Harpsichords andHistoric Notes Washington Center internship provides professional experience By Liam McBane, a Buchanan Fellow majoring in Music
M
y Washington, D.C., story began in September 2019 when I received an email blast about The Washington Center (TWC) Academic Internship Program. I went to the campus coordinator for the internship to learn more and soon began my internship pairing process. I hoped to work with a major performing arts organization since I’m keenly interested in arts administration. Liam McBane Unfortunately, performing arts organizations were not eager to take on new workers during the industry downturn due to COVID-19. TWC soon switched over to an exclusively online format, and after interviewing with several organizations, I agreed to a position with the DACOR Bacon House, a diplomatic nonprofit that wanted my musical expertise for historical research to form the basis of a special historical-musical concert series for fundraising.
My research findings were unexpected. I learned that Franklin was a prolific author of drinking songs and the inventor of . . . the glass harmonica. 12
ARETÉ MAGAZINE | Fall 2021
