<html class="apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">See below for a great opportunity.<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> September 24, 2026 at 8:53:23\u202fPM EDT<br><b>To:</b> NFBpad@gmail.com<br><b>Subject:</b> <b>One Week Left to Apply: 2026 BMF International Music Competition \u2013 Deadline October 1</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> info@bellamf.org<br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<div dir="ltr"><div><p><span style="background-color:transparent">Dear National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division Team,</span></p><p><span style="background-color:transparent"><br></span></p><p>With only one week remaining until the October 1 application deadline, we are making one final effort to reach musicians who are blind or visually impaired and may not yet have heard about this opportunity.</p><p>We would be deeply grateful if you could share the competition with student musicians and young artists who are blind or visually impaired, as well as with music teachers, schools, universities, and organizations in your network. Even one forwarded email, social media post, or personal introduction could help an eligible musician discover this opportunity in time.</p><p>We hope to reach as many eligible musicians around the world as possible before the deadline and encourage talented musicians who are blind or visually impaired to apply.</p><p>Thank you for helping us spread the word during this final week and for helping create meaningful opportunities for blind and visually impaired musicians.</p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-6ab74680-7fff-befd-2ff5-0581745847a1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">\u2014--</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Classical & Jazz | 2026 BMF International Music Competition for the Blind</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Applications are now open for the 2026 BMF International Music Competition for Blind and Visually Impaired Musicians, a virtual competition for classical and jazz musicians.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Application Deadline: October 1, 2026</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Competition Highlights:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">USD 10,000 in Total Cash Awards</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Carnegie Hall Performance Opportunity \u2013 All First Prize winners will be invited to perform on December 6, 2026, at Carnegie Hall \u2013 Weill Recital Hall in New York City</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Additional First Prize Awards Sponsored by Dancing Dots \u2013 Each First Prize winner will receive either the GoodFeel suite (valued at $1,895) or Lime Lighter Liberty (valued at $1,849), depending on the winner\u2019s individual needs</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Eligibility: Open to blind and visually impaired instrumentalists, vocalists, and composers of any nationality.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Classical: Ages 10\u201330</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jazz: Ages 15\u201330</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Audition Process:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Preliminary Round: Recorded Video Audition</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Application & Submission Deadline: October 1, 2026</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Final Round: Live Zoom Audition, October 15\u201319, 2026</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;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></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;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="https://www.bellamf.org/bmf-intl-music-competition/2026-bella-music-foundation-international-music-competition-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired-musicians">https://www.bellamf.org/bmf-intl-music-competition/2026-bella-music-foundation-international-music-competition-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired-musicians</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Contact: Bella Music Foundation</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;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">info@bellamf.org</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;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></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:12pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><a href="http://www.bellamf.org" style="text-decoration:none"><span style="font-size:11pt;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></span><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"></div><div dir="ltr"><font style="text-align:left;color:rgb(136,136,136);text-transform:none;text-indent:0px;letter-spacing:normal;font-size:13.33px;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-weight:400;text-decoration:none;word-spacing:0px;white-space:normal"><div dir="auto" style="font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#000000"><img width="96" height="50" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4w6qfhPHw3qhlJifRS1AUEFzy72NW7cPAGKC7vI38LI_vl9YjykrkbVTkuOt3FY9PQueBwoOPQ" data-unique-identifier=""><br></font></div></font></div></div></div></div></div>
<img alt="2026 BMF Competition Poster (11 × 17 in).jpg" src="cid:CCAD56B6-74ED-4DFA-9CFD-01023061ADA6"></div></blockquote></body></html>