Arts Administration Fellowship
In Memory of Sidney J. McQueen
2025 Program Dates
Monday, July 1 - Tuesday, July 29, 2025
For undergraduate students through post-graduates who interested in pursuing a career in arts administration.
*arrival and departure dates are subject to change and will be communicated during interview process
Application Deadline: March 1
program description
The Wintergreen Arts Administration Fellowship is suited for graduate or undergraduate students interested in exploring a career in arts management. Fellows receive hands-on experience and training and will have access to workshops led by experts in the field.
Each participant will be recognized as a Fellow of the Wintergreen Music Festival and will receive a full tuition waiver, room and board, and a travel and food stipend.
Wintergreen Music offers two different fellowship programs:
Leadership Fellows focus in one of the below departments. Fellows in this area may have pre-existing experience in arts administration and leadership, but are interested in further developing their leadership skills and deepening their knowledge in one specific area of management.
Exploration Fellows rotate through many of the below departments. Fellows in this area may have limited experience in arts administration but are interested in learning more about each department.
All Fellows participate in sessions with administration experts in the field of classical music, including guest mentors and Wintergreen Music’s very own Executive Director Julianne Akins Smith, Artistic Director Erin Freeman, Director of Donor Relations & Education Corinne Horvath, Production Manager Michael Stewart, and Communications & Education Coordinator Brenna Wiinanen.
Fellowship Focus Areas:
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PRODUCTION & ARTISTIC OPERATIONS involves coordinating all aspects of Wintergreen Music chamber and orchestra rehearsals and performances. Responsibilities include producing run-of-show documents and helping run production meetings to collaborating with stage management and front-of-house departments to ensure performances are successful. These positions also focus on artist management, including arranging travel and hospitality. Fellows in this area work closely with our Director of Artistic Operations and interface directly with Wintergreen Music Guest Artists to meet their needs.
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CONDUCTING & ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP works directly with Artistic Director Erin Freeman, and will learn about the many facets of work of an Artistic Director, from artistic to administrative. Responsibilities will be tailored to the experience of the candidate, but may include: assisting in rehearsal with all conductors - taking notes for the conductors, making changes to library parts as needed, communicating rehearsal order and timings, and communicating musician needs to operations/production team; working with production to design stage plots, production sheets, or other performance-related materials that enhance performances; serving as main operational point of contact for conducting students - monitoring masterclasses, offering individual guidance, communicating rehearsal orders and expectations; and working as a team player alongside the staff and other Arts Administration fellows to ensure the smooth operations of Wintergreen Music Festival events. As experience allows, they may receive podium time ranging from leading sectionals to conducting mid-sized chamber music. They will be welcome at all chamber music rehearsals and will have full access to a roster of supportive musicians to answer questions.
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PATRON SERVICES & EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT ensures a positive, memorable concert-going experience for Wintergreen Music audiences. This job area includes interaction with and providing exceptional customer service to patrons in addition to box office and front-of-house coordination. Executive management fellows work alongside Wintergreen Music’s Executive Director Julianne Akins Smith, Director of Donor Relations & Education Corinne Horvath and Communications Coordinator Brenna Wiinanen in donor, patron, board member, volunteer, and community partner relations, and in overseeing the overall operations of the Festival.
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EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT provides smooth operation of the LEAD Cooperative, facilitating communication between students, faculty, and staff, and producing LEAD Co-op masterclasses, workshops, recording sessions, and concerts. Fellows will work alongside Director of Donor Relations & Education Corinne Horvath and Education Coordinator Brenna Wiinanen to manage all daily operations of the program.
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RECORDING AND TECHNOLOGY includes gaining experience in the technical execution of a production, with a focus on audio recording, sound reinforcement, concert lighting and stage management. This fellowship is offered only as a leadership fellowship and is not a part of the exploration fellow rotation.
At Wintergreen Music, your ideas matter! Fellows are truly a part of the Wintergreen family and are empowered to express their ideas, manage their own projects and openly collaborate with our staff, artists and other fellows. This encouragement and independence has prepared many of our Fellowship Alumni to secure arts management positions all over the country.
2024 Arts Administration Students
studies include:
Hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of Wintergreen Music Festival and LEAD Cooperative in the following areas:
Marketing
Development
Patron communications
Operations
Personnel management
Networking and attending seminars with administration experts in the field of classical music including Wintergreen leadership, board members, and guest mentors.
Full days in a fast-paced and artistically vibrant Festival setting.
Time off to attend concerts, hike, and explore the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
Evaluations and letters of reference as requested.
Access to Wintergreen Music seminars.
Additional Highlights:
Free access to nearly all Wintergreen Music Festival performances (a $900 value).
Beautiful hiking trails, breathtaking overlooks, and free access to the Wintergreen Resort Fitness and Aquatics center.
2025 Faculty
ONLINE orientation in MAY/june will INCLUDE:
Team-building sessions with Wintergreen Music leadership
Pre-Festival production meetings and department introductions
A what-to-expect overview
Application Requirements
A 500-word maximum statement detailing your interest in either the Leadership or Exploration Fellowship program, the focus area in which you are most interested, and any experience you feel may help you be successful as a Fellow.
Using your imagination to fill in the details, complete one of the following (1-2 pages maximum of text & graphics):
Create a production sheet for a chamber music concert
Create a social media marketing campaign for an upcoming chamber music concert
Describe the process of putting together a chamber music concert from inception to the final performance
Current resume, including musical and non-musical background.
Contact information for one reference.
Video recording of yourself describing a meaningful leadership experience and why it impacted you. 2 minutes or less.
Visit https://app.getacceptd.com/wintergreen and choose Arts Administration Fellowship from the dropdown menu for complete application requirements.
APPLICATION DEADLINES & INFORMATION
Deadlines
March 1: Application Deadline ($65 fee)
Acceptances
Selected students will be contacted by March 15 via email from the Acceptd application portal for an interview. An interview does not guarantee a spot in the 2025 program.
FEES
Application:
$65 on or before March 1
Tuition:
Free
Housing:
Free
Travel stipend:
To be paid to Fellow via check at the conclusion of the Festival
Food stipend:
To be paid to Fellow via check at the conclusion of the Festival
Contact
For questions or more information, please contact Education Coordinator Brenna Wiinanen (education@wintergreenmusic.org).
