A decade-long arts program keeps thriving in Staunton

For the twelfth summer in a row, a group of young violinists, cellists, and violists will descend on a small Virginia college town to sharpen their skills under top instructors. Mary Baldwin University has just renewed its three-year partnership with the Heifetz Institute, a program that first moved its summer camp from New England to Staunton back in 2011. This year also marks the camp’s third decade, making it one of the longest-running music festivals in the region. The partnership brings more than just students to campus. Every summer, the institute turns the university and surrounding downtown into a stage for free concerts that draw both locals and visitors. Staunton, already known for its historic downtown and Shakespeare theater, gains another cultural pull—one that introduces classical music to new ears while giving performers real-world experience.University leaders point out that the arrangement does more than fill practice rooms; it helps the school stand out in a crowded higher-education market. By hosting a world-famous music program, Mary Baldwin offers something few other small colleges can: a front-row seat to professional-level performances just steps from classrooms. For the young musicians, the six-week camp is intense. Days start early with private lessons, master classes, and rehearsals that run late into the evening. But the payoff is clear: students leave with sharper technique, deeper musical understanding, and sometimes even a paid gig or two in the Shenandoah Valley.