Company Profile

Company Overview

Located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Wintergreen Music (legally known as Wintergreen Performing Arts, Inc.) is a nonprofit organization that produces a high-quality summer music Festival featuring symphonic and chamber concerts, as well as other performing arts programs throughout the year. Education is a major part of its mission, reflected both in the Wintergreen Music LEAD Cooperative and in community engagement programs for those living in the surrounding area. By attracting first-rate musicians to participate as performers and educators, Wintergreen Music strives to enrich the lives of all–residents and visitors alike–who share the unique Wintergreen experience.

The WMF presents a core of fully professional musicians and guest artists who perform orchestra, chamber, and solo music. Many of the musicians are teaching artists who teach in the LEAD Cooperative, a program for advanced student instrumentalists, vocalists, conductors, composers, and budding arts administrators. With seven programs, the LEAD Cooperative (a new educational initiative and extension of the former Academy) serves a niche group of around 30 students. In addition to the core of classical music, WMF presents jazz, bluegrass, and popular concerts as well as interactive, audience participation opportunities and daily seminars. Public events are presented every day during the Festival, resulting in a full and exciting experience for musicians, staff, students, and patrons alike. Since its inception, WM has relied proudly and heavily on an ever-growing corps of volunteers to accomplish the feat of running a Festival. In addition, the local and semi-local community generously supports WM financially. The annual budget is approximately $900,000, in addition to substantial contributions of housing for the musicians and students during the Festival.