Castleton Festival facts for kids
The Castleton Festival is a special event that started in the summer of 2009. It's the main project of The Chateauville Foundation. This foundation was created in 1997 by famous conductor Lorin Maazel and actress Dietlinde Turban-Maazel.
The Foundation helps young artists grow. It also encourages people to work together on art projects. Plus, it creates chances for everyone in the community to enjoy cultural experiences. The festival takes place at Lorin Maazel's home in Castleton, Virginia.
What is the Castleton Festival?
The festival's main building is called the Theatre House. It's a cozy place with great sound. Believe it or not, it was built on the old foundations of a large chicken coop! This theater is busy all year long with different activities.
Many famous artists have performed here. These include cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and violinist Itzhak Perlman. Other stars from classical music, jazz, dance, and theater have also visited. The Foundation continues to bring top artists to perform throughout the year.
Helping Young Artists and the Community
The Foundation also welcomes students to its facilities. It offers special programs and activities in local schools. The Foundation cares deeply about its community. It often works with local groups to bring performing arts to people who might not usually experience them.
In recent years, the Foundation has focused on helping young artists. These are advanced students and new professionals ready for big careers. In 2006, they started a program called the Castleton Residency. Young artists came to Castleton Farms to live and work together. They learned from Maestro Maazel and created small opera shows in the Theatre House.
This program was very successful. It grew into the first Castleton Festival in 2009. The festival gave young artists even more chances to learn and perform.
Festival Activities
The festival includes many exciting activities:
- Symphony concerts with full orchestras.
- Master classes, where experts teach students. A famous one was the Lorin Maazel Master Class for conductors, supported by Rolex.
- Recitals, which are solo performances.
- Many other formal and informal shows and training sessions.
The Castleton Festival's 2015 season received support from many places. These included private donations and grants. Some grants came from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. The Virginia Tourism Corporation also helped.
In 2020, because of world events, the festival was held online. It was a virtual festival!
