Submitted by:
Donna L D Burghart

With our highest number of participants, reaching 58, BAM Jam Camp was an inspirational 2 days. With the generosity of local sponsors, 32 of these students were able to participate through this sponsorship.

Thanks go to the Bowsman Lions Club, The Swan River Lions Club, Minitonas Lions, The Royal Purple, The Swan River Elks Lodge, The Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre, Lawrence Eisner Auction & Heyes School.

The Beginner fiddlers had fun with fiddle & bow holds & positions!

Intermediate 1 group worked hard & with the help of their instructor Karrnnel, they composed their own tune! Naming this tune after the group J.K.L. (Jillian Hrycyk, Kierstin Griffith & Lawson Burghart)

The first day ended with the choice of a dance workshop or jam session. These gave the participants a chance to interact with other students in the camp & learn some new skills. The jam gives the guitar students the perfect opportunity to back up the fiddle players and learn the chord changes in a relaxed setting.

The camp ended with a showcase of all the hard work the students put in. the Intermediate 3 group, the “BAM Jam Birdies” entertained the crowd with ‘Swallowtail Jig’ & ‘Pelican Reel’ The bass & vocal groups collaborated to please the crowd with an amazing tribute to BAM Jam Camp!!!

The full house was given an evening to remember, both evenings filled with amazing music & song. We are so fortunate to be able to bring these top instructors from across Canada to our Valley, Karrnnel Sawitsky, Patti Lamoureux, Greg Simm, Kim de Laforest, Jake Charron, Shamma Sabir, Donna Turk, Daniel Koulack, Marcel Hapel, Desmond Lagace & Ameena Bajer-Koulack.

With the hard work of our Bowsman School PAC – Donna Burghart – Chair, Elaine Stinson – BAM Chair, Sheena Griffith – Co-chair, Stephanie Martyniuk – Secretary, Daphne Currie – Director, Debbie Woodson – Director & Jennifer Hurren – Treasurer, the Valley was filled with music.

This year the students worked extremely hard & put in long days playing, learning new songs, composing & forming friendships that will last for years to come. We hope all of our ‘Musical Family’ can meet again in 2015!!!

We would like to thank our wonderful volunteers that helped out in the school & hall for those action packed 2 days. Also to all the businesses who supported us financially, Reimer & Company, Swan Valley Credit Union, S R Auto Salvage, Investors Group, Spruce Products Limited, Formo Motors & Burnside & Ferriss. Also thanks to the Star & Times, Swan Valley Co-op & CJ104 FM for your in kind generosity. And to the multitude of local businesses & families that donated to our raffle & made many of our guests happy!!

A BIG Thank You to RJ’s Music & Sound for the donation of a recording session which will enhance the music of the Valley even more!!!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!