Support + Join

Support the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival with a gift to the Annual Fund. Your gift, no matter the size, will help support the study and performance of the music you love and build new audiences for chamber music. 

Sponsor a Norfolk fellow and enjoy an opportunity to establish a friendship with an outstanding young musician. Sponsorship of one fellow is $5,500 for the summer. Please contact Festival Director Melvin Chen or General Manager James Nelson for more information.

Tribute Gifts to the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival provide a thoughtful way to honor someone special in your life, to recognize a special occasion or event (such as a birthday, graduation, anniversary, or a simple thank-you), or to memorialize a loved one or friend.

Bequests and other forms of deferred giving are an ideal way to create a legacy that will help to build our endowment and provide secure funding for future generations of young musicians and music lovers of all ages. If you have already included Norfolk in your estate plan, please let us know so we may acknowledge your generosity.

For more than 75 years, the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival/Yale Summer School of Music has advanced the field of chamber music through immersive summer training programs for emerging professional musicians and future arts administrators. Recognizing that work experience plays a critical role in establishing a career, we’re always on the lookout for the next generation of arts leaders—interns who are ambitious, curious, and motivated to build on their skills and gain the hands-on experience necessary to enter into a career in the arts.

At Norfolk, you’ll have the opportunity to work with internationally renowned artists and be part of the Yale Summer School of Music community. The Festival has an outstanding record of interns going on to enjoy successful careers in arts administration, academia, and business.

Positions

Application Deadline for Summer 2020: March 1, 2020

Please note, all jobs are summer positions (June–August)

Administrative Intern

Description: 

• Assist in the day-to-day operations of the Festival, including box office, marketing, publicity, and clerical duties
• Management of special projects, as assigned 
• Assist with fellow and Festival artist arrivals, departures, accommodations, and special needs
• Assist with concession operations 
• Concert production duties 

Qualifications: Previous arts administration experience helpful. Interest and/or background in classical music and music education is also helpful.

Compensation: Accommodations, meals, and may be eligible for college credit.

Music Librarian/Director’s Assistant

Responsibilities: 

• Maintaining the Festival’s music and recording library. Responsibilities include purchase and rental of scores and parts, cataloging the Festival’s collection, maintenance of card catalogs and lending records, marking bowings, and operation of library’s audio equipment
• Produce weekly Emerging Artist Showcase programs 
• Management of special projects, as assigned
• Assist the Festival director in the preparation of weekly and daily schedules, correspondence, and coordination of receptions and special events

Qualifications:  Previous library experience and knowledge of classical music are preferred

Compensation: Accommodations, meals, and may be eligible for college credit.

Production Coordinator

Responsibilities:

• Preparation and upkeep of all concert halls and operations for all performances and events
• Upkeep and inventory of all concert and rehearsal equipment (chairs, stands, percussion equipment, etc.)
• Stage management and supervision of all performances, master classes, and lectures
• Operation of stage lighting with occasional re-focusing of light
• Load-in, load-out, and maintenance of equipment
• Assist with concert-hall scheduling 
• Coordinate and oversee stage crew
• Assist recording engineer, as needed
• Management of special projects, as assigned

Qualifications: Technical stage experience, familiarity with personal computers, previous arts administration experience and knowledge of classical music performance are a plus

Compensation: Accommodations, meals, and may be eligible for college credit

How to Apply

Email a cover letter, resume, and references to norfolk@yale.edu with the subject “Summer Positions” or mail materials to:

Norfolk Chamber Music Festival
PO Box 208246
New Haven, CT
06520-8246

Help bring the Festival to life this summer! By volunteering, you’ll gain an insider’s view of the Festival while making friends with Fellows, Festival Artists, staff, and other members of our dedicated volunteer team.

For more information, call 860 542-3000 or email norfolk.volunteers@yale.edu

Positions

Concert Usher

Duties include:

• Collecting tickets
• Handing out programs
• Directing patrons to their seats
• Monitoring doors during performances
• Arriving early to stuff inserts into the program book
• Staying after the concert to tidy and close up the hall

Volunteer skills and requirements:

• Positive attitude and friendly demeanor
• Be able to stand for one hour
• Be able to lift 20 pounds

Special benefits: Watch the concert you are ushering for free 
Availability: Friday or Saturday evenings 
Minimum commitment: At least two concerts per summer season 
Reports to: House Manager

Post-Concert Reception Volunteer

Duties include:

• Pouring drinks (soda, water, wine, and beer)
• Refreshing food platters as needed
• Cleaning up after the reception

Volunteer skills and requirements:

• Minimum 21 years old
• Be able to stand for two hours
• Be able to lift 20 pounds

Special benefits: Watch the concert for free (but be aware that you’ll have to leave before the concert is finished) 
Availability: Friday or Saturday evenings 
Minimum commitment: At least two receptions per summer season 
Reports to: Facilities Staff

Marketing Team

Duties include:

• Distributing posters and brochures around the region

Volunteer skills and requirements:

• Driver’s license; must be able to provide your own transportation
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised
• Comfortable asking businesses to display brochures

Availability: Flexible; availability during business hours preferred 
Minimum commitment: Twice during the summer season, June-August. Distribution locations will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in consultation with the Volunteer Coordinator 
Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator

Events Team

Duties may include:

• Setting up and breaking down event facilities
• Shopping for event materials
• Decorating

Volunteer skills and requirements:

• Ability to lift 20 pounds
• Driver’s license and access to transportation preferred
• Organized with an interest in decor

Availability: availability on June 28&29 is strongly preferred 

Minimum commitment: One event 

Reports to: General Manager

Transportation Team

Duties include:

• Picking up and dropping off Fellows at/from regional airports and train and bus stations
• Transporting Fellows to off-site concerts

Volunteer skills and requirements:

• Driver’s license, must be able to provide your own transportation
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised

Availability: Must be available for at least one arrival or departure day 
Minimum commitment: One trip 
Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator

Field Trip Leader

Help our fellows explore the Norfolk area over the summer by leading a trip off-campus. Organize with friends, or lead the trip by yourself. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator with your field-trip idea. 

Duties include:

• Planning and leading an off-campus activity
• Supervision of fellows during the trip

Volunteer skills and requirements:

• Driver’s license and ability to provide transportation for a group of students
• Ability to work independently and unsupervised
• Event planning experience useful, but not required
• Knowledge of Norfolk and surrounding area

Availability: Sundays 
Minimum commitment: One event 
Reports to: Volunteer Coordinator