That's a Wrap on 2020 Camps in the Cloud
2020 Bluecoats performers and staff gather for July Camp in the Cloud.
On Saturday, July 25th, Bluecoats 2020 performers and staff joined us for the final Camp in the Cloud of the season. Back in March, we announced that we would host April Camp as an online conference and soon after when we made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 summer tour, we started looking for ways to continue the Bluecoats Experience for our 2020 performers. Part of that commitment to keep the Bluecoats Experience active included hosting monthly Bluecoats in the Cloud events.
Throughout these monthly events, we’ve brought the full corps together for a unique opportunity to meet each other and learn from Bluecoats educators. We’ve also had several special guests join us including meteorologist Dr. Kevin Klossel, performance trainer Shirley Dorritie MFT, and Bluecoats alumni council chair Jay Wise. During July Camp in the Cloud we took a different approach to things and hosted several AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions with members of the Bluecoats design team and Cavaliers Executive Director & Bluecoats alumnus Monte Mast.
To get things started, Bluecoats CEO Mike Scott and CFO/COO Genevieve Geisler gave an important update and recap on what has been a very pivotal summer for the organization. They shared our progress toward our 2020 fundraising goal of $350,000 and gave an update on what attendees can expect at the Bluecoats Telethon on August 2nd.
The Bluecoats Telethon will be broadcast live right here on the Bluecoats website, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube. It will include live performances, a night of community support, and a special announcement! All members of the Bluecoats community will be welcome at this public event.
Mike and Genevieve also shared an update on Bluecoats 2020 pennies. A very special Bluecoats tradition, it includes performers receiving a shoelace during their first season at Bluecoats and a chain link and penny at the end of each season. This special corps necklace has become emblematic of each performer’s connection to the Bluecoats and the tradition dates back to 1992. 2020 performers will be mailed a special matte black edition of the 2020 penny to commemorate their season.
After the admin update, our AMA sessions began with Bluecoats Artistic Director & Visual Designer Jon Vanderkolff. Performers got a chance to ask him questions about designing and his journey to where he is now. After that, performers split into three different sessions: an all-brass session with special guest Monte Mast, a session with Bluecoats Composer & Percussion Designer Tom Rarick, and a session with the Bluecoats visual designers.
During Monte Mast’s session he, Brass Caption Head Derek Gipson, and Brass Instructor Bob Chreste, expanded on a recent episode of the Bluecoats Brass Podcast where they discussed brass adjudication in DCI.
The camp finished with two AMA sessions: one with Tom Rarick and Bluecoats Composer & Brass Designer Doug Thrower and another with the Bluecoats visual designers.
In all, the camp was very successful and it was great to see the faces of so many Bluecoats performers and staff members. This season has looked very different than past years, but we’re grateful that your support has helped us to keep the Bluecoats Experience active for our 2020 members. We hope to see you at the Bluecoats Telethon on August 2nd!
