From July 1 through July 6, the sounds of music and the bright glow of stage lights will once again fill Crocker Park for the annual Marblehead Festival of Arts (MFoA) and Concerts @ Crocker Park events.
But behind the scenes of this cherished summer tradition is an extraordinary opportunity for teens and young adults: a hands-on internship program that teaches everything from stage construction to professional audio engineering.
For more than 20 years, the Concerts @ Crocker Park Internship Program has invited high school and college-age students ages 15 and older to trade screen time for stage time.
Interns work directly with seasoned professionals to build a 20-by-30-foot stage, set up lighting, run sound systems for 16 live bands, and gain real-world event management experience.
“We started out with 10 or 15 kids a year. This was around 2001, so now we’re going into 2025 — that’s 20 years plus,” said Brian Wheeler, chairperson for Performing Arts and producer of the concerts. “Some of those kids that started with us are now adults and have families of their own.”
What began as a small volunteer group has since grown into a respected live classroom at Crocker Park. The internship requires no prior experience, just a willingness to learn and contribute. Wheeler describes the process as a full-scale production built from the ground up.
“Our crew comes in the day before, and we literally build from the grass up. We built a 30-by-20 stage with concert sound and lighting. We put in our green room and our tech booth,” Wheeler said. “The kids are part of that build in this live classroom format.”
Interns also help manage and run the four nights of live concerts, gaining hands-on exposure to a wide range of technical and logistical aspects of live event production.
Wheeler said this year will be his 50th year bringing the gift of music to Marblehead on one of the most “beautiful venues in the world.”
The program’s impact has been far-reaching. John Krivit, a longtime educator and audio professional, has played a pivotal role in sourcing interns through his network and his globally followed social media community “Hey Audio Student,” which boasts over 215,000 members.
“About 30 years ago, I started teaching at a college that would furnish interns to the Marblehead Festival. That’s how I got to know Brian Wheeler. He puts everything he’s got into this great experience, not just for the people who come out and listen to the concerts, but also for the young people who learn how to be audio engineers,” Krivit said.
Krivit, who currently teaches at Emerson College, continues to help place students from schools such as Salem State and beyond.
“I’ve seen kids go from interns to doing sound for the President of the United States,” Krivit said. “There are volunteers who take their vacations to come back to Crocker Park and train the next generation. It’s a tryout for anyone new. If you’re hardworking and have a great attitude, someone’s going to hand you a business card.”
Though the work is unpaid, the real reward lies in the experience, mentorship, and professional development that interns receive.
“Some of the long-time engineers give little seminars on how to mix Front of House, how to mix monitors,” Krivit said. “It enables students to have something really concrete on their resume.”
Days start with breakfast at Driftwood before the real work begins: loading gear, setting up tents, laying cables, rigging lighting, and preparing sound systems. Interns then assist with stage management and live show execution, followed by a full breakdown of equipment and site restoration on July 6.
“We leave on July 6, and by 3 p.m., it looks just like it did before. We literally build a little city in Crocker Park,” said Wheeler. “The kids that come in without even knowing what Marblehead is and walk away with lifelong lessons. They learn how to coordinate, how to build, how to manage an event, and how to be part of a team.”
One of those interns is Jacob Szalewicz, who just graduated from high school and has been part of the program for four years.
“I started when I was a freshman, and I was just super excited, because it was something new, something I had never done before,” Szalewicz said. “Immediately, when I started it, I had a ton of fun, just like setting up the big stage at Crocker Park, where all the people are watching, and getting to be a part of the community.”
Szalewicz says the experience helped define his future.
“After the first year, I was super interested in all the stuff they taught me. I think I chose my career path based on what I had experienced there,” he said. “I’m going into digital media, hopefully through audio engineering.”
He highlighted learning how interconnected audio systems are as one of the most interesting lessons.
“It was just super cool to see how interconnected everything is and how the microphones are set up for each instrument, and how each instrument gets plugged in, and how it’s all connected to the speakers,” he said. “It’s just like a big system.”
Szalewicz encourages new interns not to be intimidated.
“It might seem a little scary at first because everything we teach is probably new to you,” he said. “But don’t be afraid to just learn new things, because most of it’s super cool, and you’re going to fall in love with it, and it’s always a blast.”
Kevin Thurber, who first stepped into the world of live performance production as a sophomore in college on the stage at Crocker Park, is now a production audio specialist for Broadway performances.
Thurber recalled his first time working at Crocker Park, and for a student studying sound recording at the New England Institute of Art in Boston, the opportunity was transformative.
“Being able to be on a live, working stage that is functioning at the professional level was super helpful,” he said. “But the biggest aspects of it were feeling welcomed, and feeling that in this environment, it was professional, but everyone there was focused on learning, openness, and making sure people felt comfortable asking questions.”
That environment, according to Thurber, was built on the shoulders of long-time volunteers and leaders who returned year after year to create not just a performance, but a culture. People like Wheeler, Thumber said, played pivotal roles in establishing a space where learning, support, and high standards could all coexist.
“Over time, I really learned the importance of sharing skills,” said Thurber. “And that’s something I’ve carried with me into the professional world. Every project I’ve worked on, whether in Boston or on tour, has benefited from having a wide variety of experiences and people coming together. That mindset was really planted at Crocker.”
During their college years, Thurber worked at Crocker Park for several summers—three years in a row from 2014 through 2016, and again in 2017. By 2018, they had transitioned into the touring Broadway world. After a break, he returned to Crocker Park in 2022, this time in a stage management and organizational role, taking on more leadership responsibilities.
“I haven’t been back every year,” he said, “but when I was able to return in 2022, it was meaningful to come back in a new capacity, helping organize the events happening on stage, really being part of the structure.”
Thurber said, “It’s an opportunity for students in the area and for the Town of Marblehead. And it’s also just a fun thing to attend and be at.”
Krivit praised Wheeler’s unwavering dedication to both the event and the educational component.
“Brian is the hero behind the whole thing. He gives everything he’s got into making this a wonderful experience for everyone. Not just for the people who come to see and hear the concerts, but for the young people who are working,” he said. “He wants to make sure they’re learning, that they’re growing, and that they leave with some demonstrable skill.”
To sign up, email briangale@comcast.net or text 617-834-3706. Interns are welcome to participate in all or part of the event.
“If you’re a parent and you have a young person interested in this kind of technology, this is a great way to learn a skill,” Krivit said. “And if they give it their all, someone will be there to teach them.”
Applications are open now, and space is limited. For those ready to unplug and plug into something meaningful, the Concerts @ Crocker Park Internship may be the experience of a lifetime.
