coming together to do something great for the community — something that would be hard for each of us to do on our own.”

There will be open houses to learn more about the camp on May 8 and May 15 at the Childs Park YMCA at 691 43rd St. S in St. Petersburg. An appointment is required to attend the open houses. You can make one online at stpeteymca.org/music-camp or call 727-895-9622. Camp organizers will end the open house sessions with a performance by the orchestra’s string ensemble.

The deadline to apply for the camp is May 15.

The camp will include a violin class by an instructor from the Florida Orchestra, in which children will learn the basics of note-reading and rhythm, as well as violin fundamentals. A keyboard class taught by a YMCA instructor will provide an introduction to the piano. And a visual arts class aims to enhance creative thinking through drawing, painting, media, technical arts, photography and sculpture.