By Tom Hodgkin

For over 75 years, Norfolk has been the site of the Yale Summer School of Music Chamber Music Festival, following up on Ellen Battell Stoeckel’s wishes that, upon her death, her property be used for “the benefit and development of the School of Music of Yale University and for extending said University’s courses in music, art, and literature.” 
During some of the ensuing years, as it gained fame as a premier teaching and performing venue, the festival existed as somewhat of an appendix to the community. But in more recent history—especially under the auspices of recent directors Paul Hawkshaw and Melvin Chen—the festival has made significant efforts to reach out and incorporate itself into town life. Student fellows have always been housed in local homes, but outreach to the community has been growing. The festival initiated an annual summer open house with tours of Whitehouse, free ice cream and a free concert; the festival grounds have been left open for community use during the offseason; and festival staff have even volunteered for service on town councils like the Economic Development Commission. 

This summer, the festival is introducing a new way to connect to the community. A new volunteer program will seek out people to do various tasks such as ushering at concerts, serving at post-concert receptions, distributing posters and providing occasional transportation to Norfolk fellows. In return, volunteers will receive tickets to concerts and have the opportunity to interact with Norfolk fellows, artists and staff. 

This program is the brainchild of General Manager Jim Nelson, who admits that part of the reason for this outreach is necessity: with more and more fellows participating in Friday and Saturday concerts, the availability of student ushers is down. However, he notes that the real reason he pushed for this program is a desire to see more community members engaged in the experience of this world-famous music festival. “I sensed that there are some in the community who would welcome the opportunity to attend concerts, engage with the fellows and meet the internationally-known artists. But economics and/or opportunities may not have encouraged this. Here is a chance to do all that without cost and in ways that would be convenient,” he said. “I love the town of Norfolk, as do the other staff at the festival, and this is yet another way to connect the Yale Summer Music Program to the town and vice-versa.” 

Nelson and Tom Hodgkin, the local volunteer coordinator, hope that many local community members will take advantage of this opportunity. Students with an interest in music, people with a bent for community service and those who simply wish to attend a concert or two for free are all welcome. 

To find out more details of this program and volunteer, visit the festival website at norfolk.music.org/volunteer. Or contact the volunteer coordinator, Tom Hodgkin, at  Norfolk.volunteers@yale.edu.