Sigma Alpha Iota

2014 PHILANTHROPIES AWARDS sAI-NATIONAL.ORg FALL 2014 PAN PIPES 25 I am so grateful for the experience of interning with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center this past summer in Washington, DC. Before this internship I had spent little time exploring our nation's capitol, so I did not know exactly what to expect. My first day was a whirlwind; walking up the steps to the Kennedy Center took my breath away, leaving me in awe and wonder at what my summer was about to become. Aer many warm introductions with the staff around the education department and the NSO office, I settled into my desk and began preparing for the Summer Music Institute, which was to take place throughout July. e 2014 Summer Music Institute (SMI) is a four-week intensive orchestral program for advanced student musicians ages 15-20. I worked on a team with Carole Wysocki, director of NSO Education, and Emily Heckel, the NSO Education Programming Coordinator. e three of us worked closely to coordinate all SMI programs, which included orchestra rehearsals, master classes, private lessons, enrichment classes and chamber music. By sheer coincidence, the chamber music groups were in need of a trombonist for the brass quintet, so I was fortunate enough to play trombone with the SMI brass quintet, coached by NSO tuba, Stephen Dumaine, for two concerts. Performing on Millennium Stage, one of the Kennedy Center's nine performance venues, is an experience I will never forget. All Millennium Stage performances are streamed live on the Kennedy Center website, so my friends, family and SAI sisters could watch from afar. Not only were the student musicians inspiring to work with, but the guest conductor, Elizabeth Schulze, and National Symphony Orchestra musicians were a joy to learn from. e NSO musicians remained accessible and eager to have conversations about their experiences in the music world. is accessibility was a recurring theme throughout the Kennedy Center. As a part of the internship program, almost every week a representative of a different department, usually the Vice President, would meet with the group of 30 interns and describe their work experiences, explain how their department functions within the Kennedy Center as a whole, and answer questions about their experiences. ese informational sessions provided me with a whole new perspective on the Kennedy Center because I was able to learn about departments other than Education, such as Marketing, Fundraising, Development, Finance, Programing, and Washington National Opera, and meet other like-minded interns. e Kennedy Center internship program was invaluable in that it guided and coached me as I continue to plan for my future aer college. ank you! ank you! ank you! I cannot express my gratitude to Sigma Alpha Iota in enough ways. ank you for supporting a sister to experience a summer of independence in an unfamiliar city. ank you for encouraging and advocating for music education and arts administration through this internship program, as well as through many of your other outreach initiatives. ank you for being a respected international fraternity where meeting a new sister, no matter the location, immediately unites you in a comforting, meaningful friendship. ank you, SAI, for believing in me and for being a pillar in my life. Sigma Alpha Iota continues to provide a safe, encouraging space for growth in music and friendship, and I cannot be more grateful. a r t s m a N a g e m e N t s u m m e r i N t e r N s h i p a t t h e K e N N e d y C e N t e r s a r a h l a M b i o t a t a U , U n i v e r s i t y o f n o r t h C a r o l i n a / C h a p e l h i l l , t a U d , r e g i o n v i At top, Internship recipient Sarah Lamb (left) and and Mu Epsilon initiate Malia Pereyra, violinist and Summer Music Institute Resident Advisor. Above, Conductor Elizabeth Schulze (left) and Lamb.

• Cover