An "expanded" Rushmore Music Festival is underway in the Black Hills.
The festival brings dozens of students and faculty artists together every summer to focus on music education.
Ismar Gomes is the artistic director for the event who said this year, it’s broadening.
“We’ve been playing concerts in different venues in Spearfish for the last 10 years," said Gomes. "And this year, we have this new, very exciting partnership with the Matthews Opera House, which is right downtown—beautiful historic space. We’re just glad to be part of the downtown vibrancy there.”
He said they’re also expanding the festival’s footprint in the Black Hills.
“We have concerts in Rapid on our main campus. Those are called our Summertime Soirees. And then the series at the Matthews is called RCA Classics at the Matthews. And so, each week, we’re doing the same program at each location so it’s six programs over the course of six weeks," said Gomes. "We also have a lot of concerts happening elsewhere, sort of all around the Black Hills, particularly throughout Rapid City.”
Gomes says the RCA Classics features the world-class Rushmore Concert Artists, but the Summertime Soirees include dinner, where the chef-in-residence pairs multiple courses with the musical selections of the night.
The audience may reap the benefits of the festival through soaring melodies and full bellies, but the core of it is music education. The event boasts programs like the Young Artist and Collaborative Piano Fellowships, as well as an Emerging Artist Quartet-in-Residence, all for musicians ages 13 to 28.
Gomes said the entire affair brings community and camaraderie, where students learn from mentors and each other and vice versa. And that emanates to the community-at-large through their performances. Something Gomes said is “pretty special.”
“We’re actually one of the few festivals in the country that’s completely operated by musicians. It’s pretty rare. Very often there’s some kind of outsider. There’s some kind of extra element in festivals," said Gomes. "For better or worse, we’re all musicians, top to bottom. Even our chef is a former student. He’s a violinist. He’ll be taking lessons between meals.”
The festival runs through July 31 throughout the Black Hills.