Mile of Music Receives 2015 Collaboration in Action Award

Since the very beginning of Mile of Music in 2013, Lawrence University (LU) – a liberal arts university located in Downtown Appleton, Wisconsin – has been an enthusiastic partner of the festival.

On September 29, 2015, Mile of Music was honored with the 2015 Collaboration in Action Award at the university’s annual Report to the Community event.

This award, according to LU, honors an individual or organization, whose partnership with the university has provided service to the Fox Cities through strategic vision, leadership influence, long-standing commitment and enthusiasm, financial contributions and/or volunteerism.

For the first three festivals, Music Education Team curator Leila Ramagopal Pertl has hand-selected a team of music educators to lead workshops during the festival ranging from songwriting and instrument instruction to sing-alongs. Pertl’s goal is to have festival attendees get in touch with their “inner musicians”. Her husband, Dean of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, Brian Pertl, has also had an integral part in planning the festival since Mile 1.

Leila Ramagopal Pertl teaches a young festival attendee during a drum workshop. This workshop is part of the Music Education Team’s work during the festival. Photo: Graham Washatka

Each year, Mile of Music has featured artists whose musical roots stem from Lawrence University. At Mile 3, sixteen LU alumni were featured in four different musical groups.

LU Class of 2008 alumnus Nathan Litt is a project director for Willems Marketing & Events, as well as a Festival Coordinator for Mile of Music. Willems Marketing & Events also was fortunate to have four student interns from LU throughout the spring and summer, all assisting with Mile 3 festival planning. LU volunteers have also jumped on board to help make the festival happen, making this partnership a truly collaborative effort.

The Mile of Music Team thanks Lawrence University for providing a seamless partnership in helping make the music happen. We are grateful for this honor and are eager to see where your collaboration takes us in Mile 4 and beyond.

Read more about the Lawrence University/Mile of Music partnership:

• https://blogs.lawrence.edu/news/2015/09/mile-of-music-honored-with-lawrences-2015-collaboration-in-action-award.html
• http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/education/2015/09/29/lawrence-honors-mile-music/72971714/