Freeman takes Wintergreen post

Erin R. Freeman, director of the Richmond Symphony and Buffalo Philharmonic choruses and director of choral activities at Virginia Commonwealth University, has been selected as the next artistic director of Wintergreen Performing Arts, which presents a summer music festival and other performances at the Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County.

Freeman succeeds Larry Alan Smith, who will step down as of Oct. 1 to return to composing and pursue other musical activities. Smith has been Wintergreen Performing Arts’ artistic and executive director since 2006.

Freeman “brings a level of energy, a breadth of musical experience and a love of performing arts that will surely enrich the audience experience for all of us,” Tom Steele, president of Wintergreen Performing Arts’ board, said in a prepared statement.

In addition to the music festival, Freeman will take charge of the Wintergreen Summer Music Academy instructional program, and help organize other performing-arts events at the resort year-round.

Wintergreen Performing Arts, founded in 1995, has staged its four-week summer music festival since 1997. The 2015 festival runs from July 6 to Aug. 2.

For details, visit www.wintergreenperformingarts.org