New three-year agreement continues a longstanding arts and education partnership that brings world-class young musicians to Staunton each summer.
Each summer, Mary Baldwin University’s historic Staunton campus takes on a different rhythm.
Residence halls, classrooms, dining spaces, and performance venues fill with young musicians from around the world. Audiences gather for concerts across campus and the city. And for several weeks, Staunton becomes home to one of the world’s leading summer programs for exceptional young string musicians.
That tradition will continue through a new three-year agreement between Mary Baldwin University and the Heifetz International Music Institute, extending one of Staunton’s signature arts and education partnerships.
Mary Baldwin and Heifetz Continue a Partnership Established in 2011
The renewed agreement continues a relationship first established in 2011, when the Heifetz Institute relocated its summer program from Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, to Staunton.
Since then, the Institute has become a defining part of the city’s summer cultural landscape, bringing students, faculty, families, and concertgoers to MBU and the surrounding community each year.
This summer also marks the Heifetz Institute’s 30th anniversary. Students arrive on the MBU campus June 19 for another season of intensive instruction, public performance, and community engagement.
A Partnership That Strengthens Staunton, MBU, and the Shenandoah Valley
“The Heifetz Institute exemplifies the kind of partnership that strengthens both Mary Baldwin University and the community we serve,” said Dr. Paul Deeble, provost at Mary Baldwin University. “We are proud to continue this longstanding relationship and the cultural vitality and educational enrichment it brings to Staunton, our campus, and the Shenandoah Valley.”
Each summer, the Heifetz Institute attracts highly accomplished young string musicians from across the United States and around the world to study with renowned faculty and perform throughout the Staunton community.
The Institute’s Festival of Concerts brings regular public performances to Mary Baldwin and other local venues, creating a vibrant summer season for audiences while contributing to Staunton’s reputation as a regional destination for arts and culture.
Bringing World-Class Young Musicians to Campus Each Summer
For Mary Baldwin, the partnership brings global artistry to campus and creates opportunities for cultural engagement among students, faculty, staff, local residents, and visitors.
For Heifetz, the MBU campus provides a distinctive and welcoming setting where students can live, learn, rehearse, and perform during the Institute’s immersive summer program.
“For fifteen summers, Mary Baldwin University has served as the home of the Heifetz Institute, helping us create an environment where extraordinary young musicians can live, learn, and perform at the highest level,” said Benjamin K. Roe, president and CEO of the Heifetz International Music Institute. “This renewed agreement reflects a shared commitment to education, community engagement, and artistic excellence, and we look forward to continuing that work together for years to come.”
About the Heifetz International Music Institute
Founded in 1996 by concert violinist Daniel Heifetz, the Heifetz International Music Institute is recognized among the world’s leading summer programs for exceptional young string musicians.
Through its intensive summer program, Festival of Concerts, and signature Performance and Communication Training, the Institute helps young artists develop both technical excellence and distinctive musical voices.
More information about the Heifetz International Music Institute, including its summer Festival of Concerts, is available at heifetzinstitute.org.