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It is said “Music makes the world go round” — well, that is certainly the case this summer.

To inspire creativity in the Suffolk community, the Suffolk News-Herald partnered with Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts to provide summer music camp scholarships to deserving Suffolk public elementary schools students. With Suffolk News-Herald’s support, seven talented music students will experience a fun, immersive week of music camp creating original lyrics, melodies, rhythms and more.

In early May, Suffolk public elementary school music teachers were asked to select one special student from their school to receive the Suffolk News-Herald music camp scholarship. Seven schools participated, nominating seven talented music loving campers to attend a week of music camp from June 28 to July 2.

“It has been such a wonderful experience to see the thought and support the Suffolk Public School elementary music teachers have placed in identifying their summer music camp nominations for the music scholarships. We are so grateful to them and the Suffolk News-Herald for providing this opportunity to these children,” said Rick Byrd, Suffolk Center education manager.

The following students received scholarships:

• Christiana Peek is a fourth-grader at Nansemond Shores Elementary. Nominating teacher Christopher Stadler shared, “Christiana was selected for this award because of the love and enthusiasm that she shows for music.”
• Iyonna Edwards is a fifth-grader at Booker T. Washington Elementary. Nominating teacher Anedra Jones said, “Iyonna is a model music student.”
• Carter Sykes is a third-grader at Oakland Elementary. Nominating teacher Rena Long shared, “Carter demonstrates true musical talent. He has his own keyboard and often composes self-works at home.”
• Eric Knight Jr. is a third-grader at Nansemond Parkway Elementary. Nominating teacher Karen Waddell said, “Eric is an extremely enthusiastic, energetic, well-mannered, and attentive student who shows extreme musical aptitude.”
• Corbin Greene is a third-grader at Kilby Shores Elementary. Nominating teacher Penny Key shared, “Corbin has a general interest in music. He plays the violin and is a self-taught musician. He enjoys researching skills and composing his own music.”
• Owen Perkins is a fifth-grader at Hillpoint Elementary School. Nominating teacher Mary Sensabaugh said, “I selected Owen for this scholarship because of his interest in music and he is joining the orchestra next year.”
• Landon Moody is a fifth-grader at Florence Bowser Elementary. Nominating teacher Courtney DeBerry shared, “I selected Landon for this scholarship because of his passion for music and the recorder.”

It’s not too late to enroll in summer music camp. Music camp is open to everyone. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need the courage to share the music inside of you. Music campers will interact with peers and work with professional musicians to create and record music, play instruments, make an instrument, as well as learn about digital looping!

Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts is offering four exceptional 2021 summer camps in visual arts, music, theater, and S.T.E.A.M.

Professional Artists and Musicians at Arts For Learning, the Virginia affiliate of Young Audiences, yav.org, provides immersive camp experiences, filled with creative instruction. Summer camps are offered for one week, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., on-site at the Suffolk Center for children from first-graders to rising sixth-graders. The registration fee is $250 per week; discounts are available for families with multiple campers.

• Art Camp: June 21-25
• Music Camp: June 28 to July 2
• Theater Camp: Aug. 2-6
• S.T.E.A.M. Camp: Aug. 9-13

Reserve a spot today! Registration is available online at suffolkcenter.org/summer-camps or over the phone at 757-923-0003, ext. 107.  For more information, email Rick Byrd, SCCA education manager, at rick.byrd@Suffolkcenter.org. The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts is located at 110 W. Finney Ave., Suffolk.