Loose Leaf Notes

~ The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on June 6, 2013

The inaugural season of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival (VBRMF) was kicked off with a brass fanfare at the Artisan Market Friday evening.   Playing alongside the Market Pavilion, a group of academy student musicians and faculty mentors added a new flavor to the jamboree scene and drew an enthusiastic crowd.  The informal, free concert was the first of eleven festival days of orchestra concerts and chamber ensemble performances scheduled at various venues around the county.  

At the “Baroque Fireworks” Festival Gala Opening, held at the EcoVillage the following evening, the festival’s artistic director and conductor, Maestro David Wiley welcomed an audience of well over 200.  Wiley, who is the music director and conductor of the Roanoke Symphony and New York’s Long Island Philharmonic Orchestras, referred to the festival as an accessible, warm and a come as you are event.   “It’s a sustainable model that is exciting for Floyd,” he said, thanking the musicians and the community of support for helping to make it happen. 

A masterful performance of Vivaldi and Bach by festival academy faculty in the Celebration Hall was received with hushed attention and rousing applause.   During the intermission, Wiley expressed his joy and gratitude at seeing the festival becoming a reality.  “I couldn’t be more ecstatic, with the level of playing, the turnout, and the way people have opened their hearts and homes to support us,” he said.

The indoor performance was followed by an outdoor concert at the EcoVillage’s Lakeside Pavilion.  Academy fellows joined faculty masters for a stirring performance of Bach’s Orchestra Suite and Handel, selections from Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks

During the reception that followed the concerts, festival attendees enjoyed refreshments from Natasha’s Cafe and were abuzz with excitement about the festival.   Floyd Countian June Damanti was one of many who expressed her deep appreciation for the music, saying that she especially loved hearing it in the outdoor setting. “I felt like I was at Wolf Trap (National Park for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.) This is Floyd’s version of Wolf Trap,” she said. 

“Wonderful! It couldn’t have been more perfect,” said Grace Van Dyk.  Van Dyk, who moved from Florida to the county in 2010 to live with her daughter and son-in-law, purchased a festival pass and says she plans to attend practices and classes, as well as the concerts. “I don’t know much about music, but I love to learn,” Van Dyk said.  She has been studying the festival program and learning from two of the festival academy fellows who are staying in her home. 

Festival director Jennifer Brooke explained that the 28 academy fellows auditioned for the opportunity to participate in the festival and to work with the festival’s 18 professional, master musicians. Many fellows are from Virginia and states around the country, and some hail from as far away as South Africa, Shanghai and South Korea.  They, and some of the mentors, are staying at homes around the county with the EcoVillage serving as their festival base, where they go for daily breakfast and rehearsal. 

Other scheduled concerts throughout the week include performances at Natasha’s Café, Chateau Morrisette and The Jacksonville Center.  A Sunday Symphony Orchestra at Floyd Elementary School, conducted by Wiley, featured Jeff Midkiff (a past band member of The Lonesome River Boys) on mandolin performing his Concerto for Mandolin and Orchestra, “From the Blue Ridge.” A premiere performance of a piece titled Fanfare for Floyd, composed by Steven Brown, was also featured. 

With four (three as of this posting) more days of music scheduled, there is still time to catch some festival highlights.  A family concert performed by festival faculty and conducted by Maestro Wiley, who is always inspired and animated, is scheduled at the June Bug Center today from 3:30 to 4:30. With a price set to attract families ($11 per family or $14 at the door), the concert, named Classical Meets Jazz in the Mountains, promises to be an experience that will appeal to all ages.

Along with informal concerts at Dogtown/Sun Hall and the Farmers Market, there is a final chamber ensemble concert at the EcoVillage on Saturday afternoon (2:00) and an evening (6:00) concert by the festival symphony orchestra that will feature academy fellows, “concerto competition winners.” A final concert, Beethoven and Elgar Close the Festival, will take place at the Floyd County High School on Sunday at 3:00 with a pre-concert talk at 2:00.

Note: Visit the VBRMF webpage for a detailed concert schedule. Tickets are available at The Jacksonville Center or by phone at 540-745-2784.