In November of 2021, Festival Hill was awarded a Fayette Community Foundation (FCF) Community Impact Grant to partially underwrite conductor Emilio Colon, for the Young Persons’ Concert.
The Young Persons’ Concert is an exciting outing for local students of any age during their summer break, as well as senior citizens from local nursing homes and assisted living who prefer shorter and more subdued concerts. This event invites all in attendance to enjoy, learn and engage with various sections of a live orchestra. Through interactive instruction, the Narrator guides the audience through a musical curriculum performed by young artists from all over the world. At the conclusion of the concert, participants are welcomed to the stage for a more hands on experience with the diverse instruments and musicians.
Eighty-seven talented young artists chosen from more than 450 applicants from all over the world will convene in Round Top, Texas from Sunday, June 5, 2022, till Sunday, July 17, 2022, for the 51st Round Top Music Festival. The 6-week intensely concentrated course supervised by its Founder and Artistic Director James Dick includes orchestra rehearsals and performances, chamber music coaching and performances, master classes, and private lessons. Forty-two faculty members and six conductors will arrive on campus on a rotating schedule to mentor the participants.
When asked why it’s important to plant the seed of art education in students Keegan Bamford, a Cello player from Indiana University, said, “ Music is important for the culture, the history of what we do I feel like it’s important to pass along to the next generation and to have as much fun as we’re having on stage.”
Pat Johnson, Associate Curator of Collections, stated an additional impact of the program, “The importance of music is to mental health. I think especially right now is even more important. To have the whole concert series going on this summer but to offer a free concert is one of the better things that happen. To get support back from the community makes it a double win for me.”
Founded in 1971, Round Top Festival Institute owns its campus (over 200 acres), its venues (an extraordinary, acoustically peerless 1,000-seat concert hall and a 160-seat chapel), its practice rooms, its accommodations, its food service and other amenities (swimming pool, jogging trails...) The whole project has been specifically envisioned and realized to provide the best environment to implement the program and to offer the audience a dream-like atmosphere to enjoy music and nature: a jewel in the crown to Texas!
The Summer closing concert will be on July 16, 2022, at 7:30 p.m at the Festival Concert Hall. We invite you all to attend and listen to the young artist as they close on their 6-week intensive course. Tickets can be purchased at www.festivalhill.com