Florida State University Summer Music Camp

Summer Music Camp was begun in 1942 by Dean Ella Scoble Opperman who chose Peter J. Gustat and Otto J. Kraushaar to organize it. Summer Music Camp existed under both Florida State College for Women and Florida State University. Originally it was a bandmasters' camp, and in 1945 a choral division was added under the direction of Max Noah of Georgia State College for Women. In later years an orchestra division was added to the Summer Music Camp. By 1953 or possibly earlier, the F.S.U. Summer Music Camp included orchestra, band, chorus, baton twirling, dance band, private study, conducting, music theory and recreation. Directors of the camp were generally the Dean or Assistant Dean of the School of Music, that later became the College of Music. From 1952-1959 and from 1962-1966 the director was Dr. Karl O. Kuersteiner (1901-1973); from 1960-1961, Owen F. Sellers (1906-1983), the Assistant Dean of Music was director; in 1967 Wiley L. Housewright (1913-2003) was director; and in 1971, 1973-1974 Robert T. Braunagel was director.