Sponsorship allows participating high school, college graduates to attend two-day music festival for free
SOMERSET, KENTUCKY (May 31, 2024) — After an overwhelmingly positive response to a new initiative last year that provided free Master Musicians Festival (MMF) weekend passes to local high school graduates, the program is expanding to include colleges and universities.
MMF’s Next Generation initiative allows businesses to sponsor graduating classes at local and regional institutions. MMF Executive Director Tiffany Finley said the program not only inspires the next generation of festival-goers and leaders, but it celebrates the significant accomplishments of these graduating seniors at both the secondary and postsecondary levels.
“When you look at the makeup of volunteers and our board of directors now versus 31 years ago, you see an interesting trend — many of them had parents who either helped create or served MMF when it began,” Finley said. “The best way for us to continue fostering relationships with the next generation, who will lead this festival when we are all gone, is to welcome them and show them what a magical experience MMF is and what an incredible benefit it brings to the community. This initiative also reinforces our mission to bring music to people of all walks of life and support music education, both of which are extremely important.”
This year, graduating students at Pulaski County High School, Southwestern High School, Somerset High School, Wayne County High School, the University of Pikeville (UPIKE), Campbellsville University Somerset Campus and Somerset Community College (SCC) will receive free weekend passes to the 31st annual MMF, scheduled July 19-20 at SCC’s Festival Field. They will experience a lineup led by The Wallflowers and filled with 27 local, state and national acts across two stages.
While UPIKE and Campbellsville sponsored their own graduating classes, Somerset and Pulaski schools are sponsored by Somerset Pellet Fuel, Wayne County High is sponsored by The Law Office of Rhonda Hatfield-Jeffers, and Somerset Community College by Citizens Bank.
Each participating school will provide MMF with a list of current-year graduates. To claim their weekend pass, students simply have to bring an ID to the entrance gate on the Friday or Saturday of the festival. Passes will only be released to the student and are non-transferrable.
Sponsorships are still available for businesses in other communities that wish to support their graduating seniors. For more information, email Finley at mastermusiciansfestival@gmail.com.
Held annually in July, the Master Musicians Festival has been named Southeast Tourism Society’s Festival of the Year and the Governor’s Awards for the Arts Outstanding Community Arts Organization. In addition to two days of eclectic, diverse music, MMF offers meet-and-greet workshops hosted by artisans and musicians, as well as a wide variety of art and food vendors. MMF also showcases artisans and craftsmen, and recognizes a Kentucky artist whose festival-themed work is auctioned and featured on merchandise. Tickets to the 31st annual festival sponsored by Lake Cumberland Tourism are on sale now at mastermusiciansfestival.org.
