LEAD Cooperative Scholarships

A special thank you to our generous donors who contribute to our scholarship funds and help us to honor the history of our organization. Over the years, specific scholarships have grown to underwrite tuition for all attending students. Today, our free tuition model is made possible by national and local grants including the REA Charitable Trust, The Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the following current and historic scholarships:

NEW! The Arts Administration Fellowship in Memory of Sidney J. McQueen, a multi-year commitment to support students interested in pursuing a career in Arts Administration

Generously established and supported by Suzzane McQueen, Ken Heise & their son Armand McQueen

Through the development of new performing arts centers, management of existing arts facilities, and revitalization of performing arts programs, Sidney McQueen became widely known and respected in the arts administration field. He was Director of major arts facilities including: Meany Hall for the Performing Arts, Seattle, WA; Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Tulsa, OK; Fort Lauderdale Performing Arts Authority, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Coral Springs City Centre, Coral Springs, FL; Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, Green Bay, WI; and Vilar Center for the Arts, Beaver Creek, CO.

Sid served as President of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters (APAP) (formerly ACUCAA) following five years as a Board member and two years as Vice President. He was active in the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA) where he served as President and Vice President of the ISPA Foundation. He was an involved member of the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM) for twenty-eight years. He co-founded and was the first chairman of the presenting consortium, Southwest Arts Presenters.

Sid provided consulting services to arts and civic organizations, as well as municipal governments. He did community assessment and analysis, review of community arts organizations and public assembly facilities, arts and entertainment program reviews, and marketing strategies. He worked with numerous architects and theater consultants in the development and renovation of arts and entertainment venues. Sid brought extensive experience in facility operation and program management that includes financial forecasting, staffing and program projections and operational proforma services.

He served on numerous grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and also provided the NEA with management and programming reviews, conducting evaluations of organizations ranging from the Brooklyn Academy of Music to the Chicago Arts Institute, and the Houston International Festival. He also served on panels for the Mid-American Arts Alliance, the Western States Arts Foundation, Michigan Arts Council, the Arts International Panel for the Fund for U.S. Artists and Festivals, Georgia Council for the Arts, Oklahoma Arts Council, Texas Commission of the Arts, Florida Arts Council, Broward County (Fort Lauderdale) Cultural Affairs Council, and the King County (Seattle) Cultural Facilities Commission.

Prior to his work in arts administration, Sid worked in higher education managing the operation of student unions/university center facilities. Several of these facilities included visual and performing arts components. He was the co-author of “Administration and Operation of College Unions” which was once the basic text for college union administration.

Sid’s greatest legacy was his support for others who were starting out and working in the arts administration field. Upon his passing many of those he worked with shared stories of how he supported and mentored them. This was summed up best by a friend and colleague who wrote “No one was denied Sid’s knowledge nor mentorship. He was the most generous professional I’ve ever known in how he took care of all of us.”

Interested in making a contribution to the Arts Administration Program in his name? Please click the link below and add a note in the comments section “In Memory of Sidney J. McQueen.”

The McCracken Founders Education Scholarship supports LEAD scholars with a goal of providing free tuition for future LEAD Cooperative students and maintaining side-by-side opportunities for students and Festival Artists. This newly established fund created by the founders of Wintergreen Music cements our organization’s commitment to education.

The Michael White Community Fund

A beloved teacher, musician, composer, and friend of the Wintergreen Music Festival, the memory of Michael White lives on through this special fund. John and Nanci Taylor, former hosts of the late Michael White, generously made the first seed contribution to this new fund. Donations made to the Michael White Community Fund will cultivate music education now and for generations to come by helping to offer free tuition for LEAD Cooperative students.

The Edward J. Solomon Veterans Scholarship supporting children of U.S. Military active duty or veterans. Founded in honor of the late Edward J. Solomon, this fund provides financial assistance to students whose mother or father is a veteran.

Ed grew up in Buffalo, New York in a military family and was a Vietnam War Veteran. While in Vietnam, he was wounded and spent a year in military hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, DC. Ed was a very positive person who did not let his injuries deter him from success.

Ed graduated from the University of Buffalo and continued his graduate studies at The Ohio State University where he received his Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning and Urban Design. During his career, he planned and zoned Mental Health facilities for the State of Ohio. He also taught special education students and worked in the Telecommunications industry.

Ed and his wife Sue purchased their Wintergreen home in 1993 and became permanent residents in 2013. Ed loved Wintergreen. He skied in the winter and golfed the rest of the year. He was involved in the Wintergreen Sporting Club, helping to coordinate the trap and skeet program. Ed enjoyed attending the Wintergreen Music Festival performances and when approached by another member of the community about becoming involved in a a Veterans Scholarship program, he immediately jumped on board. Ed thought this would be a wonderful way to help talented young musicians gain valuable experience. He wanted to be involved in helping relatives of Veterans.

Ed possessed a mischievous twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.

Ed passed away on August 2, 2016. He would have been very honored to have his name attached to this scholarship fund.

The Horizon Scholarship supporting students of underrepresented populations in classical music, including black and Latino musicians.

The Wally Easter Scholarship supporting a French horn player.

The Lynn Bernhardt Scholarship supporting a student from North Carolina.

The Daron Hagen and Gilda Lyons Scholarship supporting a Woman, Non-Binary, or Gender Queer Composer.

The Jim Glazebrook Scholarship supporting a Violinist from Virginia.

The Larry Alan Smith Scholarship supporting a composition student.

The LEAD Scholar program, which supports all of our LEAD Cooperative offerings.

To make a contribution to support the tuition free LEAD Cooperative through special funding, please click here. Contact Corinne Horvath (chorvath@wintergreenmusic.org) to learn more about full program underwriting, concert sponsorship, and special fund support.