Providing quality music education to advanced students from all backgrounds, regardless of financial circumstances or geographic location, is integral to the Festival’s mission.
Student Sponsorships encourage highly qualified students to attend the Festival. More than 70% of student participants receive scholarships that make their Festival experiences possible. As a Sponsor, you can support a student’s dream and make a long-lasting personal connection with a talented young musician.
Sponsor Benefits and Levels
Student Sponsor Benefits
1. Opportunity to establish a lifelong connection with a rising young artist.
2. Invitation to a Student-Sponsor special event.
3. Personal alerts about sponsored student performances.
4. Special Sponsor recognition throughout the Festival season.
5. Partnership in the fostering of a new generation of artists and artistry.
2025 Sponsor Levels
Full Session Sponsorship: $8,600
Sponsor 6 weeks of tuition, room, and board for a student.
Single Session Sponsorship: $4,900
Sponsor 3 weeks of tuition, room, and board for a student.
Single Session Tuition Sponsorship: $2,600
Sponsor 3 weeks of tuition for a student.
Sponsorships are welcome for students in the instrumental, composition, fellowship, and collaborative piano programs.
The SPonsorship Experience
YUNWEN CHEN
“As Margy Burroughs’ sponsored student, the Festival felt like a second home to me. It was a safe place where I could express myself with words and music. I wasn’t able to go home and see my family during the pandemic, and the Festival provided great comfort. I was provided with food and a nice residence hall, which enabled a community to form and grow among the Fellows. I met wonderful people. I was at a place where I could recharge myself and feel inspired. Those two things are so crucial for young artists, and I am tremendously grateful that I didn’t have to worry about finances. I feel very lucky and thankful.”
MARGY BURROUGHS
“There is nothing more rewarding than sponsoring a Festival student. The talent is outstanding, and the students themselves are truly delightful and so appreciative of everything we do for and with them. Watching Yunwen’s performances gives me goose bumps and makes me feel so proud — that’s MY student up there, so talented, so completely emotionally involved in what she’s playing, so confident and happy to be where she is. She could never have come here without sponsorship. I feel so lucky that I was able to help her and that she, in particular, was assigned to me. We bonded instantly. I’m hoping we’ll stay in touch long after she’s moved on from Brunswick.”
One of my greatest pleasures every summer is sponsoring a music student at the Festival. I find that having a personal connection to one of these fine musicians, and welcoming them into my family, adds depth to the Festival season. I look forward to the experience every year.
I consider the lessons I have had with my violin teachers at the Festival to be nothing short of life changing. Equally as important, I have developed new musical partnerships with my peers at Bowdoin that I aim to keep throughout by life and career. I am truly grateful to my sponsor for making this experience possible.
We're Investors — rather than Donors — investing in both the Festival program and a special individual student. The caliber of student is amazing and the music, the instruction, and the recitals are exciting. We believe we get a good return on our investment.
To learn more about becoming a Student Sponsor, please contact the Festival at at 207-373-1400 or development@bowdoinfestival.org.