The National Music Festival, which will take place in Kent County June 3-16, 2012, is seeking volunteers.
The Festival brings together world-class musicians (mentors) and gifted young musicians on the cusp of their professional careers (apprentices). Approximately 110 apprentices will join 27 mentors for the 2012 season. The musicians come from all over the world, and all apprentices attend on full tuition scholarship. In addition to the apprenticeship program, the Festival offers guitar and saxophone workshops, which are open to students of all ages and skill levels, including local musicians.
A total of 190 musicians is expected. They will present over 30 performance events. In addition, the over 200 rehearsals are free and open to the public. Tickets, which are available by suggested donation, can be purchased on the Festival’s website, by mail, by phone, or at the door. Season passes are also available for $160 each, which gives the bearer guaranteed admission and preferred seating at all Festival concerts as well as other benefits like a meet-the-musicians reception and a souvenir Festival Guide.
There are many ways for interested community members to get involved, in addition to attending concerts and rehearsals. All of the musicians will be housed in private homes in the Chestertown/Kent County area, and the Festival is seeking host families to open their homes. Hosts are not expected to provide meals or transportation, and past hosts have reported that the experience is a rewarding one. Those interested in hosting should contact the Festival to learn more.
Numerous volunteer opportunities are available for those interested in becoming more involved. These include selling tickets, ushering at concerts, picking up musicians at the airport, manning booths at local events, distributing posters and brochures, and much more. The Festival is also seeking in-kind support in the form of loaned vehicles and cell phones, copying and printing services, and more.
The National Music Festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and depends on the generous contributions of individuals and businesses in order to provide full tuition scholarships to all apprentices who attend.
“The efforts of all of our volunteers, Board members, and interested community members culminate in a fantastic experience for everyone involved,” says Festival executive director Caitlin Patton. “It is an incredibly valuable experience for the apprentice musicians, and some of our volunteers last season told us that one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering is meeting these young musicians and knowing you are doing something to help them launch their careers.”
One grateful apprentice, trumpeter Rebecca Steinberg, says, “I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate in the first annual National Music Festival last year in Floyd, VA. My first experience at NMF was a fantastic experience. Not only was the repertoire incredible, and the schedule packed, but everyone involved was dedicated to the cause of creating beautiful music for the community. I learned more about playing in orchestra in two weeks than I have in any other program.” Rebecca will return to the Festival in 2012. (The 2011 Festival took place in Virginia; however the Festival has now permanently relocated to Kent County.)
“Please join us and become a part of the team that creates this great program each year,” says Patton.
For more information or to volunteer, visit www.nationalmusic.us, e-mail [email protected] or call (410) 778-2064.
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