Albright College senior Whitney Jefferson ’19 couldn’t ignore an email from Albright College’s Experiential Learning & Career Development Center about an internship opportunity at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. The well-known 117-acre park venue in Vienna, Va., offers the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas more than 100 performances across each summer.
The venue’s popular Filene Center features major touring acts, while The Barns is a smaller on-site venue for opera, chamber and jazz concerts. And the park’s Children’s Theatre in the Woods hosts child acts centered around theatre, music and opera.
Mainly an intern in Wolf Trap’s Box Office, Jefferson also assists in group sales for the Children’s Theatre in the Woods. “My duties range from intern tasks like data entry to supervisory tasks like dropping cash deposits for shows. I also manage all-things-ticket-services related to Children’s Theatre in the Woods,” says Jefferson. “It’s always very sweet to watch the kids come to shows dressed in costumes.”
Taking full advantage of summer experiences in the Music Industry Studies field, Jefferson interned with the Calvert Marine Museum last summer, working directly with the venue’s promoter. Having enjoyed both experiences, she hopes to continue making great memories as this summer winds down.
“Ultimately, I’ll remember the people I’ve worked with,” says Jefferson. “They’re all so sweet, funny, and willing to lend a helping hand.”
“The most interesting thing I’ve learned at Wolf Trap is how the Foundation operates,” says Jefferson, who explains that unlike most concert venues, the majority of Wolf Trap’s revenue comes from donors instead of ticket sales. “Working at a nonprofit performing arts center is such an eye opening experience. There are multiple revenue streams just from ticketing, but it’s the community’s support that’s most important in keeping Wolf Trap afloat. And being in that sort of community, even for a summer, is inspiring,” she says.
