Summer Festivals-A Great Way to Find New Music
Classical music and the organizations within the classical music industry follow a predictable yearly schedule. Christmas and Easter will invariably involve varying productions of Handel’s Messiah, and the Wedding Season tends to run from late spring to early fall. The annual Holiday concert that we all either love or hate, and finally, the inevitable clang of a patriotic July 4th Celebration. However, unlike other industries that tend to go dark or quiet in the summer months, classical music educational organizations view the summer as an opportunity to put in work, a time to push personal development, and experience new things.
The organizations to which I am referring are commonly referred to in the classical vernacular interchangeably as either festivals or camps (please check the bandcamp jokes at the door). These are serious festivals with very real implications for serious students and aspiring professionals. For anywhere from two to ten weeks, musicians will be mentored by professionals, practice hours that would be impossible to accomplish during the regular season, create new relationships with other like-minded musicians, and most importantly, showcase their talents in performances, many of which are free to attend and open to the public. So, where can you, as an audience member, go to see some of these free performances?
You might be surprised to learn how many of these festivals are out there and how welcoming they are to concertgoers. Some seem to be concentrated regionally, like in the Northeast United States, which hosts anywhere from 10 to 15 of the most important music festivals in the United States, between New York, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts alone. Others are destination festivals hidden within resort areas, such as Aspen, CO, or exist in scenic locations, such as Santa Barbara, CA. And then there are the oddball festivals that seemingly pop up out of nowhere, such as Artosphere Festival in Fayetteville, AR, or Charlie Castleman’s Quartet Program, which holds a dual residency in Fredonia, NY, and McMinnville, OR. While there is no official national database, ask around in the classical music industry long enough, and someone will no doubt direct you towards one of these festivals.
When attending, remember that most of the performers are students, but unlike the students performing at your local high school, these are the musical equivalent of AAA baseball players just waiting for their time to be called up. Also, understand that different cultures and traditions permeate these institutions, especially the oldest festivals, such as the singing of Randall Thompson’s Alleluia at Tanglewood’s opening ceremonies, lawn picnics at Ravinia’s main grounds, or the tradition of pop-up concerts in Fredonia, NY.
But most of all, take it all in, for you never know what superstar of tomorrow you may be watching today. Enjoy the time spent being able to get up close and see how these musicians work. The opportunity to see a young generational talent like Leonard Bernstein or Yo-Yo Ma is a rarity for sure, and a rarity to be treasured.
-written by Amos Fayette, Director of Sales and summer festival veteran
