Join the Dowagiac Dogwood Fine Arts Festival for a free youth vocal concert on Friday, July 11.

The Festival is proud to host its eighth annual Summer Youth Choral Camp July 7-11, at Southwestern Michigan College.

The camp is designed to encourage and promote the art of choral music. Daily enrichment classes and rehearsals develop students from across southwest Michigan with training in basic musicianship and vocal technique.

Students have been selected from applications, auditions and nominations from their music and choir teachers. The camp is facilitated by members of the Dogwood Chorale under the direction of Dave Carew, Director of Choral Activities at SMC.

The weeklong workshop will culminate with a free public concert starring the students and their mentors from the Chorale. The free concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 11, in the Theatre of the Dale A. Lyons Building on the Dowagiac Campus of Southwestern Michigan College.

The night gets even better; let the Dogwood Festival do the cooking. Bring the family and enjoy a pulled pork dinner with all the fixings from 5-7 p.m. The meal is only $6 and proceeds benefit the scholarship program for the camp. Take-out is also available for those who cannot stay for the concert.

The Dogwood Fine Arts Festival Summer Youth Choral Camp is made possible through the generosity of the St. Denys Foundation, Southwestern Michigan College, and area student scholarship sponsors. For more information about this and other Dogwood Festival events, call (269) 782-1115.