Fifty-five young musicians are about to trade rehearsal-room nerves for the bright lights of downtown St. Cloud, with a live concert closing out this year's School of Rock camp Thursday night. The students, ages 12 to 18, have spent the past week forming bands and preparing songs for a public show at the Paramount Center for the Arts.
The annual program began last week and is run by the Wirth Center for the Performing Arts, according to WJON News. Students are taking part in the camp at Calvary Community Church before bringing their newly formed groups to the Paramount stage.
From Song Choices To Stage-Ready Bands
The fast-paced camp is designed to turn individual students into working bands in just a handful of sessions. The Wirth Center says students work with professional local musicians while learning how to perform together, with spots available for vocalists, guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, string players and horn players.
Organizers Libby Bell and Anna Bovitz told WJON that students are learning their selected songs, figuring out how the parts fit together and creating band names, photos and posters along the way. Bell said the experience builds confidence that can carry into future music opportunities and other parts of life.
Paramount Concert Opens The Camp To The Public
The School of Rock concert is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m., and the Paramount Center for the Arts lists the performance as part of its 2026 lineup. The venue is presenting the young performers in a full theater setting rather than keeping the camp's final showcase tucked away in a classroom.
The show is open to the general public, with tickets listed at $20 for adults and $10 for students, plus fees. The Greater St. Cloud events calendar describes the concert as a mix of songs from the 1970s through the 2000s, giving the students a broad rock playlist to make their own.
