“I have had the distinct pleasure of returning to Bayreuth thanks to the support of the Wagner Society of New York and the Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation. Coming back as a stipendiat allowed me to experience the festival and city from a whole new perspective. Within the program, I have been able to expand and grow my European professional network. I found myself in awe throughout the week as I was surrounded by such talented peers. As an arts administrator, I kept on asking myself- “I wonder when I will get to work with these singers again? Where will we all be in 20 years?”
While expanding my professional connections has been one of the many benefits of this program, it was not all 100% business. I had such a pleasure getting to know these contemporaries of mine. I found it so exciting to be in conversation with them, speaking eloquently about Wagner and then transitioning into normal twenty-something chatting. The connections I made by my participation in the stipendium program have been such a gift.
Alongside the deep connections I made with people, my actual time spent in the Festspielhaus has left me with a deeper connection to Wagner and his music. I am so lucky that my first time ever hearing Parsifal and Tristan live was within the Festspielhaus— the experience I had being completely absorbed in these Wagnerian worlds is one I will never forget.
My experience in Bayreuth has left me with so much gratitude. To the New York Society for their endless support, to the International Verband for the exciting programming, and to Wagner himself as I got to truly experience his vision of the festival ideal.”