Canada's Summer Bandura Camp - Litnia Zutrich Bandura Camp

If you want to “get more from your bandura” consider attending to the Litnia Zustroch “Summer get-together” Bandura Camp at Sokil “Eagle” Campground in Hawkstone, Ontario. The music camp typically held during the last week in August each year.

In 2022, there were 20-30 students and instructors.

The music camp is sponsored by the Toronto Bandura School, Zoloti Struny and the Canadian Bandurist Capella. I attended this summers event and it was awesome!

About Camp Sokil

Hawkstone and the camp Sokil are located on the west shoreline of beautiful Lake Simcoe in the heart of cabin country. It is situated 15-20 minutes drive south of Orillia, Ontario or 20-30 minutes north of the Barrie Ontario.

The campground was originally established in 1959 by the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada. The extensive grounds consists of plenty of recreational activities including a large soccer field, tennis courts, beach volleyball, and a swimming beach.

The camp buildings consist of a general assembly kitchen performance building, and separate boys and girls dormitory buildings. The boys dormitory nicknamed as the “stone house” and the girls the “wood house”.

On Sunday mornings during the summer period where are Ukrainian Catholic-Orthodox services at a beautiful outdoor church located on the Camp Sokil grounds.

How to Get There

The address of camp Sokil is:

16 Taras Blvd, Hawkestone, ON L0L 1T0

Camp Sokil is about one and a half hours drive from the Toronto. The directions to the Sokil campsite:

• HWY 401

• take HWY 400 N to HWY 11 N

• keep Left to continue HWY11 N (follow signs for Orillia)

• take Line 11 exit and continue on Line 11 S

• turn right onto Franko Street

• turn left onto Sokil Blvds

• go straight to continue to Taras Blvd

Weather

The weather is typically 18-23 degrees with typically higher levels of humidity due to its proximity to the lake. In late august, the weather typical cools to very comfortable summer temperatures. “They can receive mixed sun and showers this time of year.

Instruments

The Chernihiv Bandura with and without mechanisms are primarily used. Youth and adult size banduras are available for rental.

Cost

The camp fees include food and sleeping accommodation in the dormitory.

Typically the camp also provides a camp tee shirt which is worn during the final performance.

Instructional Pre-requisites

The camp is open for people of all ages from 8 years old and older.

The instructional level vary from beginner to advanced levels.

All musicians should be able to read music as a basic pre-requisite. The lessons are given in Ukrainian and English.

Music Selection

The music is selected for the camp is specifically written for the bandura based on Ukrainian cultural traditions. The music is played in group settings and each musician practices their part throughout the week. The works are written for multiple part banduras and can include other instruments such as the violin and piano. At the end of the camp, a concert is performed for friends and family.

The programs were very well organized. Each year the music is based on a specific theme. During the 2022 Bandura camp the theme was “patriotic” music due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Since the Bandura is an oral instrument by tradition, instructions vocal lessons are also included. All musicians are encouraged to sing while playing.

A typical daily schedule is as follows:

• 8:00 Wake up

• 8:30 Breakfast

• 9:30 BANDURA SESSION (group lessons)

• 11:00 Short Break/Snack

• 11:15 Stretches/Warm-up

• 11:30 SINGING SESSION

• 12:30 Lunch

• 13:30 Long Break (swimming, sports activities, arts & crafts projects and other fun activities!)

• 15:30 BANDURA/PRIVATE LESSONS (30min slots)

• 18:30 Dinner

• 19:30 BANDURA (full rehearsal)