By Crystal Harrell
On July 29, the public is invited to witness a musical spectacular of young talent at the ninth annual Academy of Musical Performance’s (AMP) Summer Camp ’23 Final Showcase concert, featuring teen graduates of AMP’s Summer Music Camp. After an intensive three-week experience, the 14 local students have formed into three bands and will perform original songs created as a part of their curriculum, plus favorite classic rock hits on stage at Hope Center Church’s Theater in Palm Desert. The concert lasts from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Come see the camaraderie and new friendships, plus enhanced musical talents that emerge from this amazing summer experience, taught by ten music professionals and supported by many businesses and individuals in the Coachella Valley. Pre-Event tickets are 20 dollars per person and 30 dollars at the door, five dollars for kids under age 5, and a special opportunity to become an AMP Angel for thirty dollars with VIP seating. Tickets are available online at www.ampcv.org with food and refreshments available for purchase at the event.
During AMP Camp, the students focus on music instruction, band formation and live performance coaching, songwriting, stage and sound management, and a variety of other projects. The teen musicians are between the ages of 11-18, and represent many Coachella Valley schools.
AMP Summer Camp focuses on encouraging and educating teens about the many intricate aspects of the music industry. The instructors include singers, songwriters, producers and management professionals. In the three-week camp, participants form a series of small rock bands, and experience rehearsals, workshops, individual instruction, and live performances.
Abie Perkins is an instructor at AMP, who has been an active paid musician since the age of 12. Abie has been in the entertainment world for over 40 years, performing all over the globe either as a smooth vocalist, pianist, or hypnotic saxophonist. With an Entertainment Philosophy degree from Ball State University, his love and passion for the arts always rings true when he performs. Abie enjoys sharing his musical knowledge with his students and is looking forward to the summer showcase as a way to put everything they have learned into their biggest performance yet.
“I’m very excited about this summer because what we added this time around was recording—intro to recording classes to teach students how to record their songs and market them on social media and things like that. It’s something that’s very new and I’m very excited about showing the kids another avenue where they can be a musician and an artist as well. We have so many creative kids here that are amazing songwriters and musicians,” shared Perkins.
AMP was founded in 2014 and is a Coachella Valley non-profit that focuses efforts on music programs for children of all ages. The many contemporary music education programs share the goal of enriching the lives of young musicians living in the Coachella Valley by fostering productivity and social responsibility through creativity, communication, and collaboration in the development and enhancement of musical performance and concert production skills.
Programs include Fall and Spring after-school programs, AMP Summer Camp, preAmp, Instrument Zoo, private music lessons and more. AMP is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is funded by grants, private donations and sponsorships from local businesses, led by a dedicated volunteer board of directors that includes Daniel Duardo, Bruce Feagle, Stephanie Greene, Wendy Hope-Heckmann, Michele Penn, Kate Spates, Ben Vasquez, Greg Vincent and Roman Whittaker.
“We want to give our students the opportunity to not only capture their creativity, but learn how to perform it as well. This summer showcase will be a little different, but it’s going to be amazing,” stated Perkins.
For more information about Academy of Musical Performance, visit www.ampcv.org or call 760-537-5AMP (5267).
