The Music of the Mountains
Southern Living|June - July 2024
When warm weather arrives, Brevard, North Carolina's open-air concerts and cascading waterfalls fill the town with the song of summer
CAROLINE ROGERS
The Music of the Mountains

THE MUSIC begins as the sun sinks below the thick stands of summer-green trees that surround Whittington-Pfohl Auditorium. The sounds of an orchestra tuning-delicate strains of violins and warm resonances of cellos and bassoons pour through the open sides of the concert hall and into the evening air. A hush moves through the aisles as the conductor takes the stage. Standing in the center of a half-moon of watchful performers, she inhales deeply and raises her arms, holding the voice of the orchestra poised in her hands. The Brevard Music Center Summer Festival has begun.

Here, when you mention "the music," everyone knows what you're talking about. Brevard, North Carolina, has been home to the Brevard Music Center (BMC) since the 1950s, and each year high school and college students from around the country arrive on campus for the Summer Institute. It offers classes across many disciplines, including voice and piano, as well as a packed season of concerts and an extraordinary sense of community. Audiences, many of whom have been attending events here for generations, are passionate about the performances, the place, and its mission to nurture the next generation of music makers.

"We open the curtain on the art form," says Jason Posnock, president and CEO of the BMC. "Students and faculty sit next to each other during concerts, which are an outgrowth of the work they do together. Many faculty members have spent decades here." Posnock has seen this firsthand; he joined the violin staff in 2006 and was appointed president of the organization in 2023. "It's essential for musicians to pass on their knowledge, but we know it's not always about what students do after spending the summer here. It's about how they do it, how they use the experiences they have had in this remarkable place," Posnock explains.

This story is from the June - July 2024 edition of Southern Living.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the June - July 2024 edition of Southern Living.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SOUTHERN LIVINGView All
SUNDAYS AT THE RANCHO
Southern Living

SUNDAYS AT THE RANCHO

‘Two restaurateurs invite old and new friends to this Homestead, Florida, farm for a family-style supper that celebrates the land

time-read
2 mins  |
January - February 2025
25 Amazing Places To Visit in 2025
Southern Living

25 Amazing Places To Visit in 2025

Mark your travel calendars. Our editors have scoured the South for what's new, notable, and next

time-read
10+ mins  |
January - February 2025
The King of Cakes
Southern Living

The King of Cakes

New Orleans bakers are reimagining Louisiana's most iconic pastry

time-read
2 mins  |
January - February 2025
Smart Moves
Southern Living

Smart Moves

With two kids and a pair of four-legged friends, designer Jessica Davis leaves nothing to chance in her Atlanta pad

time-read
1 min  |
January - February 2025
In Fine Form
Southern Living

In Fine Form

A Southern Living House Plan lays the classic groundwork for a young family's Albany, Georgia, home

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2025
Dollywood Has a Story To Tell
Southern Living

Dollywood Has a Story To Tell

ONE OF THE TOP THEME PARKS IN THE WORLD MARKS ITS 40TH SEASON, THANKS IN PART TO BARBARA WALTERS AND A TRUSTED BUS DRIVER

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2025
Sweet Heat
Southern Living

Sweet Heat

Chicken wings bring back cherished memories of my grandfather

time-read
2 mins  |
January - February 2025
A Song in Her Heart
Southern Living

A Song in Her Heart

DOLLY PARTON TALKS TO RICK BRAGG ABOUT HER HOMETOWN, THE REAL JOLENE, AND THE MUSIC THAT KEEPS HER GOING

time-read
10 mins  |
January - February 2025
The Hodgepodge House
Southern Living

The Hodgepodge House

TO MAKE SENSE OF HER QUIRKY NEW HOME, DESIGNER TAYLOR HILL WASHED THE INTERIOR WITH WHITE PAINT AND THEN LAYERED IN HER CHARACTER-FILLED COLLECTIONS

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2025
The Keeper of the Camellias
Southern Living

The Keeper of the Camellias

Vaughan Drinkard shepherds the cheery plants, which rule Cornerstone Gardens in Mobile, Alabama

time-read
3 mins  |
January - February 2025