Shenandoah Valley Music Festival: An ‘arts inspiration’

This fall, Shenandoah Valley Music Festival has been named one of the state’s 50 “arts inspirations” by The Virginia Commission for the Arts. The honor was part of a larger pool of 50 arts organizations and advocates recently selected as part of the VCA’s 50th anniversary celebration of “50 for 50 Arts Inspiration Awards.” SVMF was one of eight arts organizations to receive this award in the category of Exemplary Programs and Pinnacle Events.

In October, Executive Director Dennis Lynch and Leigh Devier attended a reception hosted by Gov. Terry McAuliffe and First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe at the Executive Mansion to recognize the 50 award recipients. And in early 2018, they will return to Richmond to receive the award during a ceremony at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond.

Local schools honor SVMF

Locally, Shenandoah County Public Schools has recognized SVMF’s contributions to music education in the schools, including its role in creating the strings program more than 50 years ago. At a recent school board meeting Dennis and Leigh accepted a certificate of recognition on behalf of SVMF and enjoyed a performance by the North Fork Middle School’s Strolling Strings.

Most recently, SVMF received $3,000 in grant funding through the RevUp Marketing Competition, sponsored by Shenandoah County and its towns, the Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce, People Incorporated and the LFCC Small Business Development Center. A total of 21 local businesses submitted marketing plans to compete for grants of up to $5,000 each, and SVMF was the only one of the six award winners to receive a $5,000 Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce Gold Level Membership in addition to grant funding.

SVMF has compiled a video of highlights from their 2017 summer season. Watch and re-live the magic of great music under the stars!