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Next Generation Festival is a musical ensemble led by professional musician Awadagin Pratt, the group's pianist and creative director.
MU has hosted Next Generation Festival as part of an artist-in-residence program for the past several years.
While Next Generation Festival has been performing for more than 10 years at colleges and other venues, Pratt collaborates with a variety of world-renowned musicians who participate in the ensemble.
Pratt said he knows the musicians he invites to play in the ensemble very well.
"I've known some of them for 20 years, some of them for five years," Pratt said. "Bringing in new people keeps it entertaining."
On Thursday, besides Pratt, several other musicians performed in Lyte Auditorium, including violinists Ben Breen of New York City and Beth Newdome of Florida.
Sara Sant'Ambrogio, also of New York City, played the cello, and Abhijit Sengupta of New Jersey played the viola.
During the program, the group performed classical pieces by composers including Bach and Mendelssohn.
Camper Jayda McIntosh said she enjoyed the performance.
"It was very exciting," Jayda said. "I liked the slow music because it was very gentle. When I listen to fast music it feels like it's in a hurry. Slow is calming."
Camper Emma Lawson said she also thought the show was entertaining.
"There was something really fun about it," Emma said.
MU senior Samantha Schlechter, a music business and technology major who plays the flute and viola, organized the event as a requirement for an internship.
"The goal is to inspire kids through music so at the right age they pick up an instrument at school," Schlechter said. "I hope they will walk away excited about classical music as well as popular music."
Next Generation Festival will perform for the public at 7 tonight in Lyte Auditorium. The event is free, but reservations are required. They can be made by calling 872-3811 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., are required.
While individual musicians performed solos, they also played music together, which camper Jamie Autry enjoyed the most.
"I liked when they were playing together at the same time," Jamie said. "I also learned that the piano can be like a lot of different instruments."
Camper Derek Reinmiller agreed. "It sounds like all the instruments are cooperating at the same time," Derek said.
Pratt and the other musicians also taught students about pitch and major and minor keys and explained certain musical compositions such as fugues.
Pratt said he hopes that the performance was an opportunity for students to become interested in music.
"The energy that kids have when you expose them to anything like this is amazing," Pratt said. "It can carry them throughout their lives. It's great for all of us."
E-mail: mpennino@lnpnews.com
