University Musical Society Selects 2016-17 Wallace Blogging Fellows

The University Musical Society (UMS) is pleased to announce that Adam DesJardinis and Marissa Kurtzhals have been selected as the 2016-17 UMS Wallace Blogging Fellows. The fellowship program, currently in its inaugural year, is intended to expose area arts audiences to adventurous arts and cultural opportunities throughout Southeast Michigan.

The fellowship period will take place from September 2016 to April 2017. During this time, fellows will serve as curators who make monthly recommendations about events throughout Southeast Michigan, whether presented by UMS or by other organizations. Recommendations will be shared via UMS Lobby (UMS's blog - read first post), email, and social media campaigns

Adam DesJardins is a Midwest-raised, Detroit-based 23-year-old who enjoys dragging people to performances, public art projects, street festivals, and the likes. He has a soft spot for public transportation and buying second hand candles. Growing up in the thrift store racks of Metro Detroit and on the sandy beaches of Lake Superior, Adam has an eternal, booming love for Michigan. A love that boomed extra loud during the past year when Adam worked in Lille, France as a English teaching assistant, spending his copious vacation time bouncing around from the Baltic to Brussels to Baku. This year, Adam is thrilled to be back in the arts community as a Wallace Blogging Fellow.

Marissa Kurtzhals likes to tell stories, and has had a lifelong passion for the arts. She began blogging for Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art in 2011 and now serves as the head of social media at the Ann Arbor Convention & Visitors Bureau. Marissa hopes to inspire UMS readers to explore the dynamic arts and culture scene of Southeast Michigan. In her spare time, Marissa enjoys singing, cooking, yoga, and spending time at home with her fiancé.

A recipient of the 2014 National Medal of Arts, UMS (also known as the University Musical Society) contributes to a vibrant cultural community by connecting audiences with performing artists from around the world in uncommon and engaging experiences. One of the oldest performing arts presenters in the country, UMS is an independent non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Michigan, presenting over 70 music, theater, and dance performances by professional touring artists each season, along with over 100 free educational activities. UMS is part of the University of Michigan's "Victors for Michigan" campaign, reinforcing its commitment to bold artistic leadership, engaged learning through the arts, and access and inclusiveness.

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