There’s a moment when a beat drops, a lyric lands, or a camera catches something honest and electric.

This camp lives in that moment.This summer, step inside a professional recording studio in Downtown Winston-Salem and learn the art and science behind audio recording, video production, songwriting, and digital content creation.

Mixxer is partnering with Bill Stevens and Ovation Sound to offer an immersive, hands-on experience led by Grammy-nominated professionals who’ve worked in the rooms where real records are made.

Campers won’t just talk about creativity. They’ll press record.

What Students Will Learn 
 - Studio signal flow and microphone techniques
 - Recording vocals and instruments
 - Beat production and basic music arrangement
 - Songwriting structure and lyric development
 - Video capture and editing fundamentals
 - Content creation for today’s digital platforms

From tracking vocals in a sound booth to building a song from scratch, students will experience the full creative process from idea to final product.

Instructor: Bill Stevens was born at a very early age to a musical family – father, James William Stevens, is a composer; mother, Carolyn Dorff, a singer of opera and musical theater; and sister, Becca Stevens, is a well known performer and composer.

He studied guitar at Berklee College of Music, composition with Ken Frazelle at the North Carolina School of the Arts and Music Business, focusing in the Recording Arts and minoring in Portuguese at Winston-Salem State University. While at WSSU he won the concerto competition and performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 466. He recently earned an MFA in composition from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where he studied music composition with Tamar Diesendruck, John Mallia, and Roger Zahab.

In 2007, he joined forces with Evan Richey and Ovation Sound and since has been involved in numerous projects in various ways – as producer, engineer, composer, arranger, performer, and educator. He has produced records in a plethora of genres: classical, jazz, gospel, R&B, bluegrass, heavy metal, folk, Americana, rock, and musical theater. His favorite project is the project he is working on right now. No session is too big or too small.

Date/Time: June 22-26, 2026; 9AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: For rising 9th-12th graders

Discover the intricate balance of skill and artistry in welding. This comprehensive course, led by Mixxer Resident Artist Thaddeus Prevette, offers an introduction into the world of welding techniques and creative expression. The best part is - No Experience is Needed!

Over the five-day session, you'll gain hands-on experience with Arc Welding. Learn how to safely operate welding equipment, understand different metals and their properties, and master essential welding techniques like joint preparation, heat control, and puddle manipulation.

Beyond technical proficiency, this course introduces students to the artistic side of welding. Explore the possibilities of creating unique and visually stunning metalwork. Thaddeus will guide you through design concepts, project planning, and finishing techniques to help you bring your ideas to life.

This course is the perfect opportunity to ignite your creativity and forge your path in the world of metalworking. 

Instructor Bio: Thaddeus Prevette is a sculpture artist who began working with three dimensional objects back in 2016. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 2020 with a BFA in studio art and graduated from East Carolina University with an MFA in sculpture in May of 2023. He participates in public art exhibitions and was commissioned for the design of the ECU 911 Memorial sculpture back in 2021. He works with recycled and repurposed material to create narrative artwork that is influenced by historic and modern mythologies. 

Date/Time: June 22 - 26, 2026; 9AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: Rising 6th through 12th Grade youth

Discover the art of sustainable fashion and learn how to upcycle existing garments into unique and stylish pieces. This course will teach you the techniques of deconstruction, reconstruction, and alteration to create one-of-a-kind clothing items.

You'll learn to:

• Deconstruct garments into usable materials
• Design and pattern-making techniques
• Sewing and stitching techniques
• Textile manipulation and embellishment
• Upcycling techniques like refashioning and repurposing

By the end of the course, you'll have the skills to transform old clothes into new, stylish pieces, reducing waste and expressing your individuality through sustainable fashion.All tools and materials will be provided, and lunch will be included.

Instructor Bio: Savannah Shanley (she/her) joined the Mixxer staff as Events Manager in May of 2023 after graduating from Salem College. She loves all kinds of creative mediums including painting and printmaking but her biggest passion is the art of quiltmaking and fiber arts. She loves helping others to learn and share their creativity with the world. Stop by to say hello whenever you're at Mixxer!

Date/Time: July 6-10, 2026, 9:00AM to 12:00

Age Range: Rising 9th through 12th grade youth

Unleash your inner blacksmith at our week-long Summer Blacksmithing Camp.

Get hands-on with fire and steel as you master the fundamentals of forging, bending, twisting, and shaping metal into unique creations. Under expert guidance, you’ll learn proper techniques and tool functions, gaining the skills to turn raw metal into art. You’ll primarily work with gas-fired forges but also get the chance to experience the raw, old-school power of wood and coal-fired forges. Each day brings new challenges, from crafting functional items to experimenting with decorative twists and designs. Whether you’re a future artisan or just ready to try something awesome, this camp is your forge for creativity and confidence. Grab your gloves—it’s time to heat things up!

Instructor Bio: Thaddeus Prevette is a sculpture artist who began working with three dimensional objects back in 2016. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 2020 with a BFA in studio art and graduated from East Carolina University with an MFA in sculpture in May of 2023. He participates in public art exhibitions and was commissioned for the design of the ECU 911 Memorial sculpture back in 2021. He works with recycled and repurposed material to create narrative artwork that is influenced by historic and modern mythologies.

Date/Time: July 13 - July 17, 2026; 9:00AM - 12:00PM.

Age Range: Rising 6th through 10th Grade youth

This hands-on robotics course teaches students the essential skills needed to imagine, design, build, and program functional robots. Participants will learn the core principles that support all branches of robotics—from industrial automation to creative engineering to competitive battle bots.

Throughout the program, students will:

Learn the fundamentals of robot design and structural planning

Practice coding and sensor integration using beginner-friendly tools

Build, test, and refine their own robot through guided challenges

Explore pathways into different robotics fields and competitions

Every participant will leave with their own working robot, along with the foundational knowledge needed to continue into more advanced robotics, engineering, or competitive programs.

There’s a moment when a beat drops, a lyric lands, or a camera catches something honest and electric.

This camp lives in that moment.This summer, step inside a professional recording studio in Downtown Winston-Salem and learn the art and science behind audio recording, video production, songwriting, and digital content creation.

Mixxer is partnering with Bill Stevens and Ovation Sound to offer an immersive, hands-on experience led by Grammy-nominated professionals who’ve worked in the rooms where real records are made.

Campers won’t just talk about creativity. They’ll press record.

What Students Will Learn 
 - Studio signal flow and microphone techniques
 - Recording vocals and instruments
 - Beat production and basic music arrangement
 - Songwriting structure and lyric development
 - Video capture and editing fundamentals
 - Content creation for today’s digital platforms

From tracking vocals in a sound booth to building a song from scratch, students will experience the full creative process from idea to final product.

Instructor: Bill Stevens was born at a very early age to a musical family – father, James William Stevens, is a composer; mother, Carolyn Dorff, a singer of opera and musical theater; and sister, Becca Stevens, is a well known performer and composer.

He studied guitar at Berklee College of Music, composition with Ken Frazelle at the North Carolina School of the Arts and Music Business, focusing in the Recording Arts and minoring in Portuguese at Winston-Salem State University. While at WSSU he won the concerto competition and performed Mozart’s Piano Concerto K. 466. He recently earned an MFA in composition from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where he studied music composition with Tamar Diesendruck, John Mallia, and Roger Zahab.

In 2007, he joined forces with Evan Richey and Ovation Sound and since has been involved in numerous projects in various ways – as producer, engineer, composer, arranger, performer, and educator. He has produced records in a plethora of genres: classical, jazz, gospel, R&B, bluegrass, heavy metal, folk, Americana, rock, and musical theater. His favorite project is the project he is working on right now. No session is too big or too small.

Date/Time: July 13-17, 2026; 9AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: For rising 9th-12th graders

Discover the intricate balance of skill and artistry in welding. This comprehensive course, led by Mixxer Resident Artist Thaddeus Prevette, offers an introduction into the world of welding techniques and creative expression. The best part is - No Experience is Needed!

Over the five-day session, you'll gain hands-on experience with Arc Welding. Learn how to safely operate welding equipment, understand different metals and their properties, and master essential welding techniques like joint preparation, heat control, and puddle manipulation.

Beyond technical proficiency, this course introduces students to the artistic side of welding. Explore the possibilities of creating unique and visually stunning metalwork. Thaddeus will guide you through design concepts, project planning, and finishing techniques to help you bring your ideas to life.

This course is the perfect opportunity to ignite your creativity and forge your path in the world of metalworking. 

Instructor Bio: Thaddeus Prevette is a sculpture artist who began working with three dimensional objects back in 2016. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 2020 with a BFA in studio art and graduated from East Carolina University with an MFA in sculpture in May of 2023. He participates in public art exhibitions and was commissioned for the design of the ECU 911 Memorial sculpture back in 2021. He works with recycled and repurposed material to create narrative artwork that is influenced by historic and modern mythologies. 

Date/Time: July 20 - 24, 2026; 9:00AM to 3:00PM

Age Range: Rising 9th through 12th grade youth

Have an idea you’ve been dreaming about bringing to life?

In Design It – Make It!, youth will work with Mixxer instructors Carrie Beach and Thaddeus Prevette to turn their own creative concepts into real, finished projects.

Participants will have access to multiple Mixxer shops, including textile, tech, arts, print, jewelry, and industrial spaces, allowing them to choose the tools and materials that best fit their vision. Whether it’s wearable art, a tech prototype, a custom print project, or a hands-on fabrication build, students will be supported in bringing their ideas to life.

Each day includes structured, hands-on instruction and guided making from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. From 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, participants may stay at Mixxer to continue working independently on their projects with staff support available.

Program fees include up to $100 in materials per participant to help cover project costs.

Before the session begins, each participant will be contacted individually to learn more about their project ideas. Students will also be invited to a pre-program orientation session, where they will tour the facility, meet instructors, and gain a clear understanding of available tools, spaces, and project possibilities.