In tune: Young musicians hit the right notes with YOCVA

Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival founders, Juilliard School graduates, members of Dave Matthews Band…scroll down the list of local musicians who have played in the Youth Orchestras of Central Virginia, and you won’t doubt the almost-40-year-old organization’s claim: “Music begins with us.” “We’re the only opportunity in the community for young people who play winds and […]

Rock on! A local drummer delivers the hits

Penny Shuster started playing the drums in fifth grade, with the snare in her school band. But she made the switch to a drum set last year, when she started at St. Anne’s-Belfield School, because it afforded her more opportunities to play different kinds of music. “Plus,” Shuster says, “it’s cooler.” She takes lessons at […]

Safe Schools: Three Things to Know

As families send their youngsters off to school each morning, they want to know their children are spending the day in a safe place. They count on schools to provide this secure environment, so we checked with one of our regional school districts to learn more. Here are three things you should expect your children’s […]

August ABODE: On stands now!

In this issue, you’ll find a an artist-architect, a symmetrical Fluvanna pool, Vinegar Hill’s second act and more. Here’s what’s inside: Jessie Chapman‘s visual approach. Vinegar Hill’s second life in film. Why your home might benefit from a portico. Michelle Adams‘ design influences. A pool we love! A city home in need of reconfiguration.   […]

Time travel: A country landscape spans the centuries

The weekend home of a Washington, D.C., couple sits not quite in the middle of their 76-acre property north of Charlottesville. They didn’t choose the most lofty site for their cottage, but instead gravitated toward a spot that snuggles into a treeline and offers a broad, rolling view of fields and woods. “This was our […]