Photo by Geoff SheilNOI+F brings together aspiring orchestral musicians from across the country for a month of dynamic music-making and professional exploration. Chosen through a rigorous, cross-country audition process, these young artists present passionate and thrilling performances at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and in College Park, MD and Washington, D.C.
Beyond creating inspiring performances on-stage, NOI+F collaborates with renown partners across the country on a yearly basis. In 2015, NOI+F entered into a partnership with Naxos Records that has already produced six albums, including a GRAMMY nomination in the category of “Best Orchestral Performance” for the 2018 album “Ruggles, Stucky & Harbison: Orchestral Works.”
Internationally recognized conducting luminary Marin Alsop was appointed first-ever music director of the National Orchestral Institute + Festival in 2020. As music director, Alsop leads the NOI+F Conducting Academy and conducts multiple concerts at The Clarice each June.
NOI+F is a program of Clarice Presents, The Clarice’s artistic platform. Daring to envision a new role for the performing arts to play at UMD and throughout its communities, Clarice Presents reimagines the integration of artistic presentation, accessibility, local civic action and community engagement. The Clarice is an innovative and collaborative state-of-the-art performing arts facility comprising multiple venues. Together, the schools and organizations that call The Clarice home leverage creativity, innovation, research and engagement to act as a catalyst for the arts and address the grand challenges of our times.
Who is NOI+F looking for?
NOI+F recruits the finest young orchestral performers on the threshold of a professional career. Members are selected through a rigorous and competitive nationwide audition process. Members have a palpable passion for orchestral music and are ready to share its power with others while also renovating its presentation to reach new audiences.
What is the NOI+F experience?
NOI+F provides a month of intensive rehearsals, intimate masterclasses, insightful seminars and electrifying performances. Participants work closely with faculty drawn from leading North American symphony orchestras and conservatories. Conductors, rotating on a weekly basis, are visionaries on the podium and offer many decades of orchestral wisdom and leadership. NOI+F members are also active in our community during their residency. They engage with new audiences and perform in non-traditional venues. They meet supporters and even design pre-concert discussions! NOI+F participants are the future of our orchestral ecosystem!
When does NOI+F take place?
Most NOI+F members will arrive at the University of Maryland campus on Wed, May 28, 2025 and depart on Mon, June 30, 2025.
Where does NOI+F take place?
Most events take place in the University of Maryland's state-of-the-art Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. This 318,000-square-foot performing arts center houses acoustically superior concert and recital halls under the same roof as sound-isolated practice rooms and seminar facilities. Resident halls in various configurations (suites and apartments) are also located on the UMD campus and are a 12-15 minute walk from The Clarice. Campus shuttles and parking options are available. Conveniently located just nine miles from the heart of Washington, DC, the University of Maryland in College Park is the State of Maryland's flagship public research institution. The area's extensive mass transit systems allows reliable access to a vibrant cultural scene filled with historic venues and world-class performers.
