A History of Wintergreen Music

A Community Story, Thirty Years in the Making

The history of Wintergreen Music (previously known as Wintergreen Performing Arts) is rooted in a deep commitment to the community that continues to the present day. What began as a simple idea – bringing high-quality music to the Blue Ridge Mountains – has grown into a nationally respected summer festival and educational organization. Over the course of three decades, Wintergreen Music has remained grounded in its founding belief that music flourishes when artists, students, audiences, and community come together.

The Founding Years

The origins of Wintergreen Music can be traced back to 1993, when Sarah and David McCracken moved to Wintergreen, Virginia after retiring from professional careers in Illinois. While embracing the natural beauty and recreational opportunities of the Blue Ridge Mountains, they recognized the absence of the cultural offerings such as the Aspen Music Festival that they had experienced near their second home in Colorado – an experience that became the inspirational model for Wintergreen’s future.

As Sarah McCracken became acquainted with other Wintergreen residents, she discovered many who shared a passion for music. Together, they began exploring how to establish a local music program. The earliest concerts were held in private homes, beginning with a performance by resident tenor George McKinney and pianist Dr. Arnold Popkin. Family memberships were offered at a modest cost, donations were informally collected, and refreshments were shared, setting the tone for an organization built on hospitality and community participation.

By 1995, these in-home concerts had grown in popularity, prompting expansion into larger venues with support from Wintergreen Resort and local community spaces. In 1996, the organization, then known as Wintergreen Performing Arts (WPA), presented twelve public concerts beginning with a performance by the Virginia Consort at a Presbyterian church in the valley. At the conclusion of the season, WPA was financially solvent and formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

The First Festival 

A defining moment in Wintergreen Music’s history came when Sarah McCracken was introduced to Michael Palmer, conductor of the New Haven Symphony in Connecticut, through local violinist Susan Black. Palmer shared the vision of creating a summer festival that combined professional musicians and students performing side-by-side.

This vision became reality in July 1997 with the launch of the first two-week long Wintergreen Summer Music Festival. The inaugural Wintergreen Festival Orchestra included 29 professional musicians, many of whom were affiliated with Juilliard, Northwestern University, Oberlin College, and the University of Michigan, among others, and 40 students. The opening weekend featured the Barber Violin Concerto with violinist Robert MacDuffie and the Rodrigo Guitar Concerto with guitarist Pepe Romero. Chamber music concerts were presented throughout the week, including performances in private homes along the James River in Nelson County.

A Fourth of July performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, accompanied by fireworks, quickly became a Festival highlight – a tradition that has since been joyfully revived.

Following two successful Festival seasons, financial considerations led the board to reassess hiring a professional orchestra. In 1999, collaborations with musicians from the Richmond Symphony allowed the Festival to continue with chamber music only while a long-term solution was developed. However, audience response made clear the importance of maintaining a full orchestra, prompting the creation of a dedicated Wintergreen Festival Orchestra, modeled after the Aspen Music Festival.

In 2000, WPA hired its first Artistic Director, Dr. David Wiley, then Artistic Director of the Roanoke Symphony. Under his leadership, the Festival Orchestra drew professional musicians from across the country and established a sustainable artistic model that remains in place today.

Expansion and Artistic Leadership 

In 2005, following extensive consultation with musicians, the board identified the need for unified artistic and administrative leadership. As a result, Dr. Larry Alan Smith was hired as Executive and Artistic Director, beginning in 2006.

Under Dr. Smith’s leadership, Wintergreen Music entered a period of significant artistic and programmatic expansion. Adult education programs were introduced, led by Juilliard professor Dr. Michael White, whose influence continues through a memorial scholarship established following his passing in 2022. Additional offerings, including theater, opera, film, and culinary programs hosted in private homes, broadened community engagement and strengthened financial sustainability.

Smith’s professional connections also brought distinguished guest conductors and artists to Wintergreen, elevating the Festival’s national reputation and artistic scope.

A New Era of Growth and Engagement

The departure of Larry Alan Smith in 2014 marked the conclusion of a vibrant chapter in Wintergreen Music’s history. In October 2014, Dr. Erin R. Freeman was appointed Artistic Director, followed in 2015 by Julianne Akins Smith as Executive Director.

Under their leadership, Wintergreen Music experienced steady growth in artistic ambition, orchestral size, and community engagement. Freeman and Akins Smith worked together to promote the Destination, Community, and Artistry that makes the Wintergreen Experience so compelling and memorable. New initiatives introduced during this period became Festival traditions, including Coffee Talks, launched in 2017 by Erin Freeman and violinist Elisabeth Adkins, which provide audiences with insight into music, composers, and performance.

The summer of 2018 introduced the Sing With Us! choral program, which further expanded community participation by welcoming singers from across the country and the Wintergreen region for rehearsals and performances under Dr. Freeman’s direction.

On the heels of a season filled with growing audiences, organizational development, and artistic excellence, the Board of Directors adopted a new Strategic Plan in February of 2019. A new brand refresh and name change was introduced, reflecting a unified vision that brought Festival programming, education, and community engagement together under a single identity. Read more about the name change to Wintergreen Music here.

In 2025, Wintergreen Music celebrated its 30th anniversary and hired Corinne Horvath to serve as Executive Director (formerly Director of Donor Relations & Education) whose work with the organization over the past five years has been integral to its success. 

Education, Resilience, and Community

Education has remained central to Wintergreen Music’s mission since its earliest days. Over the past three decades, hundreds of students have come to Wintergreen to study, perform, and receive mentorship from world-class musicians. This commitment deepened in 2021 with the launch of the LEAD (Learn, Explore, Adapt, Diversify) Cooperative, a tuition-free program designed for advanced young artists preparing for professional careers. LEAD was developed by Freeman and Horvath in collaboration with WM staff and colleagues, shaped by their combined years in higher education and a shared conviction that a program like this – holistic, tuition-free, and people-centered – should exist for the next generation of musicians.

Wintergreen Music demonstrated resilience during the 2020 pandemic, when the summer Festival was canceled. The organization maintained community connections through virtual concerts, interviews, and reunions, as well as a limited number of safely distanced live events. These efforts sustained momentum and reinforced the strength of the Wintergreen Music community.

Partnerships with Wintergreen Resort, local businesses, and community organizations have continued to grow, expanding performance opportunities and strengthening regional impact. The organization remains grateful for the leadership and support that have sustained these collaborations.

Looking Ahead

From its beginnings in private homes to its present role as a four-week summer Festival and innovative educational institution, Wintergreen Music continues to reflect the strength of its community, the excellence of its artists, and the enduring power of music in the Blue Ridge Mountains.