The National Music Festival presents “An Evening of Cabaret” to Benefit NMF Scholarship Fund
On Sunday, March 27, 2011 the National Music Festival held its first event, An Evening of Cabaret, at Natasha's Market Cafe in Floyd, Virginia. A crowd of patrons enjoyed hors d'ouevres and the ambience at Natasha's while listening to classical and comical songs from the golden age of cinema, Broadway and television.
The evening program was light-hearted and “zany”, according to Randall Wells, an appreciative member of the audience. There was a bit of “Floyd humor” mixed in with the music selections performed by NMF founders Richard Rosenberg & Caitlin Patton, and other local talents like Ed Cohn, Janina Dumont O’Brien and Carolyn Romano, and from Blacksburg: Paige Russell, and Erica Ann Sipes & Theodore Sipes.
All proceeds from the cabaret evening benefited the Festival's Apprentice Scholarship Fund, which helps make it possible for all 75 apprentice musicians to attend the National Music Festival on full scholarship this year. They will join up with musical mentors during the festival to rehearse and perform at several sessions and venues throughout Floyd County.
David Larsen of LCF Group said “it was a wonderful time, and a great help for the Festival. We look forward to their success in their debut season.”
The purpose of the National Music Festival, a division of OuterArts, Inc., is to bring together world-class music teachers from major orchestras, chamber ensembles and conservatory faculties and gifted pre-professional student musicians. All students receive full scholarships and housing. The two groups rehearse and perform together in orchestral, chamber, solo recital, vocal, choral and chamber opera repertoire. For two weeks, these musicians live and work together, presenting 24 concerts during that period.
The more than 250 festival rehearsals are free and open to the public. See schedule at NMF website: www.NationalMusic.us, and you may purchase concert tickets and festival passes at headquarters, 201 East Main Street, Floyd Village Green Suite 8 (in Floyd Professional Center).
Mark your Calendars:The inaugural season of the National Music Festival is May 29th – June 11th, 2011. Talented Musicians – Outstanding Concerts – Free Rehearsals – Boundless Fun!

Co-Founders of National Music Festival Caitlin Patton & Richard Rosenberg