Creative Music Experience 2026

August 18, 2026

Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges

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Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges, located in Syria, Virginis, is a key business sponsor of the Center, providing food & lodging for visiting artists and students in a resort setting and facilities and support services for program workshops, performances, and other activities. In addition, it provides financial support for Center programs through its Graves Mountain Charitable Trust.

Surrounded by mountains, orchards, hayfields, and rolling green hills, this venue provides a beautiful and relaxing location for artists and students to work and for live performances and art shows.

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DuCard Vineyards

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DuCard Vineyards, located in Etlan, Virginia, an award-winning boutique winery in a gorgeous mountainside location. DuCard has been named the Greenest Winery in Virginia plus other ‘green’ awards, is the #1 top rated winery on Trip Advisor for Central Virginia, and DuCard wines have been awarded Governor’s Cup gold medals in white, red and dessert categories over the past five years.

The owner, Scott Elliff, has been featured in a variety of videos about local viticulture and the ‘green’ practices that are deployed in DuCard’s operations, is a periodic guest on local radio programs, and consults with start-up vineyards on design and methods. His periodic “Notes from the Vineyard” appears in Piedmont Virginian magazine.

DuCard provides facilities for live student performances and social events for donors featuring its outstanding wine.

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Possum’s Store

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Possum’s Store, owned by Renee Balfour, is an authentic and historic country general store located in Criglersville, VA (originally McAllisters General Store, circa 1890) and is currently an artist studio and art and artisan gallery. The venue hosts music events and artist workshops and is a gathering place and a creative center in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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MadVa

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MadVa Performing Arts was launched in May, 2026 as a non-profit, community-based organization. Its purpose is to foster community performing art opportunities for residents and students, and entertainment events supporting tourism in Madison County, VA. It’s inaugural production, the play Minuteman (written by Jim Jewett), will take place on September 12, 2026, at the Barn at Stony Brook in Syria, Virginia. The production is part of the America 250 celebration and chronicles the lives of mountain families during the Revolutionary War. Minuteman is the first in the Heritage Series of plays to be performed and a variety of productions are planned for the upcoming year.

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Music and Mindfulness

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Music and Mindfulness is a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization that conducts an annual 8-day overnight program at Graves Mountain Farm and Lodges. The program offers advanced level high school orchestral and vocal students a robust and rewarding opportunity to expand their musical skills, connect with nature, learn mindfulness techniques, and receive guidance and support on their paths to college and careers. Students learn through one-on-one instruction, sectional and small group sessions, chamber music coaching, and orchestral and choir rehearsals and performances. They also have the opportunity to expand their skills through introductory workshops in new genres such as jazz and bluegrass, and join faculty for lively jam sessions and collaborative concerts.

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