Students of the ninth annual Mike Block String Camp had an opportunity to show off their collaborative creativity at the final concert of the Vero Beach International Music Festival last Saturday afternoon at First Presbyterian Church.

The concert marked the conclusion of the intensive week-long music camp, which this year drew 95 students, ages 6 to 75, from Vero Beach and around the world. Concerts last Wednesday and Friday featured the faculty, but Saturday it was all about the students, giving them a chance to showcase the various styles, techniques and genre they had been challenged to discover.

In addition to Block, a multi-style cellist who infuses his surroundings with an infectious enthusiasm, the other world-class members of the camp’s faculty are also, rightly, adored by the students. Teachers this year included: Darol Anger, Trina Basu, Zach Brock, Melissa Brun, Hanneke Cassel, Colin Cotter, Joe Craven, Kimber Ludiker, Taylor Morris, Arun Ramamurthy, Lauren Rioux and Joe K. Walsh.

“This has been definitely one of our smoothest running years. It’s been a great week,” said Block, who combined into one what had previously been a two-week camp. “It really kept the community together and kept it really strong. What’s particularly special is to see the advanced adult students really able to intermingle with the kids and the amateur adult students; to interact with more of a wide variety of people.”

More than half of the students were repeat participants and many are now promoting the experience to friends and siblings. This year also saw the first adult-only class.

“What feels great for me is that we’ve developed a relationship with a lot of these families through multiple years, multiple siblings,” said Block. “We have students here who have older siblings who were students four or five years ago. And so we get to know the families. When there’s a history, people who are coming here already knowing what the community is like, we don’t have to explain everything.”

One of his previous stand-out students – fiddler/violinist Taylor Morris from Arizona – began as a student in the collaborative track, moved on to the advanced program is now in his second year as faculty. “So that’s really exciting for us,” said Block.

The experience is just as thrilling for the students, whose experiences range from beginner to professional.

“I’m performing Indian pieces today; a raga. I never thought I’d be playing that genre,” said Marianna Forero, a senior at Vero Beach High School who plays viola in the VBHS Orchestra and has attended the camp for five years.

“She’s more secure in her playing; she’s becoming more confident,” said her mother, Dora Forero.

The students had been sorted into various band groups ranging from duets to ensembles, each given a tune that they then arranged themselves. Interestingly, many of the cellists have now adopted the “Block Strap” created by Block that allows a cellist to stand as they play.

The smiles on their faces were a clear indication of the joy they experienced as students plucked, fingered, strummed, bowed and slapped myriad stringed instruments, keeping the audience enthralled.

At the conclusion of the lively performances, chairs were cleared to celebrate the end of another successful camp with an energetic Barn Dance.