The festival runs from June 24-Aug. 2 and is the only festival worldwide to host three major orchestras. This year's roster will include the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. More than 50 soloists also perform as chamber musicians and with resident orchestras, and the festival hosts more than 60,000 people each year.
Wentz has worked with of UD's Master Players Chamber Series (MPCS), directed by renowned violinist Xiang Gao, associate professor of music. Wentz served first as an intern, then as assistant to Gao and is now artist coordinator, arranging the visits on campus of the well-known musicians associated with MPCS. She studies the viola with UD viola faculty Andrea Priester Houde.
Last summer, Wentz worked as an intern to the assistant director of development and to the Academy Ball coordinator of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She also helped coordinate the orchestra's inaugural Club Green Room, a catered post-concert event for college students to encourage them to become involved with the orchestra.
In addition, Wentz is the booking manager for Distant Voices Touring Theatre. UD faculty accompanist Julie Nishimura's and Danny Peake are the founders and artistic directors of Distant Voices.
According to Gao, Wentz is now a major step closer to her dream as she will be managing three major orchestras and some of today's top notch soloists this summer. “This is an amazing opportunity for anyone at any age, and she is only a junior in college,” he said.
Wentz, who began playing the violin at 6, helped found the Cordabellezza String Quartet and served as coordinator and first violinist of the group. She also helped start and organize Souderton Area High School's first Arts Night Out, combining an art exhibit with performing arts events on the football field. “We wanted to attract a broader audience than those who go to concert halls, and it was successful,” she said.
When she was a senior in high school, Wentz said she considered attending a conservatory, but decided a university would provide a wider scope. She said the University of Delaware has provided far better opportunities than she could have imagined. Among her experiences as a UD student, Wentz traveled to France on a Winter Session trip, giving some small recitals, and also to China.
In the future, she said, an ideal career would be combining her performing and organizational skills as a musician and manager.
Photo by Kathy Atkinson