Mary Baldwin University and the Heifetz International Music Institute have signed a new three-year agreement that will continue one of Staunton’s signature arts and education partnerships, bringing exceptional young musicians from around the world to MBU’s historic campus each summer for intensive training, performance, and community engagement.

The new agreement continues a partnership first established in 2011, when the Heifetz Institute relocated its summer program from Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, to Staunton. Since then, the Institute has become a defining part of the city’s summer cultural landscape, filling MBU’s residence halls, classrooms, dining facilities, and performance spaces with students, faculty, families, and concertgoers.

This summer marks the Heifetz Institute’s 30th anniversary, with students arriving on the MBU campus June 19 for another season of world-class instruction and public performance.

“The Heifetz Institute exemplifies the kind of partnership that strengthens both Mary Baldwin University and the community we serve,” said Dr. Paul Deeble, provost at Mary Baldwin University. “We are proud to continue this longstanding relationship and the cultural vitality and educational enrichment it brings to Staunton, our campus, and the Shenandoah Valley.”

Each summer, the Heifetz Institute attracts highly accomplished young string musicians from across the United States and around the world to study with renowned faculty and perform throughout the Staunton community. The Institute’s Festival of Concerts brings regular public performances to Mary Baldwin and other local venues, creating a vibrant summer season for audiences and contributing to Staunton’s reputation as a regional destination for arts and culture.

“For fifteen summers, Mary Baldwin University has served as the home of the Heifetz Institute, helping us create an environment where extraordinary young musicians can live, learn, and perform at the highest level. This renewed agreement reflects a shared commitment to education, community engagement, and artistic excellence, and we look forward to continuing that work together for years to come,” said Benjamin K Roe, President & CEO of the Heifetz International Music Institute.

The renewed agreement reflects a shared commitment to education, performance, and community enrichment. For Mary Baldwin, the partnership brings global artistry to campus while creating opportunities for cultural engagement among students, faculty, staff, residents, and visitors. For Heifetz, the MBU campus provides a distinctive and welcoming setting for students to live, learn, rehearse, and perform during the Institute’s immersive summer program.