#stephen singleton

I sometimes wonder if my husband Christopher and I would be as involved with the Music Academy were it not for the Compeer Program. Don’t get me wrong, the Academy otherwise has much to offer. The quality of the musicianship is consistently terrific. The 140 Fellows who have been invited from around the globe to participate in our eight-week Festival are extraordinarily gifted. The faculty roster is a veritable “Who’s Who” from the finest music schools, opera companies, and orchestras worldwide. The venues are varied but comfortable, attractive, and feature wonderful acoustics. The administration at the Music Academy is smart, dynamic, appreciative, and wonderful to work with. And the audiences are filled with enthusiastic, supportive, and now-familiar music lovers.

All that said, our eight summers as Compeers have been as transformative for us as we believe the Academy experience is for Fellows. Each summer we know the joy of listening to gorgeous music performed and sung by people with whom we have enjoyed laughs, meals, and heart-felt conversations, often in our own home. Our hearts and minds are engaged each Festival, and our own musical education is enriched by the time spent with these focused and dedicated young artists. Our chosen family now includes some of those people who came into our lives through the Compeer Program. We will begin our next Compeering adventure in the weeks to come and once again enjoy the music played and sung by people with whom we will most assuredly share more laughs, great conversations, and an unforgettable summer.