More than 350 students from 72 schools will take over Lake Murray this week during the Red River Drum and Auxiliary Camp.
Directed by Dr. Marc White, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and former Ardmore percussion instructor Jack Francis, the camp welcomes schools from throughout Oklahoma and Texas. Students spend the week receiving intensive instruction in drum line, color guard and drum major education. They also get to enjoy swimming and other leisure activities the lake has to offer.
“This year’s camp is the largest we have had since we started five years ago,” Francis said. “It has become one of the largest drum line camps in the country.”
This year’s camp will include a visit from world-famous drum and bugle corp Phantom Regiment from Rockford, Illinois. Phantom Regiment will perform at Noble Stadium Wednesday night at 7:30. The performance is free and open to the public.
“We are very excited to have this prestigious group coming to perform for us this year,” Francis said. “I have to thank Ardmore City Schools for allowing us to use their facilities and for providing transportation for our campers.”
The week-long camp will conclude on Friday with a student performance at Lake Murray Lodge. The concert will begin at 1:30 p.m. and will consist of all of this year’s campers.
“A big goal of this camp is to give back to the community,” Francis said. “We really look at this camp as a way to give some of the smaller schools an opportunity to have first-class, quality instruction.”
Micah Groves, 221-6542
micah.groves@ardmoreite.com
