Alan King: Donna Passno volunteered at Wind Creek Steel Stage. We met in 5th grade and lived 1/4 mile apart and both graduated Belvidere High School and went separate ways and have been reunited volunteering!  

Anonymous Volunteer: I have so many but a few in particular I think are worth telling. I had the pleasure of working as a cinema greeter. To my surprise this was an incredible opportunity to speak to our visitors. Who knew? People actually looked for me again and again for information. I had two gentlemen from New Jersey come to the booth several times.  They tried new things because we were there to guide them into the cinema shows. It was a pleasure for both of us. Also, two different women spoke about how the music in the jazz cabaret moved them to tears. Wow. I was so excited to relay that to the artists later that night.  

Anonymous Volunteer: Celebrating with Andy Soos as he hit 1,000 volunteer hours during The Black Crowes concert!  

Darlene Yost: I had a wonderful time this year meeting and volunteering with some amazing people. I had the opportunity to meet some incredible people from the radio and TV stations. I also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Kendal Conrad and her mother. I was given the chance to be a site supervisor trainee. I didn’t have the opportunity to do the training a lot but that’s OK. At least I had a couple of days and a chance to learn more about the Terrace function. I had a day to enjoy an evening with my husband listening to some great music while enjoying good food and slipping on drinks. This year we had perfect weather, great music, good food, and amazing people. What else can one ask for! We’ll have try to out due this next year. It will be tough, but I know we can do it. Looking forward to next year! 

Debbie Svites: I was ushering the Darius Rucker show and a couple was leaving early and gave their seats to a father and his little daughter the seats were up front. It made the little girls night. I just thought that was very nice of them.  

Ed Lundeen: I was pleased to serve on the “EcoSquad” for 4 shifts this Musikfest (I lobby for the new name of this group to be changed to “Trashplatz”, likely without much support). 2 stories deserve to be told. Hopefully, as things are quiet for a short bit on your end, you can take a minute and enjoy them and bask in your own good efforts. 

Story #1: This Saturday on the lower part of Main St. in one of the heavier trash areas near Aw Shucks (cripes, corn cobs get heavy!). I came upon a Green shirt (my term) extracting a large bag of garbage. I’d met said Green shirt a few days before when he’d been kind enough to introduce himself. He knew me from a Fantasy Baseball League we enjoy together, but I’d not know him. Steve Ott is his name for relevance. 

As he hoisted the bag of fetid filth, dripping with “the juice”, I laughingly and honestly told him, “This is below your pay grade; I’ll get that.” At that point, I asked him what I hadn’t before, saying, “I’m sorry, I don’t know your title here?” His reply? “I’m the VP of Operations”.   

My jaw dropped a bit — as it should have. That would be like Kassie taking tickets at the movie theatre (which she may well do for all I know?). Let me just conclude with no further moralizing, it was not hard to want to return for my garbage shift again the next day; that was an incredible inspiration. 

Story #2: I worked with Corey Tancin (EcoSquad Supervisor). It was mid-afternoon, the heat building and he told me, “I’m getting short of breath. I’m going to need to sit soon.” A few moments after that an apparent Grandmother, pulling a 3 or so year old in a wagon, stopped and asked us, “Where’s the Bounce House?” She knew there had been one years ago but couldn’t find it now. Neither Cory nor I knew if such a thing still existed, and as we tried to think, the G-ma’s face got more concerned. And the 3-year-old looked no less anticipatory.  

Realizing we didn’t have an answer, Corey said, “Let me go get you a program,” and went off to do so. I watched the woman’s face light up with hope and relief. Corey did this despite just a few moments before telling me he was quite fatigued and in need of rest.  

Corey was person #2 who made trash-gathering easier by his act of selflessness. He deserves to be noticed for this act. I’ll work for him any time.  

Gary Persa: I would like to recognize Ed Smith who does an outstanding job as Alcohol Supervisor at our beer tents. Over the course of one evening, I observed his attentiveness and, more importantly, how he takes action when needed. He’s definitely one of the best I ever worked with. Great job Ed! 

Gary Persa: Musikfest is more than just a festival—it’s a shared community experience. It’s humanity coming together in joy, celebrating music, friendship, and the moments that make life brighter. As a volunteer, I know the importance of the job we each have to do, but I also remind myself it’s not just a job—it’s about having fun along the way. I love capturing the moments of silliness, whether it’s Dale Traupman and I pretending to argue, Robin Sherrerd and I joking that love is in the air under the glow of the moonlight, or Tim Ryan tracking me down for a goofy selfie, these little sparks of silliness turn into lasting memories. And it’s those moments—of laughter, teamwork, and connection—that I cherish most. I’m grateful for every friend I get to share this experience with. 

Jill Logan: This was my first-year volunteering at Musikfest and it was a wonderful experience. I worked 2 shifts at the ArtsQuest Member Lounge in Festplatz and 3 shifts at Lagerplatz. All my shift supervisors were friendly and helpful. My fellow volunteers were also the best! I’m so glad for the opportunity and look forward to future volunteering. 😁 

Laura Dombrosky: My team and I (Stanley Black & Decker) had a great time volunteering at Musikfest! It gave us time outside of the office to connect, grow as a team and learn more about each other. We will definitely be back next year!  

Lynnette Saegar: Tawanna Martinez Franco was a volunteer on Main St. with me one night and she earned my awe and adoration…the woman was an upselling genius! She sweet-talked so many customers into the orange light-up mug when all they originally wanted was the plain old green mug. No wonder Main St. was lit up like a Christmas tree most nights! 

Marj Mainhart: Working as roving Customer Service on the sidewalk between the Highmark and Americaplatz on 8/8/25, an older woman approached me only to say, “Thank you for volunteering!”  I told her that l love doing it, and l need no thanks. She told me that she was Jewish and read my name and asked if I was. (I get that a lot with the 2-syllabic Austrian Hungarian last name).  I told her that l am Catholic, and we laughed when l said that my mother was even a Postulant (student nun).  We discussed the state of the world today and world leaders, and past European history, etc. She planned on praying for change Saturday and Sunday, as is the Jewish custom, she said. That was why she came on Friday to enjoy the music before stilling herself in prayer the next day. Here we were, 2 women of different religions, socio-economic backgrounds as she was from Russia, etc. and yet we are brought together through music. If only real-life problems could be so simple!  We hugged each other as though dear friends and parted in peace-both moved to tears. I was told by clergy that the incident was called an official “God Moment” where we are connected on a higher level that supersedes the commonality of life.   And I truly believe that!  

Marketing Team: Among our longest-time volunteers, Linda Galitis and Judy Yuhas– with 83 years of volunteering between them! – are always here with a smile and ready for any adventure.  To prove it, Judy climbed in the police amphibious police vehicle!  They’re both amazing! 

Marketing Team: Nick Howe-Bauman is always helpful and personable with guests. He was at Zinzenplatz just “being Nick” and being helpful, answering guest questions and being a “roving help desk”.  

Marketing Team: Avery Schiavone went out of her way to help me find a shirt in the size I needed. She grabbed a ladder to check the size of the shirt that was on the mannequin. She is so amazing! 

Membership Team: Cindy Freed & Laura Stohl helped with an event for our Circle Donors! They were asked to hand out Circle mugs and Musikfest posters. They went above and beyond to offer help with setting up the giveaways and putting everything away too! They were so friendly and helpful. Big thanks to both!  

Mike Wagner: I have worked in operations for the last 15 years, I am 70+ years old and retired. I can truly say that I have not ever worked with people who were more dedicated to the common cause of working together to accomplish a single goal of putting together the best festival they could. My hat goes off to all the staff people, from the top (Ray Neeb) down to the part-time help hired for Musikfest, North and South sides of the festival. Thank You, I have had a great 3 weeks of working, laughing, and old friendships together. 

Nina McCullough: Shout out to Nickolas Kossup of Starting Tomorrow who generously offered his extra ticket for The Black Keys to my husband (who was hanging around outside while I volunteered at ticketing/admissions that night). Ironically, we attended Starting Tomorrow’s set at FestPlatz earlier that day for the first time and LOVED THEM! Coincidence? I think not! 

Robin Sherrerd: In my opinion it is the Teamwork that stands out overall!  We all had a great experience volunteering with the Box office Staff and the Security Team at Americaplatz.  We all checked on each other often during the Fest and became friends forever.  It made for a more comfortable and enjoyable time. We can’t do it without working together. Thank you everyone! 

Sponsorship Team: Karen & Brian Traupman were absolutely wonderful, helping with all our sponsorship welcomes throughout the festival. They are so sweet and helpful! 

Sponsorship Team: Rosa Velasquez’s dancing at the Wind Creek Steel Stage was the best part of my day! She never fails to bring a smile to everyone’s face!  

Stephanie Mathers: I have been volunteering for ArtsQuest for two years now and this Musikfest was very special because we had no rain which is unusual for Musikfest we had eleven nights and ten days of beautiful weather with no rain since it began in 1984 

Wendy Jamison: Musikfest turns my job into pure joy. One click of the camera in the air and strangers turn into friends-cheek to cheek, laughing, festing together. I roam venue to venue, work with incredible stage crews and videographers, and capture the heart of the festival. For every hour I shoot, there’s another spent editing so the memories shine. It’s hard work, but honestly? It’s a blessing-and I’m already counting down to 2026!