Classical Music in the Mountains
Cutlines:
Violinist Akemi Takayama, Maestro David Stewart Wiley, harpist Rachel Hall, and other RSO musicians in concert at Floyd EcoVillage
Violinist Elizabeth Shelor Matheson Photo by Kevin Matheson
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival (VBRMF) provides opportunities for exciting classical music that is affordable and accessible. We sponsor dynamic youth programs, provide a range of grants and scholarships to support young, promising area musicians, and provide exceptional professional concerts to the larger community.
Programming for the coming season includes:
• Blue Ridge Strings: Suzuki Violin training for 3rd through 7th graders from Floyd County Schools. Instruments are provided, as well as a weekly, hour-long lesson of classical violin instruction and an hour of “A Heart of a Child” music education. Participants and family members will attend a Roanoke Symphony Orchestra concert. Tuition is minimal, with generous scholarship support available. The program is offered in collaboration with The June Bug Center of Floyd.
• A Student Recital on November 9, providing a supportive performance venue and a professional accompanist for talented young musicians from the region.
• “Home for the Holidays with the Wileys & Bouknights” on December 22, 2019, featuring Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Maestro, David Stewart Wiley, soprano Leah Marer Wiley, cellist Misha Wiley, soprano Tara Bouknight, and baritone Philip Bouknight. The concert will be at Celebration Hall, Floyd EcoVillage at 3:00 pm and will include classical favorites for the holidays, followed by a reception.
• The Rainier Trio with Elizabeth Matheson performing on March 7, 2020, at the Floyd Center for the Arts (FCA); an event co-sponsored with the FCA. The event will include a Master Class for young musicians from the region.
• The annual Festival Chamber Concert on June 28, 2020, under the direction of Maestro David Stewart Wiley, VBRMF Artistic Director and Music Director of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. The Concert will feature renowned violinist Akemi Takayama and musicians from the Roanoke Symphony, at 3:00 pm in the beautiful Celebration Hall, Floyd EcoVillage.
There is a broad range of grants and scholarships to assist young musicians. Among them, Suzuki violin instructor Elizabeth Shelor Matheson of Floyd received the David Wiley Sr. Scholarship for further violin study and teacher training. Heather Blake of Floyd received support to help prepare for the North Carolina School for the Arts high school program, where she will be a junior this year.
VBRMF is an all-volunteer, local, non-profit affiliate of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. We work in collaboration with The June Bug Center, the Floyd Public Schools, and the Floyd Center for the Arts. We are supported by local organizations, citizens, and grants. We welcome additional community and individual involvement and support. To get involved, please contact VBRMF at info@VirginiasBlueRidgeMusicFestival.org.
We look forward to your participation, your financial support, and your presence at our concerts. If you are new to VBRMF, please introduce yourself.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival
P. O. Box 757, Floyd, VA • VBRMF.org
info@ VirginiasBlueRidgeMusicFestival.org
facebook.com/VirginiasBlueRidgeMusicFestival