People
Camp Staff
Daniel Ferland - Camp Director
Daniel most recently taught band and orchestra and served as Fine Arts Coordinator for the Port Townsend School District. Ensembles under his direction have participated in the Washington ASTA Festival, the Northwest Orchestra Festival, CBC Jazz Festival, music clinics at University of BC, University of Oregon, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Disney Performing Arts clinic and the Forum Music Festival in CA. Groups under his direction have consistently earned Superior and Gold placements in Washington State, Oregon and California.
Previously, Mr. Ferland taught in both Georgia and South Carolina and had many ensembles participate in regional and national events. Among these include a South Carolina state championship from the USSBA, a first and second place award at the National Outback Bowl festival, Superior ratings at the Great Smoky Mountain Music Festival, a Superior and first place award at the Peach Bowl Festival, Superior ratings at Music in the Parks Music Festival and many others.
Mr. Ferland has had many distinctions including being named conductor for the Richmond County Youth Honor Orchestra and guest conducting the SINEM Youth Orchestra in Grecia, Costa Rica as well as serving on staff for multiple DCI drum and bugle corps. He has been in charge of organizing summer music camps for YEA Music for the past 4 years.
Julie Russell - Executive Director
Julie currently serves as the Executive Director of the YEA (Youth Education in Arts) Music Program, which is the sponsor of the Jupiter Music Camp. She has held this this position since 2020. Julie has been a lifelong professional educator and worked as an English teacher in the Mukilteo School District for most of her 33 years. She finished her career serving as Dean of Students at Blue Heron Middle School in the Port Townsend school district. Since retirement, Julie has been maintained a busy schedule working with several organizations. She currently works with Girl Scouts organization and serves on the Juvenile Service's Community Engagement Board. Julie is a former clarinet player and performed in her elementary and high school band programs.
Phil Morgan-Ellis - Technology Director
Phil Morgan-Ellis grew up in Utah, where he played violin in the Golden Spike Youth Symphony before studying Music Education at Weber State University. After graduating in 1972 Mr. Morgan-Ellis relocated to Seattle. In 1977 he moved to Port Angeles, where he taught orchestra, band and computers in the elementary and middle schools of the Port Angeles School District.
Mr. Morgan-Ellis and his wife, Deborah, started what became the North Olympic Youth Symphonies in 1979, and together they managed and conducted this group of orchestras for 25 years. They received a citation for their work from the Port Angeles Education Foundation in 1995, and were named Clallam County Citizens of the Year in 1996. The Port Angeles Symphony gave them the Biz Gehrke Award for their work with the youth of the peninsula in 1995.
Sammy Watson - Camp Coordinator
Sammy works as camp coordinator working with families to ensure a successful experience. He has worked with YEA Music for the past 3 years helping to organize, run and teach at music camps.
After graduating with honors from Musicians Institute in 1995, Sammy toured the US and internationally with a variety of professional artists and has recorded multiple albums and has been heard on various movie soundtracks. Sammy is also the author of the book, "Drumming D.N.A." and has recently finished his first solo album, "KaleidosCope" and is endorsed by Gretsch Drums, Sabian Cymbals and Vater Drum Sticks
Brenda Ehrhardt - Program Coordinator
Brenda Ehrhardt works as the YEA Music program coordinator. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree at Eastern Illinois University and went on to teach music in the public schools for 32 years. In 2016 she was chosen by the music journal "School Band and Orchestra" as one of 50 music educators in the United States who made a difference. Brenda is a member of the American Association for University Women.
Brenda volunteers in the Education and Community Engagement Department of the Seattle Symphony, the Olympic Music Festival's Senior and Junior Mentorship program, the YEA Music Camps and the Centrum Organization.
Gregg Miller - Camp Consultant
Gregg Miller serves as our program consultant and assists in all aspects of our camp administration. Gregg recently retired after 23 years at Centrum in Port Townsend, WA, where he managed programs in Jazz, Choro and Classical Music. Before that he served as Music Department Chair and Professor at Cornish College Of The Arts in Seattle. He began his teaching career at Hasting College in Nebraska, teaching woodwinds, music theory and piano tuning.
Gregg holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder, and Master's and Bachelor's degrees from Washington State University.