Information for NOI+F 2021
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IN-PERSON: We are planning for an in-person festival for NOI+F 2021. Our 2021 fellows will live in a “pod” during the festival to limit the risk of COVID-19 spread within our community.
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HEALTH: Universal masking, distancing, increased surface cleaning and other health precautions will be taken. We have worked closely with the University of Maryland Health Center to create health and safety protocols.
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PARTICIPANT HOUSING AND FOOD: All fellows will be required to live in single rooms in University Greek housing. We have rented over seven houses to provide a safe and contained “podded” environment for all NOI+F fellows. All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) will be provided by a catering company cooking out of Greek housing kitchens. Many of the meals will be “grab-and-go” to accommodate distancing and dining safety. Accommodations for different dietary restrictions and choices will be available by request.
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PERFORMANCES: To accommodate distancing on stage, we will deploy a plan with two orchestras each week of 40-50 players. We have also installed a stage extension in the Dekelboum Concert Hall.
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INSTRUCTION: Faculty and conductors will run masterclasses and sectionals in our largest spaces, and may make use of outdoor spaces. Rehearsal spaces will be equipped with necessary ventilation, air out time, and appropriate numbers of people will be controlled within spaces.
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ONBOARDING AND TESTING: We are planning on a 7-day quarantine period and “onboarding” at the start of the festival for all orchestral fellows. Following State of Maryland protocol, fellows will test out of quarantine with a negative PCR test after the fifth day. Regular testing will occur throughout the festival. Conducting Fellows and Composition Fellows will have a shorter quarantine period before their residency which will be communicated by email.
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HEALTH RESTRICTIONS: We do not know what the COVID-19 spread will look like in June and we cannot predict what the national, state, county and university guidelines will look like for NOI+F 2021 at this point. We are doing our best to be responsive and flexible to the changing landscape to provide an artistically fulfilling in-person experience. We are working closely with our partners at the University of Maryland Health Center to help us design protocols that ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff and patrons.
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LIVE AUDIENCES: For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started, we will open limited quantities of in-person tickets for patrons to experience the festival at The Clarice. We will also continue to offer the opportunity to stream NOI+F concerts from home. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 25, 2021.