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: 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: June 8 - June 12, 2026; 9:00AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: This course is for rising 6th -12th grade youth

Step into the world of metalworking with a modern twist. In this hands-on class, students will learn how to create custom jewelry using base metal clay—a unique material that can be shaped like clay and transformed into solid metal through heat.

Working with experienced instruction, participants will explore the full process from start to finish. Students will learn how to form, texture, carve, and refine their designs while the material is in its clay state. They’ll also be introduced to essential tools and techniques used in jewelry making, including shaping, detailing, sanding, and finishing.

As the clay is fired, designs are transformed into durable metal pieces. Students will then complete the finishing process by polishing and assembling their jewelry into wearable art.

Throughout the class, participants will build foundational jewelry-making skills while gaining an understanding of how material properties, design choices, and craftsmanship come together.

By the end of the session, each student will walk away with one or more unique, handcrafted metal jewelry pieces—and the skills to continue exploring the art of jewelry making.

Instructor Bio: Bonnie Toney’s passion has been creating beautiful things since she was first able to hold a pencil and paintbrush. She got interested in gems and jewelry in elementary school, and sold her first pair of earrings at age 11. A lifelong learner with diverse interests, Bonnie has pursued many types of artistic expression, and it’s not unusual to find several different disciplines contributing to a single piece. Bonnie ran a successful facepainting business for 20 years, in addition to teaching, creating her own art, and raising a family.   A move to North Carolina in 2013 gave Bonnie the chance to spread her wings artistically, pursuing both traditional metalsmithing and metal clay with vigor. She is currently an instructor at Sawtooth School for Visual Art in Winston-Salem and has taught students of all ages at various venues in the Piedmont Triad. Her work is available at multiple locations in the area, including the Sawtooth Gallery in Winston-Salem, the Southwinds Gallery in Kernersville, and the GreenHill Center for NC Art Gallery in Greensboro. Bonnie was the Featured Artist in the Summer 2024 issue of Metal Clay Today. She is also an enthusiastic participant and exhibitor in the Arts & Health at Duke program. Follow Bonnie on social media to see more of her work and her techniques.   “I find inspiration in nature, and in artistic traditions like Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement. Elegance of line speaks to me, and I find the interplay of light and color fascinating. I find joy in the creative process, and I love to help others find their joy.”

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.

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

Age Range: This course is for rising 6th -12th grade youth

Teen Mural Creation – Design & Paint a Mobile Mural

Unleash your creativity and paint BIG in this four-day mural workshop! Each teen will design and create their own 4ft x 4ft mural on professional mural cloth—a flexible surface that can be installed on a wall at home or anywhere you choose. You’ll learn real mural-making techniques, from sketching your design to layering paint for a bold, eye-catching masterpiece. No experience is needed, just a love for art and a willingness to get messy! Be prepared for hands-on work and standing for extended periods as you bring your vision to life, and leave with a stunning, personal mural to take home.

Instructor: Issis Kelly - Multi-Medium Artist and Mixxer Instructor

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 20 - July 27, 2026; 9:00AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: This course is for rising 6th -12th grade youth

Create Your Own Comic Book – Storytelling & Illustration 

Bring your stories to life in this exciting character develop workshop! Over the course of the class, you'll create your own character, develop different emoptions and looks, and learn essential drawing techniques to craft a unique comic strip. Whether you're into superheroes, fantasy, or everyday adventures, this workshop will help you turn your ideas into a fully illustrated comic. No experience is needed—just your imagination and a love for storytelling! You'll leave with a comic strip and a character you you can use for future adventures. 

Instructor: Issis Kelly - Multi-Medium Artist and Mixxer Instructor

Dates/Times: July 27-31, 2026; 9:00AM to 12:00PM

Age Range: Rising 6th -12th grade youth

Would you like to learn new ways to build interesting and fun projects? 

Cardboard is one of the most available, low-cost, and easy to work with materials for building interesting things. Come learn to measure, cut and connect cardboard in ways that will give you new ideas how to use the material. 

We will be practicing measuring, learning tool safety, and trying new cardboard techniques.  We will even explore computer aided design (CAD) and laser cutting. Campers will build a desktop storage container, make texture art, and create a project of their choosing that uses their new knowledge.

Instructor Bio