student staff program

“..the Cabrillo Festival is an asset to be cherished...It's the ambiance that opens the door to musical adventurousness.”

--San Jose Mercury News

Long before the concerts begin, the Festival's first "ensemble" convenes. Student volunteers, mostly from the Monterey Bay area, meet to form our prestigious Student Staff. Under the aegis of the Student Staff Program, these individuals are given a rare opportunity to interact directly with the CMF orchestra members, general staff, and of course, our illustrious Music Director Marin Alsop.

When Marin Alsop became music director, an important aim of hers was to address the music education and participation issues of the Monterey Bay area. The Program nourishes the participants in areas no less profound than skill development, performance opportunities, and even career guidance.

Now in its 9th year, the Program provides opportunities, and encourages the student "staffers" (ages 16-24) to engage musicians, composers, and Marin Alsop in the topics of contemporary music making.

In addition to having unlimited access to all performances, the Program provides a fertile ground for the participants' musical interests in other ways: master classes; a workshop where the students sit side-by-side with the orchestra members during a rehearsal with Marin Alsop; dialogs with the composers whose music is programmed; participation in a staff ensemble that performs at different venues during the Festival; the chance to attend various social gatherings. Quite a "full plate" for two weeks in any student's life.

The Student Staff Program is open to non-musicians and musicians alike. The rewards of "being there" are many, and we are excited by the prospect of positively affecting the quality of a young person's personal growth and development.

When attending a concert, please feel free to introduce yourself and ask our student "Staffers" about their experiences as members of the Program.