Welcome to Camp Musicmania!
Campers will explore unique and different ways to make and create their own music. 
- Small Groups
- Campers are divided into groups by grade (grades 1-4 and 5-9) and participate in age appropriate activities
- Daily outside and/or movie time with snacks! (bring your lunch! :-) )
- Opportunity to create your own music
- Attend a recital put on Camp Musicmania faculty and staff
- Explore movement and other acting activities to get to know your new friends and have fun with music!
- Instruments! Make music in ways you probably have not before!
- Art!
- Awesome Teachers and Staff!
See you next year!
June 12-16, 2023
Mark Your Calendar!
June 12-16, 2023
9:00am - 4:00pm
Rising 1st - 8th graders welcome!
Cost: $150
All students will need to bring a lunch daily. Activities will take place indoors and outdoors pending weather. Please have your camper dress accordingly.
Complete your registration online. After you have completed the registration form, you will be prompted to complete your payment in order to reserve your camper's spot.
Questions can be directed to Heather Hamilton at heather.hamilton@uni.edu.
FINAL REGISTRATION FEE DEADLINE: Registration is not complete until all required forms and payment have been received or when class limit is reached.
CANCELLATION POLICY: If registration is canceled prior to June 1, a refund will be initiated (minus $35 processing fee). Cancellations after June 1 will be subject to a $65 processing fee. Refunds are not issued after June 12th.
Meet the Camp Musicmania Staff 2022
Heather Gillis has a passion for piano pedagogy and enjoys collaborating with musicians through accompanying and ensemble playing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from the University of Northern Iowa, where she studied piano with professor Sean Botkin. Ms. Gillis has been teaching piano lessons since 2011 and is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association.
Previously Heather has taught at the Des Moines Symphony Academy as well as the Drake University Community School of Music. In her studio at the UNI Community Music School, Heather welcomes students of all ages including Pre–K beginners as well as adult learners. Through varied teaching experience, she enjoys teaching piano in both private lesson and group lesson formats. Currently Heather is pursuing her Master of Music degree in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Northern Iowa.
Alex Lafrenz currently serves as an area percussionist and music educator, alongside working with Special Education students at Holmes Junior High. He has performed in numerous Cedar Valley municipal bands, shows, and orchestras, including performances with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony. In the marching band season, he can be seen working with the Cedar Falls Drumline. Alex received his education from the University of Northern Iowa, and is very excited to be returning to his fourth year teaching at Camp MusicMania! His class will feature drumming, movement, and other various percussion instruments.
Kari Jo Ruden is currently a music teacher in the Waterloo Community School District at Lincoln Elementary, where she has been teaching since 2010. The Oelwein native graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 2009, and received Orff Level 1 certification in 2016. Mrs. Ruden is passionate about giving her students meaningful experiences to explore, create and share music together. This past year, she has been inspired to adapt clapping games, rhymes and chants to teach improvising on xylophones and grow her technology skills. She is super excited to be back at Camp Musicmania again this year! Mrs. Ruden's class will include a mix of singing, creative movement and playing instruments.
When she's not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family and two dogs at home in Reinbeck.
Katie Scott is a second year art education student at the University of Northern Iowa pursuing an emphasis in sculpture. She works with the Waterloo Center for the Arts, serving within the Phelps Youth Pavillion and as an instructor for children's art classes. Her artwork has been exhibited in the 2020 Art Educators of Iowa's Youth Art Month, the 2021 and 2022 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition at the University of Northern Iowa, and the 2021 Cedar Valley Pride Art Show where she was awarded Best in Show.
Daniel Swilley is a German-American composer of acoustic and electroacoustic music and Assistant Professor of Music specializing in Composition, Theory and Music Technology at the University of Northern Iowa. His music and research have been presented at festivals and conferences such as June in Buffalo, SEAMUS, Toronto Electroacoustic Symposium, Understanding Visual Music Symposium, NoiseFloor, New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, Studio 300, Audiograft, Electroacoustic Juke Joint, College Music Society, as well as Society of Composer’s Inc. Swilley holds degrees in composition from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (DMA), Georgia State University (MM), and Valdosta State University (BM). His primary composition teachers have included Heinrich Taube, Sever Tipei, Robert Scott Thompson, and Scott Wyatt.
While teaching elementary music at Irving Elementary in Waterloo during the day, Crystal Waltz can be seen frequently on stages at the Cedar Falls Community Theatre and the Waterloo Community Playhouse. In addition to her acting and musical skills, Crystal has directed the music for Singin' in the Rain, Nunsense, and Annie at the Waterloo Community Playhouse. Crystal has a degree in Music Education from Simpson College and has been teaching music in the Cedar Valley for more than 20 years.
Group Leaders
Beth Culberson is originally from Cedar Falls, IA and is studying Choral/General Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa. During her time at UNI, she has participated in Cecilians, Concert Chorale and Cantorei. Beth is currently a UNI School of Music Ambassador and enjoys getting to know possible future students and their families, while helping them get a feel for what the School of Music is like at UNI! Outside of school, Beth works as the children’s music teacher for the First Presbyterian church in Cedar Falls. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks outside, online shopping and hanging out with friends!
Breanna Daley is a graduate student at University of Northern Iowa originally from Sacramento, California. She is currently pursuing master’s degrees in both flute performance and music history, and also holds a bachelor’s degree in flute performance with a minor in music technology from Washington State University. In addition to performing with collegiate ensembles at UNI and WSU, she has also performed with the Washington-Idaho Symphony in Pullman, Washington, and the InterHarmony International Music Festival Orchestra in Acqui Terme, Italy. Breanna currently teaches flute lessons at the UNI Community Music School. Outside of music, Breanna loves reading, writing stories and poetry, baking, and hiking.
Kelley Meinen is originally from Denison, IA. She is working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education. During her time at UNI, Kelley has participated in the Wind Ensemble, Northern Iowa Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band II, Pep Band, the Panther Marching Band, and Peer Mentoring for Sight Singing and Aural Training classes. Aside from playing and teaching trumpet through the UNI Community Music School, Kelley enjoys playing ukulele, reading, watching Phineas and Ferb or other masterpiece television series, and playing games like Skribblio.
Akela Salter is currently first year Choral Music Education major and Communication- Theatre Minor. She is from Boone,Iowa. During her time here at UNI she has participated in UNI Singers, Interpreters theater, Viola and Voice lessons. She is a current member of Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority. Outside of these activities Akela works at Trinity preschool and childcare. In her free time she enjoys playing with her band, playing the Ukulele, and ham-mocking with friends.
Joley Seitz is currently studying Vocal Performance at the University of Northern Iowa, under Dr. Jean McDonald. During her time at UNI, Joley has performed in several UNI Opera productions including: Serse, The Monteverdi Project, and UNI Opera: In the Studio. Joley also is a voice instructor through the UNI Community Music School.
Joley has been involved with music since she was a child. She grew up performing in musical theatre and has been involved with helping direct children's theatre at Great River Players in Keokuk, IA for the past seven years. She is excited to be involved with the upcoming Musicmania camp!
Aidan Shorey - originally from Sioux City, IA - is a Junior Instrumental Music Education Major at the University of Northern Iowa, studying euphonium under Dr. Stephanie Ycaza. He has performed with several ensembles at UNI, including Wind Ensemble, UNITUBA, Panther Marching Band, Varsity Men's Glee Club, and various chamber groups. In addition to his studies at UNI, he serves as cantor and music director at College Hill Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, IA. Outside of music, Aidan love to discuss theology, play history-based PC games, cook, talk about/ride roller coasters, and nerd out about anything Star Wars-related.
Aidan loves building the foundation of not only musical skills, but relationships with his students that last a lifetime. He is very excited to see all the new faces and spend the entire week with them at Camp Musicmania!
Mackenzie Wisneski is entering her last year of undergraduate coursework at UNI, studying Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Spanish Teaching, and Art Teaching. Mackenzie is very involved around campus, with experience tutoring student athletes, leading student organizations, and serving as a mentor for numerous programs. She also can be found substitute teaching within the Waterloo Community School District and St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Cedar Falls. Mackenzie works at Camp Musicmania as a para educator to accommodate campers with additional academic and social-emotional needs.