For more than 20 years, OPUS has hosted a Chamber Music camp, held in the summer at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. The week-long camp provides musicians between 8 and 18 with the opportunity to acquire new musical skills and repertoire, meet new friends, and gain public performance experience – all led by an esteemed faculty. Beginning in 2013, OPUS added the “Never Too Late” Chamb
er Music Workshop. It is a full-day workshop for adult amateurs, held typically on a Saturday in August. OPUS hosts many charitable concerts:
“Salute, Honor, and Love” — this concert is performed for veterans and seniors, though all are welcome. It is usually held in Wentz Concert Hall (North Central College) in August. Holiday Chamber Music Workshop and Outreach Concerts — these concerts are held at local senior residences and other public venues during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
“Chamber Music in the Park” Series – OPUS presents a series of concerts during the summer at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Cantigny Park in Wheaton, The Riverwalk in Naperville, Naperville Community Concert Center, Naper Settlement in Naperville, and occasionally other venues. OPUS has been providing free-admission concerts to veterans and senior citizens and there is no plan to change, ever.
“It is great hearing all of the instruments together creating wonderful music and it’s amazing knowing that you helped contribute to it. It is complicated and hard to learn, but once you know it, you are proud that you put that little extra time in. It feels very accomplishing when it’s all done.” – Addie, age 15, violin
“Everything about OPUS just makes me yearn to come back each year. The staff and the T.A.s are great’ they helped me completely transform my playing. The camp is a good mix of serious practice and interesting workshops. The members of the Orion ensemble work so hard to make it both fun and beneficial to us. I also look forward to seeing my old OPUS friends and making new ones throughout the week. It’s great to see how much others have improved, both the individuals and the groups as a whole. I love OPUS so much, that every year after the final concert, I’m sad because I have to wait 51 weeks before the next camp.” - Addison, age 11, clarinet
"When I had attended the OPUS camp in previous years, I’ve always had fun, which was important to be because it helped remind me why I like playing violin... In short, OPUS reminds me how music is such a meaningful and important part of my life." - Eunice, age 14, violin
"It’s rare that high school students branch out past a full orchestra experience, so OPUS was my first time with chamber music at a serious level. It opened my eyes to all of the different possibilities of music. Furthermore, my experience at OPUS further strengthened my love and passion for music.” - Molly, age 17, bass
"I like learning new things about the cello and tips for making my pieces sound the best I can make them. Also I love the sound when you hear all the instruments’ parts come together.” - Rachel, age 13, cello
"By playing in a chamber music situation, I am allowed to develop relationships with other musicians that I have not previously known. In addition, chamber music layers multiple parts on one another, meaning more interesting harmonies and chord patterns are added to the music." - Maxwell, age 12, viola
“During my last two years at OPUS, I had the wonderful experience of meeting other people and sharing the art of music with them. The new techniques and genres of pieces learned made me want to sign up for the 2011 OPUS Camp.” - Yasha, age 14, violin
"It was really great to be around kids who had as much of an interest in music as I do. The experience of working with an ensemble (well, a couple of ensembles) gave me a new view of music." - Alexander, age 15, piano
“I first attended OPUS in 2009 at my teacher's recommendation, and that week was by far the most influential week of my musical career. I was placed in a group with two wonderful musicians, and I improved greatly on musicianship and technique during the camp. I was so eager to go to camp every day since there were awesome activities on each day. I met some great young musicians that have a passion for music, and this year, I would like to meet new, young musicians and maybe catch up with those I met in the 2009 camp. The staff was extremely helpful in guiding me through the music we played, suggesting ways I could phrase a certain line of melody and how I could better express the music. After attending the camp, I found myself with a new love for chamber music; I had grown to love the chemistry within a small ensemble that allows the musicians to create truly beautiful music.” Stephanie, age 17, Cello
