Organizers of the Maple Valley Youth Sympony Orchestra summer camp are calling the event a success.

It was open to young musicians with two or more years of playing experience and had a movie music theme.

More than 50 youths from Maple Valley, Kent, Renton, Enumclaw, and surrounding areas attended.

Campers paid $10 to participate with the cost including a T-shirt.

“We feel the cost was worth it to generate this much excitement in the students and to get new students to give the orchestra a try,” said Elisa Lewis, the orchestra’s executive director.

Buzz grew daily at the camp as the players became excited about making music and friends.

“It wasn’t like work,” said April Whyte, conductor and artistic director. “It was energizing to me to be a part of the students’ electricity that seemed to grow every day.”

There was a focus on sectional rehearsals and professional players worked with the campers. Many of the campers signed up for auditions to join the orchestra in the fall.

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church donated a space for camp, the parent volunteers did everything from pass out T-shirts to organizing and serve lunch to the campers.

MVYSO begins its third season this fall. There are three orchestras to choose from; beginning strings for students with no experience wishing to learn violin, viola, or cello, philharmonic, an intermediate orchestra for students with two or more years of playing experience, and symphony orchestra, an advanced orchestra for students with approximately four years of playing experience.

For information about the Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra log onto the orchestra’s Web site, www.mvyso.org.