Photo By Paul Purpura: ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : (L to R) Ashlyn Olson, Kenneth Trotter, Abbie Fields, and Adam Solsburg entertained people dropping by for breakfast this past Saturday morning at Three Ridges Depot & Deli in Roseland. The Stoney Creek Quartet is part of the 2011 Summer Music Festival.

Roseland / Beech Grove
Nelson County, Virginia
The 2011 Wintergreen Performing Arts’ Summer Music Festival is in full swing with all sorts of performances and events taking place at Wintergreen Resort and other spots in the county. This past Saturday morning NCL’s Mountain Photographer, Paul Purpura caught up with the Stoney Creek Quartet playing at Three Ridges Deli in Roseland. The group performed works by Mozart and Shostakovich as part of the WPA summer music festival.

There will be music at 9:00 AM on Saturdays at The Depot for the next 3 weeks.

Visit Wintergreen Performing Arts on the web by clicking here.

Photos By Paul Purpura NCL Mountain Photographer : ©2011 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Larry Alan Smith, WPA’s Artistic and Executive Director (right) thanks guest saxophonist Gaetano Di Bacco at the opening night reception and kick off of events for the 2011 season.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia

The 2011 Wintergreen Performing Arts Summer Music Festival is underway! It officially started on July 6th, but the opening reception and Events Fair Kick-Off started this past Friday night. The evening also included Classics I Concert featuring Wintergreen Festival Orchestra with Larry Alan Smith, guest conductor and Gaetano Di Bacco, saxophone.

The opening night of the WSMF stated off with a champagne reception and dinner.

The theme of this year’s WSMF is Realms of Gold- A Mediterranean Odyssey.

Cynthia and Steven Saboe of Washington DC pause for a picture with John & Nanci Taylor of Wintergreen at Friday's opening night.

The Friday night concert opened with the playing of the national anthems from the US and Italy

Larry Alan Smith, Artistic and Executive Director for WPA chats it up during the opening reception this past Friday night at Wintergreen Resort.

Gaetano Di Bacco plays the saxophone at WPA's opening night performance this past Friday night at Wintergreen Resort.

Before the evening's performance, the night began with great food and prizes to help kick off the 2011 season.

The 2011 WSMF runs from July 6th until August 7th.

For a list of orchestra performances at this year’s WSMF click here.

Visit Wintergreen Performing Arts on Facebook, here.

Photos By Paul Purpura : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : This past weekend marked the end of the month long WPA Summer Music Festival. Click any photo to enlarge.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
For about a month and more than 300 events, people have enjoyed the 2010 Wintergreen Performing Arts Summer Music Festival. The event came to an end for the season this past Sunday evening. Guest conductor Josep Caballe-Domenech and world famous violinist James Buswell were part of Saturday night’s performance.

Larry Alan Smith (left) Executive & Artistic Director of WPA has an informal chat with violinist James Buswell before Saturday night's performance.

Buswell Played Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major, Op 61.

The Wintergreen Summer Music Festival returns next year in July 2011.

WPA has many more events scheduled throughout the rest of the year with The 5th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest happening later this month on August 21st from noon to 7PM.

Photo By John Taylor : Guest conductor Mei-Ann Chen, internationally renowned conductor, leads the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra during a rehearsal session this past weekend at Wintergreen.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
Just a few more days and the 2010 Summer Music Festival put on by Wintergreen Performing Arts will be in the history books. But, not before several more days of events. The 2010 festival has been one of the best ever! The summer series wraps up this coming Sunday, August 1st.

Though the Summer Music Festival ends this weekend, many more WPA events will be happening in the coming months, including the The 5th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest held next month on August 21st.

Wintergreen Performing Arts on the web: http://www.wintergreenperformingarts.org/

Photo By Paul Purpura : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Daniel Legrand, Phillip Larroque, Joseph Connella, Krysta Cihi and Megan Ranney perform as part The Summer Music Fest at Java Depot this past weekend.

Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
Wintergreen Performing Arts’ Summer Music Festival is in full swing for days to come! This past weekend the above woodwind ensemble played at Java Depot in Roseland/Beech Grove as part of their Music In Unusual Places.

Our Paul Purpura, tells us:

“They played Ravel’s “Le tombeau de Couperin” at the Java Depot yesterday. Of course one of  Ravel’s most popular works is “Bolero”, which was used in the movie “10″. But  “Le tombeau de Couperin” was written as a memorial. Each movement is dedicated to a friend of Ravel who died during World War I, with the final movement dedicated to the deceased husband of Ravel’s favorite pianist Marguerite Long, according to Wiki.”

Another performance is scheduled this coming Saturday @ Java Depot and on the the patio of Devils Grill Restaurant at Wintergreen Resort.

Over 300 total events make up this year’s Summer Music Festival. To see a list of dates and times head on over to WPA: http://www.wintergreenperformingarts.org/index.php?pageId=171

Photos By Hayley Osborne : ©2010 www.nelsoncountylife.com : The 2010 Summer Music Festival kicked off this week with the opening concert on Wednesday evening. Click any photo to enlarge.

Wintergreen Resort
Nelson County, Virginia
For 28 days Wintergreen Performing Arts will pay tribute to the music capital of the world by bringing a touch of Vienna to the Blue Ridge as part of the 2010 Summer Music Festival.

The Summer Music Festival is held each year starting in early July and running until the 1st of August.

Austrian Ambassador to the US, Dr. Christian Prosl (center) shares a toast with WPA Artistic & Executive Director, Larry Alan Smith (left) and Don Burland, WPA President, just before the start of opening night.

A long list of events, some 300, are included in the 2010 Summer Music Festival.

A reception before the concert included hearty appetizers with an Austrian flair along with Austrian beer and wine.

Dr. Prosl speaks to the crowd at Wednesday night's performance as Larry Alan Smith looks on.

Opening night included music from the Wintergreen Festival Baroque Orchestra and the Wintergreen Chamber Players.

According to WPA’s website the evening’s selections included:

Heinrich von Biber: Battalia (1673)
Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 33 No. 2 – “The Joke” (1781)
György Ligeti: Hungarian Rock (1978)
Anton von Webern: Langsamer Satz (1905)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Serenade in G Major, K. 525 – “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” (1787)

Photo By John Taylor: Thursday Dr. Prosl spoke during a luncheon in the Commonwealth Ballroom at Wintergreen Resort about Austria and the impact of Austria’s culture on the US.

A packed schedule of events continues this weekend right on through the month of July.

To see the entire list of events at this year’s 2010 Summer Music Festival, click here to head over the Wintergreen Performing Arts’ website and scroll down.

*Much of the information compiled in the post is courtesy from the WPA website.

Photos By Paul Purpura : ©2009 www.NelsonCountyLife.com : Members of The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance take a bow at the final performance of the 2009 Wintergreen Performing Arts - Summer Music Festival.

Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
“A truly great performance!” That’s how our Mountain Photographer, Paul Purpura, described the closing performance of this year’s Summer Music Festival (WSMF) put on by Wintergreen Performing Arts. Paul was granted rare access to photograph the performance. A real treat for those in attendance as they closed out the WSMF with performances by The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance from New York.

Larry Smith of WPA (left) Virginie Mecene (middle) and Peggy Lyman Hayes with The Graham School of Dance chat informally during a warmup before Sunday's final performance at Wintergreen.

According to their website, The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance has the distinction of being the longest continuously operating school of dance in America.

Students come from around the world to study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. Folks at the final performace of this year's WSMF got the chance to see them in person.

The WPA Summer Music Festival runs each year from early July through the first of August. Additional events continue into the fall and winter months.

Congrats to Wintergreen Performing Arts on a fantastic season!

Later this month WPA will put on The 4th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest on August 15th as part of their continuing performances for the late summer at Wintergreen. The festival is is from 11AM until 7PM that day.

See you there!

Photo By Paul Purpura : ©2009 www.NelsonCountyLife.com : Wintergreen Performing Arts' Summer Music Festival Winds Up This Weekend On August 2nd.

Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
It’s been a packed month of performances throughout July at the annual Summer Music Festival organized by Wintergreen Performing Arts. Though there’s still plenty ahead after the WSMF ends this weekend, Sunday marks the official end of that particular festival. There will be so many activities taking place you will definitely need to check the WPA site to keep up with them all! Click here to see the events taking place Friday through Sunday.

After this weekend’s festival winds up, much more is ahead. In mid-August The 4th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Music Fest will be taking place in the Evans Center on the Mountain on August 15th.

Enjoy your weekend!

Photos By Paul Purpura : ©2009 www.NelsonCountyLife.com : Folks participating in Sunday's 5K Walk-Run at Wintergreen take off in the race. Click any photo to enlarge.

Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
The Summer Weather could have been better for the 5K Walk-Run Sunday, hosted by Wintergreen Performing Arts. It just one of over 200 events that continues until August 2nd. Our Paul Purpura grabbed these shots from the race and other events taking place over the weekend as part of the festival.

This little fellow is not sure if he wants to walk or run the 5K!

49 year old Jonathon Perrotto came in first with a time of 20:10 in the men’s category. 29 year old Anja Zass placed first in the women’s category with a time of 23:36.
You can see all of the results by clicking here.

Anja Zass receives an award for coming in first in the women's competition as well as setting a new course record for the 5K at Wintergreen.

Well over 50 people participated in Sunday's race held at Wintergreen Resort.

Earlier in the weekend The WPA Festival Orchestra entertained the crowd with a Saturday night performance as part of the festival.

Paul tells us Saturday’s performance was sponsored by Don & Jan Burland, and, Fred & Jane Dalldorf, featuring the works of Joseph Haydn, Sir Edward Elgar, Samuel Barber, Richard Wagner and Benjamin Britten.

Guest Conductor Steven Osgood at Saturday night's performance.

Soprano Caroline Worra chats informally with the crowd at Saturday night's WPA event.

Learn much more about the WPA Summer Music Festival by heading on over to www.wintergreenperformingarts.org

Photos By Paul Purpura : ©2009 www.nelsoncountylife.com : Larry Allen Smith, Artistic and Executive Director of WPA talks to folks at Wednesday night's opening.

Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
Wintergreen Performing Arts officially kicked of their 2009 season Wednesday night on the mountain at Wintergreen Resort in the Evans Center. This year’s theme is Appalachian Roots: A Cultural Kaleidoscope and events run from July 6 to Aug. 2. Each week of the month-long festival features a part of the Appalachian Trail. Our Paul Purpura was on hand to grab these shots from the opening night which included a meet and greet reception as well.

The night kicked off with Appalachia Waltz Songs from the Southern Mountains, Old American Songs, Sets I and II and Octet in E-Flat Major” to celebrate the official start of the 2009 Wintergreen Summer Music Festival.

Josep Caballe-Domenech (third from left) from Spain, is a guest composer for this weekend's opening events.

“This year, festival-goers will find everything from theater, dance and film events to visual art exhibitions, cooking classes and wine tastings. There will even be a 5K Run/Walk event festival planners are calling “Appalachian Routes,” says Larry.

This year's season continues until August 2nd.

David Witmer with WPA meets with people attending Wednesday night's opening.

For more information about this year’s Summer Music Festival and a look at world-renowned cellist Tanya Anisimova from Nellysford who will be playing at this this year’s festival, click here.

Photos By Paul Purpura : ©2007-2009 NCL Magazine : A performance at WPA's 2007 Festival.

Wintergreen
Nelson County, Virginia
By Jennie Tal

The first year of the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival consisted mostly of classical concerts in people’s private homes. Then, it wasn’t really associated with Wintergreen.

“It was very simple,” said Larry Alan Smith, the current artistic and executive director of Wintergreen Performing Arts. “It was people who loved music and wanted to do some musical events.”

Now, the annual festival is a regional affair featuring more than 200 performances and events – it’s almost tripled in size since 2006 when Larry was hired. Working on his third festival now, the month-long celebration is growing and changing, but all for the better.

Each year, the Summer Music Festival features a theme – this year’s is Appalachian Roots: A Cultural Kaleidoscope and events run from July 6 to Aug. 2. Each week of the month-long festival features a part of the Appalachian Trail.

“The music has, and will continue to be, the main element,” said Larry, who lives in Connecticut and commutes to Virginia once a month, but will be in Nelson for the entirety of the festival. “But we’ve introduced other performing arts and even some non-performing arts into the festival.”

This year, festival-goers will find everything from theater, dance and film events to visual art exhibitions, cooking classes and wine tastings. There will even be a 5K Run/Walk event festival planners are calling “Appalachian Routes.” Get it?

“People have different tastes,” he said. “This is a festival that everyone can enjoy.”

Many of the 220 events taking place this month are free and family-friendly, so, while Larry and Wintergreen are trying to promote the festival to music-lovers from around the region, locals are encouraged to swing by, too.

WPA's Artistic & Executive Director, Larry Allen Smith, chats informally during one of the performances at Wintergreen.

In fact, some of the most prestigious artists performing during the festival, including world-renowned cellist Tanya Anisimova, is from right here in Nelson Couny.

Tanya lives in Nellysford with her husband Alexander Anufriev, a painter also participating in the festival. July 11 at 6 p.m., Tanya will be performing the world premier of “Appalachi.” She first started composing the trio as a solo piece back in 2007, before she had any idea of the theme of this year’s Wintergreen Summer Arts Festival, but she knew immediately it was meant to be performed this summer.

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” said Tanya, who was born in Russia but has lived in the United States for many years. “I think that we are presented with things.”

Photo By Tommy Stafford : Alexander Anufriev (left) works on a painting while wife and world-renowned cellist Tanya Anisimova practices on a musical selection.

In addition to “Appalachi,” which Tanya said is a very boisterous, lively and sometimes scary piece, she will perform three improvisational pieces featuring her cello and her voice, plus a few other traditional solos for stringed instruments.

While there are several artists right here in town, Larry is excited to have some big name performers coming to the festival as well.

“Because of the theme, I’m very proud of having Mike Seeger with us,” said Larry.

Seeger, who’s family documented and preserved much of the old-time music that was popular in the Appalachian mountains before the widespread use of radios and televisions, performs traditional Southern mountain music. He will host a pops concert July 15 at 7:30 p.m.

So no matter what you’re into, Larry says you’ll run into it up at the top of the mountain this month.

“I guess I would say that people should know they’re going to find something they like,” he said. “They should explore what we’re doing.”

Find several featured events listed below. For a full list of events, visit Wintergreen Performing Arts at: www.wintergreenperformingarts.org and click on the Wintergreen Summer Music Festival at the top, left-hand corner.

You can also download a ticket booklet from WPA by clicking here, for a one-shot look at everything that’s going on.

Purchase tickets (individual tickets, season passes and flex packs are available) online at: www.wintergreenperformingarts.org or over the phone at (434) 325-8292.

Featured Performances/Events

Morning Seminars (Weekday Mornings)
The informal and informative seminars offer the chance for festival-goers to learn from different performers each week.
Where: Various Wintergreen locations
When: Weekday mornings
Cost: $50 per week or $15 per day

Opening Night Reception and Events Fair Kick-Off and Performance
A reception followed by a performance of the “Appalachia Waltz,” “Songs from the Southern Mountains,” “Old American Songs, Sets I and II” and “Octet in E-Flat Major” to celebrate the official start of the 2009 Wintergreen Summer Music Festival.
Where: Reception at the Skyline Pavilion; performance in the Evans Center
When: Reception at 6 p.m.; performance at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $50 includes both reception and concert; reservations required by July 6

Appalachian ArtFest Meet the Artist Receptions
A chance to meet and greet the artists featured in the first-ever visual arts component of the 2009 Wintergreen Summer Music Festival.
Where: The Black Rock Gallery in the Mountain Inn
When: Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m.
Cost: Free

Whiskey and Scotch Tasting
Held as part of “Moonshine” Weekend, taste Whiskeys and Scotches from the Southern Appalachians. Ages 21 and older.
Where: Festival Performance Center
When: 3:30 to 5 p.m. July 11
Cost: $10 includes five tastes plus peanuts.

Wintergreen Appalachian Film Festival
Forty-eight showings of 14 different films. All films are suitable for all ages except “Songcatcher,” which is rated PG-13.
Where: The Nelson Room, Trillium House, The Wintergreen Nature Foundation
When: See Web site for detailed schedule.
Cost: Free

Music in Unusual Places: Academy Chamber Orchestra
Wander by and hear the sounds of music performed by the Wintergreen Performing Arts Academy students who come from all over the country. The Academy runs concurrently with the festival.
Where: Various Wintergreen Locations; see Web site for detailed schedule
When: Various times, morning, afternoon and evening; see Web site for detailed schedule
Cost: Free

Pianafiddle
A pops concert featuring the group that performs Bach, bluegrass and (almost) everything in between.
When: 7:30 p.m. July 29
Where: Evans Center
Cost: $25, adults; $10, ages 10 to 17; under age 10 free

Music in the County Concerts
Performances out and about by the Wintergreen Performing Arts Academy students.
When: 12:30 p.m. July 21 and 23
Where: Nelson County Courthouse Steps (July 21) and the Nelson Memorial Library (July 23)
Cost: Free

Graham II
Two nights of performances by the performing ensemble of the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in New York.
When: 6 p.m. Aug. 1 and 3 p.m. Aug. 2
Where: Evans Center
Cost: $35, adults; $10, ages 10 to 17; under 10 free

A $350 Festival Season Pass may be used for all 2009 Wintergreen Summer Music Festival performances and events including Morning Seminars and Saturday Seminars, but it does not include the opening night reception (performance is included), the four tastings, the lap dulcimer workshops, the cooking classes or the 5K Walk/Run. The pass is worth more than $500 but is non-transferable.

2009 Wintergreen Summer Music Festival FlexPacks offer discounted prices to six varied events throughout the festival season. All six tickets can be used at one event, or use can be spread to as many as six different events. Opening night reception and cooking classes are not eligible for FlexPack use.

Individual event tickets vary in price. Consult the schedule for detailed pricing information. All events are first-come, first-serve including free performances.