Old Hickory - Posted - 03/19/2026:  14:57:59

I got in and have sent my deposit. This will be my second attendance, having gone to the inaugural camp in 2018.

Who here will I be seeing there? Will it be your first time, or are you also a returning camper?

Sunrise Lee - Posted - 03/20/2026:  04:38:21

I’ll be there. This will be my 5th camp. The performance part since I started has really stepped up in terms of quality and difficulty since I started, which I really enjoy. I’ll try to hunt you down to say hello. -Clint

Old Hickory - Posted - 03/20/2026:  13:32:55

 Sunrise Lee

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And I'll look for you, Clint. I'll be one of the old guys. The strap on my flying eagle banjo says "KEN."

About the performance participation: Did you go the first year? Our concert participation was Dueling Banjos and Cripple Creek. Both were done in a combination serious and tongue-in-cheek. The "Mahogany" group performed separately from the 100, I think doing "Shendendoah Breakdown. Also some individual campers participated as soloists or duets with the stars.  John Bullard was a camper that year  and he played some solo Bach pieces. A boy who was the youngest camper played "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" or some other Earl Scruggs number with Kristin. Taylor Pfieffer, from Australia, played "Doug's Tune," also in duet with Kristin, I think.

I'm aware from the BRBC "Survivors" Facebook group that Béla's banjo arrangement of "Rhapsody in Blue" was the camper participation number either last year or the year before-- and that the different level groups had different portions to play. That sounds great.

Edited by - Old Hickory on 03/20/2026 13:34:01

Sunrise Lee - Posted - 03/21/2026:  10:59:44

I missed the first two years. The third year, my first, we played rainbow connection and a couple other songs, then cripple creek and dueling banjos. The mahogany group didn’t have a separate piece, but 10 or so campers played solo spots during the conference concert. I didn’t have to practice the songs at all, they were easy.

The next three years were basically the same concept but the concert pieces became much more complex. 4th year sunset rd, 5th year rhapsody, last year was 3 Bach pieces. The sunset rd year was difficult as we received the music a week before camp and there were like 10 fairly complex pieces to learn. We dropped several of the songs before the show. A lot of folks were stressed out. Since then we have received the pieces a month or two in advance so while more complex, there is more time to learn them. Rhapsody remains a highlight in my banjo “career”. I thought that turned out amazing. Bach last year was great but I thought some of our rehearsals were better than our final performance.

Make sure to talk with Cassidy Beentjes. He is a young guy, very nice with a good sense of humor, and he arranges and conducts the orchestra. Crazy talented.

I usually try and organize a couple jams throughout the week with friends from previous years, happy to include you in those. We have a wide variety of talent in those jams and really keep them inclusive and fun. My first year I didn’t have a lot of jam experience on banjo and found some really great folks that took me in, so I try and return the favor. If you want private message me and I’ll share my number and audition videos. Look forward to seeing you!

Old Hickory - Posted - 03/21/2026:  15:22:36

Members of Steep Canyon Rangers came to the camp in the evenings to provide additional instruments for the jams. I managed to stay up one night and jam with Woody Platt and Nicky Sanders. The other players weren't from their band.

Here's a photo in the 2018 gallery of me jamming. I don't recall the tune, but I remember it was at the fastest speed I could pick and I was simplifying everything to my most basic rolls and licks just to keep up.

Cassidy posted a nice comment on my audition video, which I shared in the BRBC Survivors group on FB. I look forward to meeting and working with him. I'm excited to be going back.

I'll be in touch with you, for sure.

banjoken - Posted - 03/22/2026:  13:15:55

quote:

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Originally posted by Old Hickory

Here's a photo in the 2018 gallery of me jamming. I don't recall the tune, but I remember it was at the fastest speed I could pick and I was simplifying everything to my most basic rolls and licks just to keep up.

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Wow... good time! Looks like a barn, is that under the auditorium? 

What is it that they are looking for with the audition videos? Are they looking for the equivalent of Juilliard musicians? 

Ken

Old Hickory - Posted - 03/22/2026:  21:10:33

quote:

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Originally posted by banjoken

Wow... good time! Looks like a barn, is that under the auditorium? 

What is it that they are looking for with the audition videos? Are they looking for the equivalent of Juilliard musicians?

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Not under the auditorium. Elsewhere on the very large campus that encompasses the performing arts center and the multi-building music camp. I forget what this building was called, but it was open-sided, had a stage and large floor area where folding chairs were set out.  I guess it's a pavilion. There's a perimeter area also under the roof, but separated from the main floor. The nightly faculty concerts were held here. The jamming took place in different areas throughout this building.

The audition tape is to demonstrate you're an intermediate to advanced level player, whch they say on this page they're looking for.  They're not looking for perfection. But some pro-level players do attend as campers. In 2018, these included John Bullard (who I already mentioned), Hank Davis, Ricky Mier, and Adam Larrabee (banjo player with Love Canon, now on the faculty there). There were others.

They ask for your video to include two numbers: one you consider easy and one you consider challenging. At least one has to be completely solo with no other instruments or backing track. Your face and hands have to be visible.

It says on the site that the videos are also a tool to help the faculty understand who they'll be teaching and to design the curriculum accordingly.

I'm thrilled to be going back. At 75, this will probably be it for me.