Reno Phil | January-April 2026

internship

Brand Identity (Music Education Festival)
Email and Social Media Marketing
Graphic Design (flyers, posters, T-Shirts)
Marketing

The Reno Phil is northern Nevada's largest performing arts organization. It is a reno-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with a large focus on community engagement, music education, and orchestral music. It is an ever-expanding organization with diverse events, including youth orchestra performances and Pops on the River.

Mission

To produce inspirational symphonic performances of the highest quality for diverse audiences and support exceptional education, outreach and engagement programs.

Vision

To create exceptional musical experiences that enrich, connect and shape our community, and inspire orchestras nationwide.

Under the guidance of Evelyn Klatt, Chief Marketing Officer, I performed a variety of duties in marketing and graphic design, particularly assisting with Play and Sing for a Day 2026.

This is for the End-Of-Season party, where photos of all the events are showcased. I was tasked with looking through the hundreds of photos to determine which would be best to include.

Music Education Festival

I created the primary brand for a brand new event, the Music Education Festival, which combines many events into one large festival, including the Movies with the Maestro and the Reno Phil Youth Orchestra Spring Showcase.

The S is inspired by the Treble Clef, a musical symbol to specify the pitch of musical notes on a music sheet. That, combined with the colors of the Reno Phil brand, make it a professional yet still fun brand for the youth's Music Education Festival.

Play & Sing for a Day

The main part of my position was to assist in the marketing of Play & Sing for a Day. While I assisted with other, related tasks, my primary focus was to increase turnout for the annual community event.

The Beginning

During my first couple of weeks, as I was getting settled, I created a complete marketing plan for the annual Play & Sing for a Day event. I then learned the various tools needed to market, including Canva and Meta Business Suite (which I were already familiar with) and new tools such as Emma, a email scheduler. I sent out my first email within the first month, to introduce the event and get initial sign-ups.

The Middle

I sent out more emails and created social media posts to increase musician attendance, in addition to designing and distributing flyers. I also designed the new T-Shirt for the event (front and back) to increase interest and make it so that the shirt gets worn more than once. Throughout it all, I attended weekly staff and marketing/box office meetings.

The Final Days

Play & Sing for a Day was on April 26th, 2026 at Billinghurst Middle School. I assisted in (TBD)

While this was a main part of my position, I also assisted with other events and marketing efforts, as seen in some of these social posts.

The introductory post for Play & Sing for a Day.

48 hours remaining post - for people to register as an instrumentalist or vocalist.

A last call for people to get tickets for the Mendelssohn concert.

A second reminder to register to play or sing - showcasing photos from last year's event.

An April Fools post - I helped edit and create the fake Sparks logo.

Web banners to increase attendance for Carmina Burana (Classix 6 concert)

Growth

Reflection

My primary area of growth was not only in marketing, but also in communication. Collaborating with a diverse team was a new experience that was sometimes challenging to navigate. Despite these challenges, the rewards far outweighed the difficulties. Through this experience, I can confidently say that I have contributed to both the growth of the organization and the strength of the team as a whole.

I will miss the Reno Phil. Not only did I strengthen my marketing skills, but I also grew in graphic design, communication, and team-building. I would gladly return for another semester or pursue a more permanent position if the opportunity arises.

Future Goals

After this, I will head in a couple different directions. I intend to continue growing my graphic design and marketing business, with a strong focus on supporting non-profit organizations. I will also use the skills and experience I’ve gained here to pursue additional internships, potentially returning to the Reno Phil in the future. With three years remaining until graduation, I look forward to exploring more internship opportunities at UNR as well as working toward more permanent positions.

Most importantly, this role has strengthened my ability to collaborate with clients, work within teams, and communicate effectively in a variety of professional settings. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with such an incredible group of people and to develop my marketing skills in such a positive and supportive environment.