BIOGRAPHY

Hello! My name’s Amara Farah, I am a 4.00 GPA third-year student at Western Washington University double-majoring in Composition and Musicology, earning a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies, and cultivating a fond curiosity for conducting. Music has always been a part of my life, through performance, dance, composition, etc., but I have come to realize that conducting combines so much of what I love about music: imagination, leadership, musicianship, education, and meaningful connections. There are times when I conduct in which it is easy to burn brightly: these are brief moments that are hard to explain when I fully step into myself and radiate aliveness. I am present, awake, grounded, and exude such joy. It is because of this burning curiosity and passion for conducting that I am strongly considering pursuing it in graduate school. I feel content that I am learning in my undergraduate university classes, but I have such a desire to learn more.

Since there is no undergraduate conducting degree available at WWU and the curricula for my majors do not require me to take more than one conducting class, I have enrolled in as many courses as possible outside of the basic sequence like the Advanced Conducting Practicum and Advanced Instrumental Conducting, classes generally reserved for senior students. I can take these classes because of my kind and supportive professors, who also help to create podium time for me, such as by allowing me to lead Bach chorales in the Wind Symphony or by asking me to sub in the Symphonic Band. I work to create opportunities for myself as well, like reaching out to the directors of the Whatcom Wind Ensemble, Bellingham’s local community band, who were kind enough to let me conduct a piece at their concert this season. With conducting as a budding passion, it is a value of mine to find and create opportunities to learn and grow.

MASTERCLASS GOALS

My goals going into this masterclass are to learn how to be a stronger conductor (technically and pedagogically) under the direction of Maestra Ioannides, to learn in what ways I can embrace my gender on the podium (as a female-identifying conductor), and to build meaningful connections with the other conductor participants. To achieve these goals, I will be brave, open-minded, prepared, present, and curious. I will become a stronger musician and leader as a result.

The cost of tuition for the masterclass is $2,500 before travel expenses, room, and board. It’s hard to put a price on such a priceless opportunity, but this is an incredibly difficult amount of money for me to budget for. As a double major currently enrolled in 22 credits, I find the time to work two jobs to earn income, but paying this much would cause me immense financial stress and anxiety. I am hoping to raise $2,500 to cover the tuition of the masterclass.

The Cascade Conducting Masterclass is an incredible learning opportunity for me; I will become a stronger musician and conductor from this masterclass, learn from Maestra Ioannides, meet other conductors that have similar —and different— experiences to mine on the podium, and further my research on women in the discipline of conducting. I will bring my knowledge back to Bellingham and demonstrate my skills in conducting at the university and the surrounding community. Moreover, I will return from this masterclass with a network of conductors to reach out to for future research and to further learn from.

Thank you for your consideration!