EMF 2024 alumni Lucas Glander (flute), Jessica Lara (violin), and Doogan Townsend (piano) sat down together with EMF staff at the conclusion of EMF’s 63rd season to talk about their experience and their plans for continued growth this fall and beyond. Read below for excerpts from their interview.

About Each Alumni:
Lucas Glander, Flute
From: Rockville, Maryland
Plans after EMF: Beginning graduate school this fall at Friedrich Gulda School of Music in Vienna, Austria
Jessica Lara, Violin
From: San Antonio, Texas
Plans after EMF: Continuing undergraduate studies at University of Texas at San Antonio and preparing for my senior recital taking place in the fall 2024 semester
Doogan Townsend, Piano
From: Gainesville, Florida
Plans after EMF: Finishing my undergraduate studies at Florida State University and starting to apply to various graduate programs in music theory
Looking back on the EMF 2024 summer, what were some of your favorite moments?
Lucas: My favorite was playing the flute solo in Petrushka (in week four).
Jessica: Listening to the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2 and Rite of Spring. I’ve listened to it in the past, but – I don’t know – for some reason I was just really moved by this performance that they put on, and it felt really special. I loved it.
Doogan: I really enjoyed the piano recitals occurring each Sunday; it’s been fun to hear everybody play and experience a sense of community, as we all support each other. One of my favorite moments was when it was Professor Wolfram’s birthday on the last recital; we sang happy birthday and made him come on stage, which was very fun.
What led you to first pick up your instrument and grow to where you are now?
Lucas: My sister played flute before I did. She’s 3 years older than me. And she and I were – were and are – very competitive as siblings. So, I started because I wanted to be better. And then a few years down the road, I realized “oh,[flute] is actually really cool, and I really like this.” And she actually stopped playing, but I kept playing. So it was born out of competition, and then I started to love it.
Jessica: I started violin in fifth grade strings class. I feel, of the people I have met here [at EMF], many started when they were really really young, so I consider myself a late starter of the violin. But that hasn’t stopped me from pushing to get better and trying to challenge myself. And [attending EMF] is one of the challenges that I’ve chosen. . .Ever since fifth grade strings, I haven’t been able to put the violin down.
Doogan: My parents put my two older sisters and I in piano lessons for a bit in elementary school. During that time, we all didn’t practice seriously and eventually stopped. In middle school, I played trumpet and sang in choir, and it wasn’t until I was around 14 when I chose to try piano again. I then started up playing again, and I really liked it. I decided to focus more of my time on piano, since that’s what I wanted to continue into college.
What are you looking forward to?
Lucas: I’m excited to move to Europe for grad school at Friedrich Gulda School of Music and learn [classical] music directly from Europe, where it originated, and in the heart of Vienna. There will be a lot of growing that needs to be done. I think the competition over there is really high. But I’m excited to be thrown into another new environment like EMF, and just find my way up.
Jessica: I’m really excited for my senior recital, because it’s next semester. So I’ve been preparing a little bit of Bach here with my teacher, Susan McCallum. And, she’s been helping me prepare for that to put on my program. I’m excited just to take the skills I’ve learned at EMF and apply it at UTSA, and am very excited to put on my own performance.
Doogan: When the semester starts back up again, I’m excited to share the experiences that I had here. I feel like I’ve experienced a lot at EMF that has enhanced my learning, and I can bring that back to Florida State University. Also, I hope to keep my connections with the friends I’ve made, and hopefully see them in the future at other festivals.
What is one piece of advice you would give to next year’s EMF students?
Lucas: My piece of advice would be to go to as many concerts and events that you can. I know I was not great at concert attendance during my undergrad! But here, I kind of learned a different appreciation for just being able to go and watch other people perform, especially when you’re in such a concentrated environment. And it might be tempting [to skip doing this sometimes], because we have to practice, or we are tired after all the rehearsals, but sometimes it’s nice to just watch someone else do it (and you don’t have to worry about performing yourself!)
Jessica: I have one! Build up your endurance before arriving at the festival. Especially stretching and getting your body used to the amount of practicing and playing you have to do. I made sure to prepare myself . . . I would recommend building up your endurance a month or two in advance before getting here.
Doogan: I would say get to know new people when you first get here. Talk to as many people as you can and make lots of friends, it makes a big difference, especially when you find a group of people you really enjoy spending time with.