Talented Napa teens train at ‘Camp Vocal’
By Lisa Adams Walter
NAPA, Calif. — While most Napa High School students savored the final days of summer last month a select dozen traded days at the beach for a stay at “Camp Vocal.” This intensive training boot camp, planned and run by Dave Ruane, the seasoned Vocal Music Workshop director, prepared the young talents for a yearlong harmonious blend of dedication, creativity and mentorship.
Their journey will kick off on Sept. 24 with “Singing in the Spotlight,” a showcase of Napa High’s musical legacy that extends far beyond the classroom and into the heart of the community. The show will be held at 6 p.m. in The Quad, in the center of the Napa High School campus. Tickets are $5 to be paid at the door. The on-campus performance will be open to the public.
Camp Vocal prepares the a cappella group for their signed commitment to this elite team. Rather than running drills on an athletic field, this camp tasked students with team-building, relying on one another, learning about themselves, having fun, being creative and participating in exercises that prepared their vocal cords, hearts and minds for the rigors of the year to come.
“Singing in the Spotlight has been a Napa High tradition for decades,” Ruane said. “While Vocal Music Workshop is the host of the show, the beginning choirs make their debut, and the show also features special acts that range from rock bands to instrumental acts as well as solo and group acts.”
Each spring dozens of singers audition for one of 12 coveted spots in the ensemble that has earned the honor to represent the school. By the time they are ready to audition for Ruane, they have usually already been a member of one of the other vocal groups at Napa High.
“My colleague, Duncan Cooper, who is the director of choral activities at Napa High, deserves high praise for preparing these vocalists,” Ruane said, “He works very hard to musically educate all of the vocal music students. By the time those that want to audition for Vocal Music Workshop get to me, they have already learned so much.”
This year’s camp included themed days, such as Marvel and Disney, and activities that included hiking and bowling.
“Our goal is to create a family-type experience as the members of Vocal Music Workshop must rely on each other in real life and vocally on the stage,” Ruane said, “Every member of the ensemble is equal in terms of their responsibility and their part. The group also has a specific mission, which is to reach out to elementary school students and make music ‘cool’ for the kids who are the next generation of vocal music students at Napa High.”
Vocal Music Workshop is an extracurricular activity, which means that members learn the music, rehearse and perform on their own time outside of regular classes.
“This group performs at both public and private functions around the county,” Ruane said. “They donate their lunch hour and miss parts of class periods up to eight times per academic year to travel to local elementary schools, where they perform an a cappella concert, mentoring youngsters with the message of music.”
The current members of Vocal Music Workshop are Julia Bui, Olivia Bui, Everett Butler, Isabella Christman, Matthew Corrigan, Seth Daniel, Olivia Hall, Mia Hernandez, Carly Pennycook, Jean Christophe Perez, Maya Prouty and Luke Simon,
Singing in the Spotlight, according to Ruane, is a precursor to the larger “A Cappella Extravaganza,” a full-scale production that features high school, college and professional acts and is produced late each winter by Vocal Music Workshop. Known as “Aca Ex,” the next extravaganza is set for Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at Napa’s Uptown Theatre and will feature the pro group Naturally 7. Tickets for the show, which typically sell out, go on sale in November. For more information follow @napahighchoir on Instagram and like Napa High Choir on Facebook.
Lisa Adams Walter is a writer, storyteller, editor and publicist who has been published in media outlets locally and nationally. A California wine country native, she brings intimate insight to an array of wine, food, arts, entertainment, lifestyle and travel stories.
How wonderful to see youth being supported in their love of singing. As I have said for years, early support for anyone wishing to use their voice- in song, verse, or any other format- can change lives. Hearing that these talented youth go out into elementary schools to encourage even younger artists to acknowledge and pursue their passion through music makes my heart go pitter patter. I fought for years for beginning acting classes for young college students, having seen first hand the impact that "using our voices" can have on humans. How fabulous that these youth are both pursuing and sharing this life altering experience. I would love to attend one of their concerts! When I lived in St. Helena back in the late 1950s and early 1960s, I participated in productions put on in our back yard by the St. Helena Players. Those early experiences led me to a 30 year career in theatre, culminating with my Stage Managing at Woodminster Ampitheatre in Oakland, where three huge musicals continue to be staged each summer. Early support for artists is always needed. I am so glad it is happening in the Napa Valley in 2023!
Our Napa Valley teens are so talented!