Join Artistic Director Erin Freeman, Festival Artists, and special guests weekdays from 9:30–10:30 am in the Hearth Room of Wintergreen Resort's Mountain Inn for free and open to the public Coffee Talks!
Dive into the details of pieces featured on Wintergreen Music Festival concerts, learn more about life as a musician, gather insights on the Festival planning process, and more!
Coffee Talks are presented free of charge, thanks to the generous underwriting of Festival Season Passholders and Wintergreen Resort. Our Festival Season Passholders love attending as many musical performances as they can, and their underwriting of Coffee Talks fittingly enhances concert experiences for everyone by making these unique events as welcoming as possible. By attending Coffee Talks each morning, your Festival and concert experiences will mean so much more!
Held Mondays through Fridays in the Hearth Room at the Mountain Inn, 9:30-10:30 am
Coffee Talks are free to attend // Sponsored by Festival Season Passholders
Coffee Talk: Season Preview with Erin Freeman
Thursday, July 2 at 9:30 am
Join Wintergreen Music Artistic Director Erin Freeman as she previews the events and repertoire to be featured during the 2026 Wintergreen Music Festival. You’ll find out how she designed the Festival and discover some surprising facts about the marvelous music you’ll hear throughout July.
Coffee Talk: Aaron Copland - Beyond Appalachian Spring with Erin Freeman
Friday, July 3 at 9:30 am
Wintergreen audiences are familiar with Aaron Copland’s beloved Appalachian Spring, but this giant of the American music scene wrote so much more! Learn about two works featured during the Festival, and get a glimpse into the breadth of this 20th century giant.
Coffee Talk: Michael Daugherty’s Songs of the Open Road with Kelly Mozeik & Jacob Wilder
Monday, July 6 at 9:30 am
Join Wintergreen Music Festival Artists Kelly Mozeik (oboe) and Jacob Wilder (horn) as they chat about Michael Daugherty’s Songs of the Open Road, a piece about four iconic American roadways, including our own Blue Ridge Parkway!
Coffee Talk: Abe Lincoln’s Image in Movies, A VMFA Presentation with Trent Nicholas
Tuesday, July 7 at 9:30 am
Join Trent Nicholas, Film and Media Resources Coordinator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for a presentation on Abraham Lincoln’s representation in the movies! Lincoln is the US president who has appeared as a character in more movies and TV shows than any other, with over 300 documented works. This presentation focuses on and includes images of Abraham Lincoln from Hollywood movies. Additionally, it will feature many of the famous and not-as-famous actors who have portrayed him on screen and will give a nod to Mary Todd Lincoln.
Coffee Talk: Am I Missing Something? How To Listen, with Erin Freeman
Wednesday, July 8 at 9:30 am
In her engaging and welcoming style, Wintergreen Music Artistic Director Erin Freeman offers tips and tricks for listening to live concert music. Perfect for the classical music newbie or the more experienced concertgoer.
Coffee Talk: No Conductor, No Problem – Chamber Music from Gabriel Fauré to Isabella Leonard, with Erin Freeman
Thursday, July 9 at 9:30 am
What makes chamber music so special? Erin investigates this question through the lens of the Festival’s 2026 chamber works.
Coffee Talk: For the Love of Voice – Mozart's Operas, Masses, and Symphonies with Erin Freeman
Friday, July 10 at 9:30 am
At his core, Mozart was an operatic composer. Join Wintergreen Music’s Artistic Director Erin Freeman as she draws connections between the human voice and Mozart’s instrumental compositions.
Coffee Talk: The Rise of the Humble Violin – From the Dance Hall to the Concert Hall, with Jim Lyon
Monday, July 13 at 9:30 am
Wintergreen Festival Artist and LEAD faculty member Jim Lyon explores the violin family’s meteoric rise from a “low class instrument” only fit for “rogues and hardy beggars” to becoming the queen of the orchestra. Plus, meet Albert Spalding, the first internationally famous American violinist, heir to the Spalding sporting goods family, and employee of LaGuardia during World War 2.
Coffee Talk: A Beautifully Broken Virginia, A VMFA Presentation with John Plashal
Tuesday, July 14 at 9:30 am
Join photographer John Plashal of the VMFA to experience a unique photographic journey through the beautifully decaying rural places within our state with which so many Virginians have become fascinated. Mr. Plashal has commemorated these abandoned gems by capturing their beauty and delivering them to you in a presentation full of powerful imagery and emotional stories. Experience the “unseen” side of Virginia with all of the houses, churches, schools, asylums, diners, and secret societies that have been “frozen in time” and now documented and photographed in Mr. Plashal’s coffee table book titled “A Beautifully Broken Virginia.” This talk is sure to satisfy your curiosities and captivate your imagination with exploration tips and photography advice. ” Appreciate them now . . . for soon they will be gone . . . but still, they stand . . . beautiful . . . but broken.”
Coffee Talk: 150 Years Apart, With More In Common Than You Think, with Erin Freeman
Wednesday, July 15 at 9:30 am
Join Wintergreen Music Artistic Director Erin Freeman as she chats about two epic concertos: Florence Price’s first Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s third Piano Concerto. From different continents, backgrounds, and eras, you’ll find that these two concertos are actually sister compositions.
Coffee Talk: Sunlight and Shadows – Unpacking Brahms’ Second Symphony, with Erin Freeman
Thursday, July 16 at 9:30 am
In her signature, inviting way, Artistic Director Erin Freeman will be tour guide through this most joyful and uplifting of symphonies by Johannes Brahms.
Coffee Talk: Inside Two Great American Traditions – Jazz & Gospel with Desirée Roots
Friday, July 17 at 9:30 am
Join Wintergreen Music guest artist Desirée Roots as she explores the rich traditions of jazz and gospel.
Coffee Talk: Q&A with the 2026 Arts Administration Fellows – Lessons Learned from a Festival, with Cynthia Steele
Monday, July 20 at 9:30 am
Join the 2026 LEAD Cooperative Arts Administration Fellows as they talk about lessons learned from the Festival.
Coffee Talk: Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances, with Erin Freeman
Tuesday, July 21 at 9:30 am
Join Wintergreen Music Artistic Director Erin Freeman as she chats about Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.
Coffee Talk: Meet our Four Conducting Students, with Corinne Horvath
Wednesday, July 22 at 9:30 am
Join our 2026 LEAD Cooperative Conductors in conversation, led by Wintergreen Music Executive Director Corinne Horvath.
Coffee Talk: What 20 Measures Can Teach You, with Jorge Sosa and the 2026 LEAD Cooperative Composition Students
Thursday, July 23 at 9:30 am
Join Wintergreen Music Festival composer in residence Jorge Sosa and the 2026 LEAD Cooperative composition students as they chat about their 20-measure projects.
Coffee Talk: Music & Community - Why it Matters, with Corinne Horvath
Friday, July 24 at 9:30 am
Executive Director Corinne Horvath explores the vital role music plays in shaping and sustaining a community. Through stories, insights, and open conversation, she reflects on how music brings people together, strengthens connection, and enriches cultural identity—both at Wintergreen and beyond. Join her for a thoughtful and welcoming discussion on why music matters, and how its impact resonates far beyond the concert hall.
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