Growing up in a regional town doesn’t mean youth can’t aim for a career in music.
The Riverina music camp attracted 81 students from across the region.
Students from years five to 12 got together to practice playing all types of instruments and also perform as a band.
Tutors ranged from music teachers at the various schools to musicians currently working in the industry.
Bernie Lagana has returned to the camp as a teacher after attending the school himself when he was a student at Wagga High.
The 24-year-old has been living his dream working in the music industry. He has performed internationally, in his own band and on cruise ships.
Mr Lagana is now the musical director of the musical “Merrily We Roll Along” in Sydney.
“This camp is a really big part of why I got started,” Mr Lagana said.
“The students have an opportunity with this camp, it is definitely possible for them to get a career in music.”
Camp organiser, Cheryl Walker, is pleased to be able to bring students from across the region together.
“A lot of these students don’t ever get the chance to be taught by a private tutor for a specific instrument,” Ms Walker said.
The six day camp has been running since 1980.
All the students come together on the last day of camp and perform as a band in front of family and friends at Kooringal Public.
From this camp students can then be selected to go onto play around the country and overseas.
An advanced band with 30 students has been formed at this years camp.
This gives them a change to challenge themselves and gain more experience.
