It’s here again! The National Music Festival has begun its seventh season here in Chestertown, bringing a garden of musical delights for young and old. Sunday evening saw the opening concert with the Fiddlesticks Orchestra joining the Chester River Youth Chorale to show what they had learned this past year. The Brass Band added to the fanfare. Now there are two weeks of concerts and free rehearsals to attend.
On Monday evening, there was the traditional community, meet-&-greet potluck at Dave Keating’s K&L garage. This potluck, to me, is symbolic of how Chestertown and Kent County has responded to the National Music Festival. They love it. Individuals, businesses, organizations, churches – so many have volunteered, helped as cooks, drivers, hosts, provided concert venues, offered discounts, etc. Sacred Heart Catholic Church made special floral decorations for their doors to welcome the musicians for the concerts held in the church on June 8 & 9. The hospitality committee ran fundraisers before the festival and are providing beverages and snacks for rehearsals during the festival.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church is opening its parish hall every day and a band of volunteers come into the church kitchen and prepare free lunches for the apprentices.
Redner’s grocery store has given multiple cases of water and many restaurants offered discounts.
On Saturday, June 10, musicians will be on hand at the Farmers’ Market in Chestertown.
We’ll be posting pictures here as the festival goes along and adding names. So come back again or send us your favorite photos from the festival and we’ll post as many as we can.
For more information and schedule of free and ticketed events, see National Music Festival website.
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Apprentices in the Arts Administration program make the wheels run smoothly. They keep track of all the details that make up a music festival – from tickets to transportation to setting up the stage.
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Apprentices Maria Rusu (viola & Arts Administration – from Romania) & Kelly Harper (Arts Administration – from New York)
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Michael Sawzin, NMF Youth Director, with Caitlin Patton, NMF Executive Director, celebrating the beginning of the festival at Decker Theater on Washington College campus.
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Conductor and Artistic Director of the NMF, Richard Rosenberg, conducted the world premiere of Rosenberg’s edition of “Transfigured Night” by Schonberg. First violin on left.
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Festival String Orchestra on Tuesday evening, 6th of June, 2017, just after “Transfigured Night”.
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Flute and percussion mentors, Wed evening concert 7th of June 2017
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Clarinet mentor, Wed evening concert 7th of June 2017
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Wed evening concert 7th of June 2017
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Wed evening concert 7th of June 2017
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Wed evening concert 7th of June 2017
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Wed evening concert 7th of June 2017
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Wed evening concert 7th of June 2017
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Close up of the floral “logo” on the doors of Sacred Heart Church on High Street.
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The doors of Sacred Heart Church on High Street with the NMF logo in flowers!
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Caitlin Patton, Executive Director of the NMF with her mother, Bonnie Keating, who, like her daughter, is also a talented singer.
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Caitlin & Richard – Wed 7 June 2017
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Caitlin & Richard
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