Denison University and Ohiolina Music Festival announce a three-year partnership to provide Denison students the opportunity to perform with and learn from nationally known Bluegrass and American Roots musicians in a festival atmosphere. The partnership includes a summer internship for Denison students to learn marketing, social media, booking, and other skills associated with the music business. The Ohiolina Music Festival is a family-friendly celebration of the music and culture rooted in the I-77 corridor, held September 17-19, at Infirmary Mound Park in Granville.

“This is a terrific opportunity for students interested in Bluegrass and American Roots music to immerse themselves in the diverse music and culture of the Ohio-North Carolina region,” says Adam Schlenker, director of the college’s Bluegrass/American Roots music program.

“Our students will have the opportunities to perform at the Festival and jam with musicians of all levels. This kind of interaction is a key part of learning traditional music which is handed down generation to generation,” he adds. “And Ohiolina musicians will hold four workshops on campus so students can work in small groups with these musicians who have spent years or even decades developing their craft.”

Each year, a student intern will be chosen to work with the Ohiolina organization over the summer. Professor Margot Singer, director of Denison’s Eisner Center for Performing Arts, notes, “This is truly important exposure for students who are interested in a music career. They will learn on the ground floor of a thriving performing arts organization, and they will build the kind of personal career networks that can open doors in the music business.”

Denison is the ideal choice for highly talented students who want to explore the performing arts in a liberal arts setting. The college’s state-of-the-art Michael D. Eisner Center provides students gorgeous and expertly equipped rehearsal, performance, and recording spaces. Denison’s interdisciplinary programming develops students’ ability to powerfully connect with audiences.