Area musicians attending the Arkansas Tech University Senior High Band Camp have the opportunity to study under the guidance of musician Dr. Joseph Missal this week.
This marks the 47 th year of band camp at Arkansas Tech, and several hundred students are on campus this week perfecting their musical skills.
The students are divided into various bands that meet and rehearse throughout the week, and students in the first band are studying are under the directon of Dr. Missal.
Missal (photographed) currently serves as the director of bands at Oklahoma State University, and he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the band program the university.
Additionally, he also heads the graduate conducting program at Oklahoma State University and chairs the wind and percussion division.
Hal Cooper, director of bands at Arkansas Tech, says campers benefit from working with various musicians they would normally not have contact with. Cooper says each year camp officials work to bring in a guest conductor to work with students at the camp.
At the conclusion of the camp, each band will present a concert for friends and family. The concerts are scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday, and there is no admission charge to attend the concerts.
]]>
