Friday, July 29, 2011

Kickstarter Initiative Launched!

We've officially kicked off our Kickstarter campaign and donations have begun to come in! This initiative will provide the bulk of our funding for the 2011 Dallas Festival of Modern Music, so we encourage everyone who supports our vision to donate what you can and spread the word!

Remember:
  • Our concerts are always free
  • Educational initiatives are a big part of the festival
  • We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so donations are tax-deductible
We also invite you to explore our new website, which includes audio and video from last year's festival. Thanks for your support as we work to plan the best-yet Dallas Festival of Modern Music!
Huge thanks to Neena Weng, our first Kickstarter funder! Thanks Neena! Everyone else check out http://ow.ly/5QLoZ and do your part!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Hello from Dr. Rachel!


I'm happy to announce that I have joined the Dallas Festival of Modern Music team as Executive Director! I've been a fan of this project since the beginning, and last year became more involved both as a clarinetist and volunteer. Now, I'm excited to take on a larger role and help make the Festival the best it can be!

A bit about me and my background... I currently make my living as Adjunct Professor of Clarinet at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and private teacher and freelance musician in the DFW area. I recently completed my D.M.A. in Clarinet Performance at the University of North Texas where I studied clarinet with James Gillespie and contemporary music with Elizabeth McNutt. At UNT, I also had the privilege of being a Priddy Fellow in Arts Leadership for the 2007-2008 school year. This gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse myself in the world of arts administration and advocacy, and led to my internship with Dallas new music ensemble Voices of Change.

My interest in new music dates back to my undergraduate years at Ball State University, where I first began collaborating with composers to perform new works for clarinet. I was hooked, and since then new music has always been a big part of my identity as a performer. Since coming to Denton, Texas in 2006, I have had the chance to work with student and faculty composers at UNT's Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia on pieces for clarinet and electronics. Chamber music is another passion of mine (I currently perform with the Madera Wind Quintet and the Chameleon Chamber Group), so working with the Dallas Festival of Modern Music is right up my alley!

I am now hard at work with Jordan, Ryan, and the rest of the team on planning this year's festival. In the coming days and weeks, look for a new website, announcements about programming and guest artists, and the launch of a fundraising initiative (not to give anything away, but it starts with "K" and ends with "ickstarter"). We'll keep you posted!

To learn more about me and what I do, please visit my website.