Student Life

Housing, Food, Transportation & Policies

We are thrilled that you are interested in Wintergreen Music LEAD Cooperative, a unique summer experience that offers an exciting blend of musical growth, breathtaking natural beauty, and cultivated collegiality among professionals and students. 

At Wintergreen Music, we pride ourselves in creating an atmosphere that promotes high artistic quality through a strong sense of community. This combination makes our Festival and LEAD Co-op the ideal place for students to come and learn in a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment. 

HOUSING

LEAD Co-op students will be responsible for securing their own lodging. Suggested AirB&B and VRBO options will be provided after the deposit has been made.

FOOD

Students will be responsible for preparing their own meals. There is a small market on the mountain that has a variety of groceries, but prices tend to be high as it is the only grocery on the mountain. LEAD Co-op staff will schedule trips to the grocery store and provide transportation if needed. A few meals will be provided, including pizza nights, an evening at a local restaurant, and a home-cooked meal (or two!) by our Wintergreen Music volunteers.

STUDENT WELL-BEING

• Our Education Coordinator, Brenna Wiinanen, monitors the non-musical aspects of each student's life.

• Our Manager of Artistic Operations, Education Coordinator, and Arts Administration Fellows provide a helpful link between the student life and artistic sides of the LEAD Co-op.

• Because the program is small, we have a very low student to faculty/staff ratio, giving us ample opportunity to monitor each student's artistic progress as well as their general health and happiness.

• Wintergreen has its own police force and fire department, and there is a guard house and a rescue squad for medical emergencies.

NON-MUSICAL ACTIVITIES

• Outdoors: Wintergreen Music is nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, with plenty of access to well-marked hiking trails. In addition, The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen provides guided tours and indoor exhibits about the landscape of the area.

• Social Outlets: The Education Coordinator organizes and creates opportunities for social activities.

• Aquatics Center: Students will have access to the Wintergreen Aquatics Center.

 Find out more about the beautiful Wintergreen Resort here.

TRANSPORTATION

While it is highly recommended that students have a car while attending the LEAD Co-op, it is not required. 

Those without cars should make all travel arrangements only in and out of Charlottesville, Virginia using the frequent air, rail, or bus services that are available. Complimentary transportation between Charlottesville and Wintergreen will be available on the first and last days of the program. Further details will be provided upon acceptance into the program.

POLICIES

All students are required to read and sign several documents that clearly articulate the rules and regulations of the LEAD Co-op — rules and regulations that are designed with the safety and well-being of our students in mind. We also expect all students to abide by US and Virginia laws. Failure to adhere to these policies and laws will result in dismissal from the program with no refund in tuition or fees paid. 

You will note in our policy documents an additional emphasis on civility, teamwork, and inclusion. These are core to our work at Wintergreen Music, and we take them seriously and insist that all of our students and faculty treat everyone with respect. Please view our mission, vision, values, and commitment to DEIA for more context.

For questions or more information, please contact the Education Coordinator Brenna Wiinanen (education@wintergreenmusic.org).