Summer conferences bring more than 10,000 participants from all over the country to Ball State, even from around the world.
Ball State students are involved in many conferences this year, including the Aria Conference, an exclusive music workshop attracting international participants.
"The Aria Conference is very intensive and is for people who are very dedicated to classical music," director of the Aria Conference Mihai Tetel said.
Focus is placed on five instruments during the conference including piano, cello, violin, flute and clarinet, Tetel said.
"The conference is extremely helpful to musicians because they are so concentrated," Tetel said. "This one month of training is equal to one semester."
Rita Stewart, director of special conferences and events, said there are 62 conferences scheduled for this year. Conferences include academic workshops in math, architecture, art, music and journalism. Sports camps are offered in swimming, basketball, field hockey, gymnastics, volleyball and cheerleading.
More than 80 percent of the participants are prospective students, Stewart said.
"Any exposure that young people have to Ball State influences their choice of college," Stewart said. "They are making choices about school at younger ages, so even elementary children are influenced."
The Aria music conference is comprised mainly of college students from various countries including New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea, Israel, Canada and the United States, Tetel said. Participants range in age from 14 to 30.
Full service conference participants take advantage of housing, dining and facility services on campus, Stewart said. Overnight guests stay in Studebaker West and Noyer.
"The summer conferences keep campus facilities open and used during the summer," Stewart said. She said that local businesses also benefit from the out-of-town visitors.
Stewart has been working with Ball State's conference program since 1978 and has been director of conferences and special events since 2000.
One hundred and twenty participants were chosen this year for the Aria conference out of 157 applicants, Tetel said. Participants were either scouted from or taken through an audition process.
"We employ 30 world-class professors who are very much sought after," Tetel said. "This attracts many applicants."
Three Ball State faculty are part of the team that includes Tetel and distinguished music professors Robert Palmer and Sherry Kloss.
"I think the conference is a very good tool for putting Ball State on the map," Tetel said.
Tetel is the founder and director of the Aria Conference, which will run its twelfth season this year.
The Aria conference started in Canada but moved to Ball State this year when Tetel was employed by Ball State as associate professor for the school of music.
Tetel said that the move from Canada to Ball State was a very smooth transition.
"I am very grateful for the help and support that the conference services and music department have given," Tetel said.
The session lasts four weeks from July 6 to Aug. 3.
Free concerts are offered at Pruis Hall during the month-long conference. Faculty will give performances on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and students will perform on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
"The summer conferences give the university a lot of exposure," Stewart said.
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