We’re thrilled to announce that our second annual winter camp was a success! This year, PRIZM teamed up with local youth arts organization Perfecting Gifts to add a vocal component to the mix. Our partnership allowed us to blur the lines between classical chamber pieces and soul music, and it taught instrumental and vocal students how to closely collaborate on several pieces.

Taking place over the students’ holiday break, the camp was an opportunity to keep young minds engaged and focused when school was out of session. For three days, 54 attendees as young as 12 participated in team-building activities, dance games and music rehearsals.

The camp closed with a public concert that instantly put audiences in the holiday spirit. Performances ranged from classical favorites including excerpts from The Nutcracker ballet to pop standards such as “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” The chamber music students from PRIZM and the vocal students of Perfecting Gifts shared the stage and channeled their Memphis roots with the soul hits “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye and “RESPECT” as a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.