Young musicians across Northumberland are being offered a new opportunity to perform on a major local festival stage.
Cultivate Festival and Sounds of the Next Generation, or SONG, have partnered to launch Growing Stages, a youth artist development program designed to give local musicians a pathway from community music-making to professional performance opportunities.
The program is open to youth artists and groups between the ages of 13 and 18 who are ready to perform a 30-minute, family-friendly set and are available during Cultivate Festival weekend, September 25th to 27th.
Applicants will be asked to submit a short artist profile, a promotional photo and a performance video.
One artist or group will be selected as the 2026 Growing Stages Featured Artist and will perform Sunday afternoon at Cultivate Festival.
The selected performer will also receive professional photo and video content from the festival’s media team, inclusion in SONG and Cultivate promotional materials, and support in preparing for the experience of performing on a professional festival stage.
Miles Bowman, Executive Director of SONG, says the program is about helping young musicians see a future for themselves in Northumberland.
“Every artist starts somewhere,” Bowman said.
Growing Stages is intended to strengthen the local music community by creating a clear path for young artists to develop their skills and gain performance experience.
SONG provides free music education and performance opportunities for children and youth across Northumberland County through after-school and in-school programs, as well as its SoundStage program.
Applications for Growing Stages are now open to eligible youth artists and groups.
(Written by: Branden Rushton)
