Music & Mindfulness – June 2026

Inspiring Young Musicians Through Performance, Wellness, and Community

The 2026 Music & Mindfulness program, co-sponsored by the Blue Ridge Center for Music & Creative Arts, recently concluded this year’s program, welcoming talented young musicians from Philadelphia and Virginia for eight days of immersive musical study, mindfulness practice, and personal growth at Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges in Syria, Virginia. Under the direction of Denise Kinney, the program combined world-class musical instruction with wellness activities designed to help students build focus, confidence, resilience, and lasting friendships. Throughout the week, students received full scholarships to participate in this unique educational experience.

Students participated in private lessons, chamber music coaching, orchestral and choir rehearsals, and sectional instruction led by an exceptional faculty of professional musicians and educators. In addition to refining their classical performance skills, participants explored new musical styles through introductory jazz and bluegrass workshops, collaborative jam sessions, and cross-genre performances that encouraged creativity and musical curiosity.

Mindfulness remained at the heart of the program. Each day included guided practices such as yoga, meditation, and wellness activities that helped students develop techniques for managing performance anxiety, improving concentration, and creating a healthy balance between artistic excellence and personal well-being. Recreational activities including nature walks, swimming, ATV excursions, campfires, karaoke, and evening social events further strengthened the sense of community that developed throughout the week.

The program also provided numerous opportunities for students to perform before live audiences. Faculty and student concerts throughout the week showcased bluegrass, jazz, chamber music, and orchestral repertoire, culminating in the Kaleidoscope Concert at the Barn at Stony Brook and the Final Orchestra Concert at Graves Mountain Lodge. These performances highlighted not only the remarkable progress made by the students but also the collaborative spirit that developed through days of intensive study and shared musical experiences.

An exciting addition to this year’s program was the integration of BRCMCA’s Student Live Production Team. Students who had participated in the Center’s Live Streaming Workshop assisted in producing several of the week’s concerts, gaining valuable real-world experience in audio, video, and live event production while helping share the performances with audiences beyond the concert hall.

The Blue Ridge Center for Music & Creative Arts extends its sincere appreciation to Program Director Denise Kinney, conductor Joseph Illick, Chamber Music Director Rachel Segal, the outstanding faculty, staff, student counselors, and the team at Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges for creating an inspiring environment where young musicians could thrive both artistically and personally.

Music & Mindfulness continues to reflect BRCMCA’s mission of developing the next generation of artists by combining exceptional artistic instruction by nationally recognized faculty with experiences that nurture creativity, wellness, leadership, and a lifelong love of music.