Annual Guitar, Fiddle Camp brings Students from Around the Region

The annual Circle Bar Ranch Music Camp was held July 12-16, 2015, at the Circle Bar Ranch Lodge in Truscott, Texas. Twenty-five students from around the region gathered to sharpen their musical skills and learn from some of the best in the industry. This was the sixth year for Knox County to host this camp.

PHOTO CAPTION: Back row: Jerry Daniel, Morgan Roper, Wesson Ham, Kate Ridens, Daycee Duncan, Josiah Coplen, Kyler Norman. Middle Row: Joann Albus, Alyssa Cummings, McKayla Coplen, Glenn Finley, Harley Brents, Brett Embry, Sidney Bartee,  Sossy Harris, Braden Garza, Adrien Khayat, Hunter Ricks, Randy Layton, Hugh Welch, Jimi Coplen. Front Row: JW Sollis, Elizabeth Terry, Glenn McLaughlin, Emily Terry, Joe Settlemires, Hanaba Welch. Not pictured: Kaylie Seaton.

Campers came from near and far. The cities represented were Knox City, Munday, Truscott, Quanah, Pampa, Aspermont, San Angelo, Midlothian, Seymour, Albany, Abilene, and the state of Oklahoma.  One surprise guest came all the way from Paris, France. Adrien Khayat, age 14, was visiting the Circle Bar Ranch with his aunt Isabell Farmer from Missouri City, TX. While she was working colts with Eugenie Daniel, Adrien took guitar lessons. He quickly fit in with other teenagers and had a great time.

Another camper, Kate Ridens, age 13 from Quanah, had a voice from the past and performed Sugar Moon, Walkin After Midnight and Faded Love at the final concert on Thursday. She was already an accomplished saxophone player and picked up some guitar while she was there.

"We look forward to music camp each year. It's truly a time of discovery. Some students have been playing for years, but many are new to the guitar, fiddle and certainly Western Swing. This is an opportunity to be submerged into the sea of stringed instruments," said Jimi Coplen, KCVG Community Development Director. Coplen added that it is an intense but fun week. And, everyone leaves camp humming Western Swing tunes like San Antonio Rose for the next few weeks. 

The camp was under the direction of the Knox County Visioning Group. Instructors for this year’s camp included Joe Settlemires and Glenn McLaughlin on guitar and Elizabeth and Emily Terry on fiddle. These instructors lead students in songs such as San Antonio Rose, Sugar Moon, Faded Love and many more. Students were challenged to learn new cords, music theory and push the boundaries on their current skill level.

This year’s camp was held in the rustic, nostalgic Knox County community of Truscott, Texas. The community is home to the Circle Bar Ranch owned by Jerry and Eugenie Daniel. Campers stayed at the Circle Bar Ranch Lodge.

Eugenie Daniel and Tina Sealy. Tina was the camp cook for the week. She did a great job. 

Next year’s camp is already being planned for July 10-14, 2016. For more information, check out the facebook page or call the KCVG at 940-459-4121.

Keep up with the music camp on the facebook page.