SWCCB Summer Band Camp 2026 Opens With 44 Student Musicians and a Strong First Sound

The Southwest Community Concert Band’s annual Summer Band Camp opened this week on Monday 6/8/2026 with 44 student musicians taking part in a one-week, on-site music experience designed for young players entering sixth grade through entering freshman year of high school.

The camp, which SWCCB has offered annually since 2007, brings together students from a range of schools, grade levels, instruments, and musical backgrounds. Over the course of the week, students work in sectionals, full ensemble rehearsals, and specialized instructional tracks, building toward a final performance that reflects the progress made in just a few concentrated days of music-making.

From the very first morning, there were encouraging signs that this year’s group had the potential for a strong week. After registration and an opening hour of sectional work, the students came together for their first full ensemble rehearsal. For experienced musicians listening in, one thing was immediately clear: the band already had a surprisingly tight, balanced, and deep sound.

SWCCB Treasurer, Carolyn Sparks, noted that one of the most impressive things about the opening morning was how quickly conductor Ray Forlenza was able to bring out a strong, balanced sound from the students. After only the first hour of full ensemble rehearsal, the group was already playing with a level of focus and blend that stood out to those very experienced musicians listening.

That is not always a given at the start of a youth music camp. Students are often meeting one another for the first time, adjusting to a new conductor, sight-reading unfamiliar music, and learning how to listen across a much larger ensemble than they may be used to during the school year. But within the first hour of full band rehearsal, this year’s group showed focus, confidence, and a solid ensemble blend. That early sound bodes well for the rest of the week.

One of the strengths of the SWCCB Summer Band Camp is that it is not simply a week of rehearsing concert music. The camp is structured to give students a broader musical experience, including both large ensemble playing and additional areas of study.

Students also participate in two special instructional tracks. One is jazz band, which introduces students to jazz style, rhythm, articulation, ensemble playing, and the broader language of jazz performance. The jazz group this year is especially large, showing strong interest among the students in learning a style of music that many young musicians do not always get to explore in depth during the regular school year.

The second track focuses on music theory and music appreciation. This gives students a chance to understand more about how music is built, how musicians think about structure and style, and how listening skills can deepen their ability to perform. For young musicians, this kind of study can be just as important as time spent with the instrument in hand. It helps them move beyond simply playing the notes on the page and toward understanding the music itself.

Throughout the week, students will continue working in smaller instrument groups, full band rehearsals, and their selected study tracks. The compressed one-week format creates a focused environment where progress can happen quickly. Students arrive with different levels of experience, but the shared goal is the same: to grow as musicians, learn from one another, and experience the energy of playing in a full ensemble.

Since its beginning in 2007, the SWCCB Summer Band Camp has remained committed to providing a high-quality, daily, on-site summer music camp experience for young musicians in the Chicago area. The camp has long stood out for offering substantial instruction, ensemble experience, and musical enrichment in a format that is accessible to families and meaningful for students.

As the week continues, the real story will be how this group develops from its already promising first rehearsal into a polished ensemble by the end of camp. If the opening morning is any indication, this year’s students are off to a strong start.

Over the years, SWCCB’s Summer Band Camp has become part of a longer musical path for many young players. Some students who first joined us as middle school musicians have gone on to play in high school and college ensembles, and some have eventually returned to perform with SWCCB as adult members of our community band.

By the Numbers

Students are coming from 16 different communities, with some families making the daily trip from as far away as Minooka and Carol Stream, IL — a reminder of how committed these young musicians and their families are to the learning experience.

• 21 - Schools

• 16 - Communities

• 17 - ZIP codes

• 4 - Grades

• 11 - Instruments

Top Communities Represented

• Orland Park

• Tinley Park

• Lockport

• Frankfort

• Minooka

• Channahon

• Orland Hills

• Berwyn

Top Schools Represented

• Jerling Junior High

• Prairie View Middle School

• Channahon Junior High

• Homer Junior High

• Victor J. Andrew High School

• Summit Hill Junior High School

• Grissom Middle School

And 25 students indicated they had previously attended either our SWCCB Winter Band Day, SWCCB Summer Band Camp, or both.

SWCCB Summer Band Camp - Grand Finale Concert
The one-week camp concludes on Friday, June 12, 2026, with a FREE finale concert for the public starting at 7 p.m. CT.

Finale concert location is the same location where the camp is being held: Presbyterian Church of Orland Park (PCOP) in Orland Park, Illinois at 13401 South Wolf Road, Orland Park, IL (map)

We look forward to sharing additional photos and highlights from this year’s Summer Band Camp after the week concludes!

SWCCB Conductor Ray Forlenza working with the 2026 summer band camp entire band ensemble for the first time on day one, Mon 6/8/2026.