Floyd, Virginia is better known for Mountain music than for classical concerts, but a new Music Festival will bring the two together for eleven days this spring --- all over town.
David Stewart Wiley is the artistic director and conductor of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival. He says Floyd is an ideal setting for the festival; its variety of venues for a full schedule of performances and workshops, its scenic backdrops, and because of a certain resonance between classical and mountain music.
“For example the mandolin has a great European tradition and the wonderful thing is that it is used in great blue grass music. So we combined the European tradition of the classical concerto with the incredible solo capabilities of the mandolin, where Jeff Midkiff has written a 3 movement mandolin concerto for symphony orchestra," said Wiley.
The schedule for Virginia’s Blue Ridge Music Festival is still being finalized. Opening night features Bach, Vivaldi and Handel. A new work, titled Fanfare for Floyd will have its world premier. The festival includes both free and paid events and runs from May 30th until June 10th.
As a prelude to the upcoming Blue Ridge Music Festival in Floyd there will be a benefit concert April 18th at 6:30 in Celebration Hall at Floyd Eco Village.
