Forty-three middle and high school music students from around the state will come together for a three-day acoustic music festival that culminates in a Student Showcase Performance on Sunday, April 2 at The University of Southern Maine’s Hannaford Hall in Portland.
The middle and high school students were selected by audition to participate in the festival that includes workshops, rehearsals, and performances. “The pool of talent this year was especially high,” said MAF Coordinator Amanda Gale. “This is the biggest group of musicians we’ve ever had.” All the participants have distinguished themselves in traditional acoustic music styles including bluegrass, Irish, Quebecois, folk, Old Time, and American Harmony singing.
The Maine Acoustic Festival was created both to celebrate the music that helped shape Maine’s culture and to allow students interested in these genres the chance to learn from world class musicians. The 2017 Teaching Artists are Brendan Taaffe, Tony Watt, Lauren Rioux, Hanz Araki, and Steve Muise.
The festival is presented jointly by 317 Main Community Music Center and North Yarmouth Academy, both in Yarmouth.
NYA Visual and Performing Arts Chair Ian Ramsey said, “We couldn’t be more excited to host Maine’s top young roots musicians at the fifth annual Maine Acoustic Festival. It’s magical to see all of these kids come together with world-class coaches for a few days to celebrate roots music, culture, and community.”
The students participating in the 2017 Maine Acoustic Festival come from 18 schools:
North Yarmouth Academy- Camilla Rosenfeld, Cameron Woods, Pierce Manchester, Savanna Shaw, Lindsay Tufts, Zelda Clegg, Ellie Hilscher, Kara Jensen, Charlotte Collins, Suzanna Butterfield, Matt McGrath, Cris Paradis
Brunswick High School – Paige McKinnon, Lorna Moore, Kira Walpow, Finn Woodruff, Liberty Krauss
Cape Elizabeth High School – Lily Thompson
Mt. Blue High School – Julia Ramsey, Zach Gunther, Thadeus Gunther, Nolan Rogers, Kayla White, Chelsea Seabold, Rachel Spear,
Yarmouth High School – Anna Ruprecht,
Harrison Middle School, Yarmouth – Johnny Cody, Maggie Ralph
Poland Regional High School – Sigrid Sibley
Falmouth Middle School – Lauren Rousell
Houlton Middle School, Hope Chernesky
Maine Coast Waldorf School, Freeport – Avery Bakewell, Tucker Pierce
Messalonskee High School, Oakland – Alex Frost
Belfast Area High School – Declan Brinn
John Bapst Memorial High School, Bangor – Lauren Potter
Homeschool – Owen Kennedy (Winthrop), Joshua Rosenthal (Damariscotta), Madelyn Morell
Lincoln Academy, Newcastle – Helen Newell
Greely High School, Cumberland – Terra Gallo
Mt. Abram High School, Salem Twp. – Mason Strunk
Freeport High School – Perrin Davidson
We encourage the public to attend two concerts during the festival:
FACULTY CONCERT – SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 7:30PM -YARMOUTH – at First Parish Congregational Church Yarmouth at 116 Main Street.
Purchase TIckets on-line or at the door.
STUDENT SHOWCASE -SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 4-5:30PM – PORTLAND – in Hannaford Hall on University of Southern Maine campus at 66 Bedford St. Tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for Students/Seniors.
Purchase Tickets on-line.
For more information on the Maine Acoustic Festival and ticket information please visit www.maineacousticfestival.com.
To learn what the festival is all about, we welcome you to view these highlights from MAF 2016 here.
