Thanks to the generosity of you, our supporters, VBRMF has been able to make the following donations in the2016 calendar year:

• $3,500 has been awarded toward the purchase of a violin for one very talented, young violinist.
• $1,000 has been awarded to a young musician to cover the cost of official Suzuki training. In addition to continuing her violin studies, this young musician is already teaching violin to children in our area.
• $1,300 was spent to send two area youth musicians to summer music camp and to cover the cost for one student to attend the Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra Summer Institute.
• $580 was paid toward tuition for two students to participate in the Roanoke Youth Symphony Orchestra.
• $1,000 was donated to the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra for their ongoing educational programs for youth.

Your donations have resulted in an excellent investment in the future of classical music in  our region!  Thank you!

Board Letter to Music Lovers

January 2016

Dear Classical Music Lover,
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, in 2015 Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival (VBRMF) was able to achieve our goal of providing, promoting and supporting classical music in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some of the highlights of 2015 included the following:

• Hosted an overflow crowd for the May 31 concert “Bach, Bluegrass and Barber” with Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (RSO) members and Conductor David Wiley. The concert included original music by mandolin virtuoso Jeff Midkiff and by young composer Josiah Sprankle, and closed with Floyd violinist Laurel Brooke performing.
• Sponsored the August 29 concert of Nada Yoga, classical Indian music, by the Sangita Shakti Ensemble.
• Organized the Oct. 11 Young Artists Concert featuring nine students of voice, violin, mandolin cello and piano.
• Provided financial support for the Jan. broadcast concert “Waterworks” when the RSO Youth Symphony Orchestra played with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra in an educational concert which was viewed by thousands of school children. Also made financial contributions toward two classical concerts at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts in March and April.
• Provided a grant to assist a music student with college expenses and funded the RSO’s summer camp for three students from Floyd.

With the ongoing support of our donors, we look forward to an exciting 2016. Our concert season will begin on February 21 at the June Bug Center in Floyd where cellist Lisa Liske-Doorandish will perform along with young area musicians. Mark your calendars also for the May 7th concert, “Mozart in May,” to be performed at Celebration Hall in Floyd, by an ensemble of symphony virtuosi led by Maestro David Wiley of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. By popular request, we will be sponsoring another Young Artist Concert and plans are in the works for a house concert in the fall.
VBRMF is providing financial support for the January 25 performance of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra’s educational program, “The Thrill of the Orchestra,” which will be broadcast by WDBJ to thousands of school children. The performance includes members of the RSO Youth Orchestra playing side by side with the RSO. We will continue to provide financial support to classical music concerts at the Jacksonville Center for the Arts and will again give scholarships to young musicians.
Please join us in supporting these endeavors in 2016 by sending your check to VBRMF, PO Box 757, Floyd, VA, 24091 or by contributing online via PayPal at the link on our website.
Let’s make music!
The VBRMF Board
Randall A. Wells, President