September 2023: Albright Festival

This month, Derrick Thompson shares about the value of intergenerational singing and community connection through a new festival he is hosting at Albright College:
 
“Albright College Music Department is hosting its Inaugural Choral Festival for high school programs on Wednesday, October 18th. The festival will be a day filled with beautiful music-making, culminating in a joint choral performance by Albright Choral Ensembles and Festival Chorus participants.

The festival aims to enrich the high school choral experience by providing educational, emotional, and social benefits that contribute to the development of young choir members as musicians and individuals. Intergenerational singing is highlighted as a crucial aspect of this event, offering high school students a chance to learn and develop their musical skills, receive mentorship and feedback, and connect with college students. The hope is that this experience will inspire high school students to pursue music more seriously, promote social and emotional development, and create lifelong connections.

For high school directors, sending choral programs to college campuses introduces students to higher education while fostering community and collaboration within the larger community. For collegiate directors, hosting events like this allows them to connect with colleagues in the field while promoting the importance of music and the arts as a whole.”