<html class="apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Please see below. Fantastic opportunity!<div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">~Katelyn MacIntyre, M.M.<div><div>President, National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division</div></div><div>www.nfb-pad.org</div><div>www.facebook.com/PerformingArtsDivision</div><div>Twitter: @NFB_PAD</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Bella Music Foundation <info@bellamf.org><br><b>Date:</b> August 21, 2026 at 11:54:22\u202fPM EDT<br><b>To:</b> Bella Music Foundation <info@bellamf.org><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>2026 BMF International Music Competition for Blind and Visually Impaired Musicians \u2013 Applications Open September 1</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<div dir="ltr"><div><p style="font-size:large">Dear Colleagues,</p><p style="font-size:large">Greetings from Bella Music Foundation!</p><p style="font-size:large">Bella Music Foundation (BMF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting blind and visually impaired musicians through performance, education, and professional development opportunities.</p><p style="font-size:large">We are pleased to share with you the 2026 BMF International Music Competition for Blind and Visually Impaired Musicians. The competition welcomes classical and jazz musicians from around the world and provides opportunities for talented musicians to showcase their artistry, receive recognition, and further their musical careers.</p><p style="font-size:large">Applications will open on September 1, 2026, and we would be grateful if you would also share this opportunity with musicians, students, and colleagues who may be interested. Thank you!</p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Application Period</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">: September 1 \u2013 October 1, 2026</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Competition Highlights</span></p><ol style="font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:decimal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><b>Total Cash Awards: USD 10,000</b></span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Cash prizes will be awarded across five competition categories.</span></p><ol start="2" style="font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:decimal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><b>Carnegie Hall Performance Opportunity</b></span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">All First Prize winners will be invited to perform at the Finale Concert of the 2026 BMF National Concert Tour Series on December 6, 2026, at Carnegie Hall \u2013 Weill Recital Hall in New York City, offering the opportunity to make a Carnegie Hall debut as part of the official concert program.</span></p><ol start="3" style="font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:decimal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><b>Additional First Prize Benefit \u2013 Sponsored by Dancing Dots</b></span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Each First Prize winner will also receive one of the following accessible music technology awards: the GoodFeel suite (currently valued at $1,895) or Lime Lighter Liberty (currently valued at $1,849), depending on which best meets the winner\u2019s individual needs.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Eligibility</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Open to blind and visually impaired instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers of any nationality.</span></p><ul style="font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Classical: Ages 10\u201330</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Jazz: Ages 15\u201330</span></p></li></ul><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Audition Process</span></p><ol style="font-size:large;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:decimal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Preliminary Round: Recorded Video Audition (Submission Deadline: October 1, 2026)</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:decimal;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Final Round: Live Zoom Audition (October 15\u201319, 2026)</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For complete competition regulations and application information, please visit </span><a href="https://www.bellamf.org/bmf-intl-music-competition/2026-bella-music-foundation-international-music-competition-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired-musicians" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none">our website</a><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We look forward to welcoming applications from talented blind and visually impaired musicians from around the world.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;white-space:pre-wrap">Sincerely,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-size:large;line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bella Music Foundation</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="mailto:info@bellamf.org" target="_blank">info@bellamf.org</a></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">+1 (551) 255-0570</span><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><a href="http://www.bellamf.org/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">www.bellamf.org</span></a></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><font 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