By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

Kay Werth didn't like the idea of shortening the High Plains Band Camp and Summer Music Festival sat Fort Hays State University to four days because of state budget cuts to the university.

"We couldn't do a concert with just four days; we need seven days," said Werth, the camp director who has been involved in the camp in some way nearly every year since 1973, when she first came as a middle school student from Victoria.

So Werth, instructor of double reeds at Fort Hays, called a meeting with FHSU Provost Larry Gould and Paul Faber, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

"I told them that this is exactly the time we should grasp onto these little treasures we've had for a long time," Werth said of the band camp, which was founded in 1947.

"This is an opportunity rather than a (detriment), to handle these intrinsic values of the arts," she added. "It opens a window for us that I think we should take and run with."

The administration listened to Werth, who seeks out corporate and individual sponsors, as well as numerous anonymous donors for camper scholarships.

Now, the week-long event that began Sunday is the largest band camp in the state and this year includes orchestra instruction as well.

Part of the draw is the group of instructors that Werth assembles each year.

This year, that list includes Allen Vizzutti, a trumpet soloist from Seattle who performs all over the world. He comes to Hays after performing stints in Italy and Spain last month.

There's Eddie Stein, who grew up in Salina and is a violinist in the San Diego Symphony.

There's Ed Jones, a violinist in the Dallas Symphony by way of tiny Ransom, Kansas, and Fort Hays State.

And those are just a few.

Rather than just trying to land big names, however, Werth said her first priority is finding instructors who will work well with the students who come from all over Kansas and other states to participate.

"It's not about the teachers, it's for the students," Werth said.

"Of course, we want those well-known in their field," she admitted. "But first and foremost, we look at what's going to meet the needs of the students."

Instructors say they also benefit from the week-long activities.

"It's a very worthwhile event and definitely worth our time," Allen Vizzutti said. "If you look at it like a slice in a pie, it's a slice worth doing."

Vizzutti said late last week he was looking forward to this week's "Kansas vacation."

He will perform a solo recital at 7 tonight at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, accompanied by his wife, Laura, on the piano.

The trip to the Midwest is a treat for the Vizzuttis, who brought with them their daughter, 17-year-old Gabriella, the youngest of their three children.

Gabriella, a violinist and drummer, owns the distinction of being the camper who is coming the farthest distance for the 2009 camp.

"Any time parents can find time with their teenage kid," Allen Vizzutti said, "you'd better go for it."

He will be making his second trip to Hays in three years.

"I was pleased with the numbers and the fact that the ensembles were quite good," he said of the 2007 band camp. " The general flow was relaxed but pretty organized, which is good ... a nice combination."

Stein will be one of the instructors in the inaugural strings portion of the event.

For the first time in the long history of the band camp, instruction for orchestra students program this year.

So the event now has a new name, High Plains Band and Orchestra Camp and Music Festival, with campers of middle school and high school age numbering nearly 300.

"It's been incredible," Werth said of the response to adding strings instruction to the camp. "It's the best thing we've done, and I'm anticipating enrollment even higher next year because of the strings."