RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Nestled away in the woods of the Black Hills lies a house with nearly 30 students looking to master their musical crafts.
“Coming to this festival, at least for me, has been a big boost every year because we take intensive training essentially every single day,” said a student part of the Emerging Artists Quartet-in-Residence of the Rushmore Music Festival, Manasseh Etienne.
The Rushmore Music Festival is a group of young musicians that come together every summer for 3-6 weeks, receiving private lessons, partaking in student-led rehearsals, and audience engagement curriculums.
“This is just a very inspiring place to be both musically and in terms of the nature,” said the Artistic Director and Faculty Artist for the Rushmore Music Festival, Ismar Gomes.
Students accepted to the festival are given full-tuition scholarships and can partake in various programs, including a young artists fellowship, a collaborative piano fellowship, and emerging artists quartet in residence.
“We have master classes, where everyone watches, and there are three or four students selected to play in a master class,” said Etienne.
Students are also given a chance to perform with faculty members in both in-person and live-streamed concerts at the house.
In addition, every year the festival invites a distinguished guest artist in residence. This year, the young artists were able to learn from world-renowned cellist Colin Carr, who’s used to working with older students.
“These kids are in their teens and it’s a whole different feeling,” said Carr. “They haven’t had time to get cynical and jaded like all my elder students.”
The young artists come from all over, including China, Hong Kong, and even right here at home in the Black Hills.
“It is nice because it’s right by my house, so it’s not like I have to take a plane or travel really far to go to this festival,” said a young artist fellow of the Rushmore Music Festival, Evi Coleman.
Carr and Rushmore Music Festival faculty will be playing in the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish on July 1 at 7 p.m., with tickets set at $35.
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