For the past four years I have lived in Madison, Wis., while working on my doctoral degree in voice performance and have had the luxury of participating in the Madison Early Music Festival (MEMF), a week-long program associated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Continuing Education and Music departments. A college education in voice performance usually includes standard repertoire in art song and opera, often only touching the edges of early music. If you are the type of student who needs more than repetitive renditions of 24 Italian Songs and Arias, this festival is a fantastic, cost-effective option.
Established in 2000 by Paul Rowe, Cheryl Bensman-Rowe, and Chelcy Bowles, the program offers daily classes, lectures, masterclasses, rehearsals, and concerts. Students choose the classes they would like to attend, usually from among four to seven different topics taught by the professional artists in residence. Performance opportunities include the All-Festival Concert (students audition for solos) and the participant recital. Both concerts give students the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills learned in the classes.
The festival draws a wide range of students, from amateur to preprofessional musicians. There are no auditions to attend the festival itself. Applicants designate their skill level on their application. MEMF does a great job at meeting the needs of the range of skill levels. The classroom teachers are also fantastic at making topics relevant to both the preprofessional and amateur.
Registration for the entire event, which includes admittance to all concerts and social events, is $495. Full-time college students can register for the workshop for a discounted registration fee of $395 and may even be eligible for one of the limited work-study opportunities in exchange for a further reduced fee. There is even an option for academic credit for participating schools.
Most applicants elect to stay in the dorm located near the School of Music. Single rooms run $55.25 a person per night, and shared rooms are $37.30 per person per night. Housing includes breakfast, and there are usually in-between morning class snacks provided by local vendors. Parking is available for $12 a day.
At lunch, most people eat at one of the many gourmet carts located in Library Mall. Dinnertime is often a highlight of the festival, as students and professionals take to historical State Street. Some local vendors even discount your food if you remember your MEMF name tag.
During my four years of attending MEMF, the professional artists I have worked with have been the highlight—like learning chant by rote from William Hudson of LIBER and Jordan Sramek of The Rose Ensemble, singing a trobairitz canso in a masterclass for Benjamin Bagby, exploring the style of music written by Barbara Strozzi in a voice masterclass with Ellen Hargis of The Newberry Consort, learning how to read medieval notation with Greg Ingles of Piffaro/Quicksilver, and receiving coaching from Grant Herreid of Piffaro/Hesperus and soprano Nell Snaidas. These artists have become a support team for my development in early music. I am still in contact with most of them and feel comfortable reaching out for advice or information.
Cody Perk, a voice major at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion who has attended the festival three times, agrees. “[MEMF is] a great festival with both a lot of professionalism and a very laid-back atmosphere,” he says. “It’s inspiring to get to work with so many renowned performers in the field. It’s great to have MEMF as a presence for early music in the Midwest.”
Because MEMF chooses a different emphasis each year, singers can attend multiple times and have a completely different experience. During the 14th season from July 6-12, 2013, MEMF will venture into German late Medieval, Renaissance, and early Baroque periods, particularly the international festival in Stuttgart in March of 1616. In addition to the usual classes and performances, program participants can also attend a masked ball.
This summer brings another new addition to MEMF: its first Handel Aria Competition. For the first round, singers submit a recording. The second round takes place live at the program in the School of Music’s Morphy Hall. Awards include two first place $1,000 prizes for one male and one female singer and a second place prize of $500. Singers need to prepare two arias (one opera and one oratorio), and the age limit is 35. (Look for details coming soon in a Classical Singer magazine near you!)
MEMF continues to impact the community of Madison beyond the summer. Participant alumnus Jerry Hui began the early music ensemble Eliza’s Toyes, which uses the talents of MEMF regulars to sing throughout the community at various venues. In November 2010, MEMF presented Monteverdi’s “Vespers of 1610” in collaboration with the UW–Madison Madrigal Singers under the direction of Bruce Gladstone leading an orchestra of period instruments from across the Midwest. In December 2012, a group of MEMF past participants performed Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.
Overall, the festival is a great way to see what is out there in the world of early music for a low cost. The world-renowned faculty and relaxed atmosphere of Madison, Wis., help create a memorable experience.
