The 2011 Music for All National Festival was an amazing showcase of the finest youth musicians from across the nation who gathered in Indianapolis on March 16-19. The excitement and musicianship that 1,950 participants possessed was exhilarating. The passion felt for active music making was at an all time high in the city, with activities taking place at three premier venues and more than 30 hours of concerts showcasing students.
“I think it was just a superb activity to showcase some of America’s finest young musicians, “ said John Carroll, director, Permian High School Percussion Ensemble. “I applaud MFA for the opportunity of a lifetime for these students.”
The Music for All mission to create, provide and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all was truly at work in these youth. Student participants performed challenging music in premier venues, developed leadership skills, made new friends and learned from some of the top music educators in the nation.
“It was without a doubt the best week and best experience of my life,” said Ryan Flint, participant. “I met people who will surely be lifelong friends, played in a fantastic band and grew a huge amount as a musician.”
The students who participate in the Music for All Festival grow so much as musicians while they are immersed in a weekend of active music making. However, for all of our students, directors and parents, there is so much sacrificed for their children to participate in world-class activities such as the Music for All National Festival. These directors and families make these sacrifices in order for their students to experience top quality performance opportunities with other students from around the nation who share the same love and passion for music. These sacrifices are priceless though when you hear the first and final notes of world-class concert performance by extremely talented youth musicians, or you see a student play a duet with Allen Vizzutti during a soulful jazz concert, or your student takes a master class from a world-renowned percussionist. These experiences are made possible because Music for All knows the value music has in all of our lives. Music for All really is music for a lifetime.
