2011 EMF Kids & EMF Explorers Surveys

If you/your child participated in the EMF Kids or EMF Explorers camp this summer, we would love to hear about how we can continue to improve!

For the EMF Kids survey, click HERE.

For the EMF Explorers survey, click HERE.

Thank you so much for your valuable feedback!

2011 EMF Student Survey

Please click HERE to take the survey! We appreciate your feedback!

2011 Eastern Music Festival Audience Surveys

Been to an EMF performance lately? If so, we need your feedback so that we can continue to improve your EMF experience! By completing this survey and submitting your email address, you will be entered to win a pair of tickets to a performance of your choice during EMF's 2012 season!


If you have attended an EMF classical performance, click here for the EMF Classical Survey.

If you have attended an EMFfringe performance, click here for the EMFfringe Survey.


We thank you in advance for your valuable feedback!

First Annual Alumni Weekend!

 

Just like the image above says, Eastern Music Festival invites all alumni, both student and faculty, to return this summer and celebrate 50 years of music education...celebrate the Gift of Music!  

The weekend will involve taking in a Young Artists performance on Friday as well as an Eastern Festival Orchestra concert on Saturday, featuring Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin.  Alum also have the option of attending Musically Speaking sessions as well as the Master Class led by Ms. Salerno-Sonnenberg on Friday, July 8th.  A more detailed list of events is found here.  

Whether you still play every day or you haven't played in months, we also invite you to participate in our 50th Alumni Orchestra!  On Saturday, team up with fellow alumni and friends to perform Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op. 95 (New World Symphony) by DVOŘÁK!  (I left his name in all caps to emphasize...that, and I couldn't find the 'insert symbol' key here without going back and forth from Microsoft Word!).  

We are asking for everyone to register for the Alumni Weekend, so we can get a good idea on the head count and t-shirts, etc.  Also, we need to make sure we'll have enough instruments for the New World Symphony!  

See the Registration Form for more information on cost of attendance.  As an alumn you and your spouse will receive free tickets to the Friday Young Artist Orchestra concert as well as a generous discount on tickets to the Saturday EFO performance.   But be quick - registration is due by March 15, 2011 for the 50th Alumni Orchestra event!

We can't wait to see all of our wonderful alumni this summer as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary!  If you have any other questions about the Alumni Weekend, please let me (Carrie@EasternMusicFestival.org) know!

In the meantime...enjoy our Reflections and keep checking for our season announcement.  Should be up by the end of this week on the website :)   Brochures to follow shortly! 

Karr Reflections

Gary Karr

Gary Karr is one of the most popular EMF guest artists of all time. He appeared with the EPO, chamber players, student orchestras, and taught master classes during eight seasons from 1974-1986. Mr. Karr debuted with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic in 1962, followed by 40 years of concert performances. He has received several national teaching awards, and though Mr. Karr retired from the concert stage in 2001, he conducts a bassist camp in Victoria, BC, each July.

Memories of EMF

EMF was my annual “fix.” I needed that shot in the arm that I got from the enthusiastic response from the kids. Early in my career I became so disenchanted with my mostly grey-haired audiences that I decided to put my concert work on hold for a couple of years in order to teach general music in the public schools. I wanted to find out why so few young people were in evidence at classical concerts. So, because of my interest and involvement in working with young people, I connected easily with the extraordinary philosophy of Shelly Morgenstern. He was one of the few visionaries I have known during my life in music, and what he accomplished with EMF resulted in the most exciting summer program in North America. I shall never forget the balcony filled with the students who, during the concerts, succeeded in arousing the passions of even the most staid older enthusiasts on the main floor. Their youthful exuberance was generated by a genuine love and appreciation for classical music and by their understanding of the devotion and hard work that goes into preparing a high standard of performance. The kind of respect that the students held for the accomplishments of their teachers and colleagues was the result of the EMF environment as envisioned and implemented by Shelly. In this respect, Shelly left a legacy in which the reflections of his vision will continue to live in the hearts and minds of all those lucky enough to have witnessed the uniqueness of the Eastern Music Festival.

During one of my appearances with the EMF orchestra, I performed the Moses Fantasy by Paganini who wrote the piece to be played on one string. Years before, when I performed this music on the “Bell Telephone Hour,” Florence Henderson introduced the piece by saying, “…it’s all done on the G-string!” I asked Shelly if he thought I should relate this humorous story to the EMF audience. “Sure,” he replied, “the main floor will get the joke but the kids won’t know what’s funny about a G-string!” It backfired. The roars of laughter from the balcony were ear splitting!