Bear Mountain is a 56 acre 'camp' www.mountain-retreat.com tucked away in the Alleghenies that is located at the headwaters of the James, Potomac, and Greenbriar rivers. The drive there includes negotiating Highland County's steep, winding roads that ends in a three-mile drive on an unpaved surface that runs through rustic fields inhabited by local cows and a llama.

Along the way are breath-taking ridge-top views of the surrounding countryside. In two locations, cattle gates must be opened to allow the vehicles through, and of course must be secured after the last vehicle. Close to the camp destination, the road becomes a rutted, rocky, track that's quite a challenge for the parent chauffeurs accustomed to strictly city/suburban driving—but it's all for-gotten upon arrival and receipt of a warm greeting by camp owners Patty Reum & Tom Brody and their enthusiastic dog (and honorary MHSO mascot) Haiku.             BACK TO TOP

Upon arrival, cars were quickly unpacked and belongings stowed in the four sleeping cabins, one of which was taken over by the female parent chauffeur/chaperones and Ms. Sandberg . Because this year's group was the largest yet, three tents also were pitched to house kids and the sole male chaperone. By early afternoon, everyone was settled in, bag lunches consumed, and the musicians got a short break before getting down to business in the communal timber frame building that serves as a rehearsal space and cooking/dining/socializing facility. At mealtimes, the musicians' chairs are folded up, set aside, and dining tables are spread out. There is always much more than enough of delicious food, including terrific meals prepared ahead by several of the gourmet cook chaperones: the fare this year included pork tenderloin and sesame noodles, shrimp fried rice, Miso Miso Chicken, and the ever-popular Stouffer's lasagna.

Rehearsals were intense and numerous, starting off right away on Thursday afternoon. One of the highlights of the retreat each year, and this one was no exception, is the opportunity for the soloists to have their performance critiqued by the professional chamber musicians of the renowned Garth Newell Music Center in Warm Springs, VA www.garthnewel.org This year, violinist Teresa Ling and violist Evelyn Grau very generously gave of their time and made the journey to Bear Mountain to provide their valuable critique and advice on site at the camp.

The teens' hard work is nicely balanced with a good dose of fun: this year's activities included nighttime star-gazing from the fields of Bear Mountain at 4,400' elevation that provide the least light-polluted viewing on the eastern seaboard; a trip to and tour of the National Science Foundation's National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, WV; a nighttime bonfire with storytellers and tall-tale spinners Norma and Bucky Reynolds (retired former Fairfax County residents); and a trip to the Garth Newel Music Center to attend a concert by the critically acclaimed Borromeo String Quartet, topped off upon the return to Bear Mountain with a second bonfire, an impromptu dance party, and super refreshments that featured a chocolate fountain.    

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All good things must come to an end, regretfully, so on Sunday, August 17, both teens and adults bade farewell to Bear Mountain and the convoy of vehicles, somewhat lighter without all the food and water, one last time negotiated the rugged drive back down the mountain and into the town of Monterey. Following a brief pre-concert rehearsal to become familiarized with the challenging acoustics of Monterey's Highland Center, the Chamber Soloists put on a great performance that was clearly much appreciated by the local residents. Their repertoire included works by Haydn, Mozart, Koussevitzky, and a rousing string version of Freddie Mercury's “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

 

The trip was best summed up on the homeward journey by Bear Mountain first-timer, rising junior/violinist Tom Hall: “Awesome!”