The camp is located on a wooded ridge at 4,000 feet, in the historic Sierra Nevada Gold Country in Placer County, northeast of Sacramento.
CCMC offers more than 30 classes in mandolin, guitar, bass, banjo, voice, ukulele, fiddle, percussion, harmony singing, theory, songwriting, and stagecraft. CCMC focuses more on teaching practical, usable skills which students can incorporate into their playing or singing.
Styles include bluegrass, swing, blues, old time, country, folk, jazz, rock, Brazilian, Celtic, and more. The camp features extra workshops, band labs, jams, concerts, dances, and performance opportunities.
Swimming and hiking are non-musical options at CCMC, and some campers bring bikes to explore old roads and mining towns in the area. The camp has fairly flat terrain, with improved roads and trails throughout, and overlooks one of the main canyons of the American River. Camp includes all meals and activities; for lodging, or bring a tent or RV or stay in shared cabins.
Week 1 Mandolin Instructors: Marla Fibish and Radim Zenkl
Marla Fibish is one of the prominent voices of the mandolin in Irish music, bringing a musicality to the tradition that is not often heard on the instrument. A dynamic performer and a sought-after teacher, Marla teaches private students and classes, online at Peghead Nation, and has been a staff instructor at many music camps, including the Mandolin Symposium, Swannanoa Gathering, and many others.
Born in the Czech Republic and based in California, Radim Zenkl is a U.S. Mandolin Champion whose worldwide credentials include guest appearances at prestigious institutions such as Berklee College of Music in Boston and Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. Radim has taught at more than 70 music camps in the last 23 years. Radim's style features progressive original and Eastern European traditional music flavored with string jazz, new age, bluegrass, flamenco, rock, classical and other styles.
Week 2 Mandolin Instructor: Tim Connell
Tim Connell has created a sophisticated and original global style on the mandolin. Widely regarded as one of the top North American interpreters of the Brazilian choro style on the mandolin, Tim has his own unique voice on the instrument, described in a Mandolin magazine cover story as "fiery and energetic, soulful and evocative." Tim's latest releases include June Apple, a nationally noted album of bluegrass fiddle tunes with guitarist Eric Skye, and MandAlone, a collection of original solo mandolin arrangements including his popular arrangement of "Here Comes the Sun."
Students may register for one or both weeks at the camp web site or by mail. Scholarships are available. Site includes links to the websites of teachers, their musical bios and hear samples of their playing.
Additional Information
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