About
Presented by Appalachian State University’s Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every July in venues across the university campus, and features an eclectic, diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts and film programming.
An Appalachian Summer Festival began in 1984 as a chamber music series, and retains strong roots in classical music, combined with a variety of other programming geared to almost every artistic taste and preference. The festival has risen in stature to become one of the nation’s most highly respected summer festivals, acclaimed for the breadth and quality of its artistic programming.
In recent years, the festival has been selected as one of the “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. For many years, The New York Times has included An Appalachian Summer Festival in its “Summer Stages” issue, which profiles the nation’s most prominent and interesting summer arts festivals.
Celebrating 40 years
Watch PBS-NC’s special North Carolina Weekend segment about the 40th anniversary of An Appalachian Summer Festival.
Festival Mission
An Appalachian Summer Festival is an annual arts festival presenting and producing programs in music, theatre, dance, film and visual arts. The festival forges a unique national identity through artistic excellence, innovative programming, commissioning new works, educational opportunities, and by bringing the most accomplished and respected creative and performing artists from around the world to the Appalachian State University community. Founded on the principle of promoting young American artists, the festival supports the overall university mission, enhances the cultural life of the Appalachian community through affordable access to its programs, serves as an important gateway onto the campus, and promotes the economic development of our region.
Festival Vision: Artistic Excellence, Innovation and Engagement
In keeping with its status as a university-based arts program, the festival continually seeks to enlighten and educate—a focus reflected in such initiatives as the festival’s discounts for children’s tickets, school coupons and ticket prices that are typically 30-40% lower than prices for comparable events in other venues. A rich variety of educational opportunities is part of the festival schedule each summer, including exhibitions, lectures, tours, workshops, student internships and employment opportunities for young people seeking experience in arts presenting. These experiences offer opportunities for lifelong learning and meaningful engagement with the arts. The festival holds central the belief that access to a strong and dynamic program of artistic excellence in the performing and visual arts is an important component of a vital and healthy community.
Founders Society
On July 22, 2000, the university created a Founders Society to recognize the people whose vision, generosity and hard work helped build An Appalachian Summer Festival. The festival owes its success in large part to these extraordinary individuals.
Charter Members, inducted July 22, 2000
The Broyhill Family Foundation:
- J. Edgar and Satie H. Broyhill
- James T. and Louise R. Broyhill
- Paul H. and Faye A. Broyhill
- Willard A. and Bettie B. Gortner
- Robert E. and Allene B. Heilman
The Cannon Foundation:
- Robert G. and Mariam Cannon Hayes
- Armfield and Rachel Rivers Coffey
- Berge H. and Meliné A. Markarian
- Budd and Nanette Mayer
- Arnold P. and Muriel S. Rosen
- Martin L. and Doris B. Rosen
- Robert and Minnie Snead
- J. Bernard and Shirley S. Spector
- Robert L. and Lillian A. Turchin
2002 Members
- John E. and Faye B. Cooper
- Buddy and Charlotte Halpert
- Florence R. Hecht
- D. Grady Moretz Jr. and Reba Smith Moretz
- Peter and Joni Webb Petschauer
2013 Members
- Connie Adams
- Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer
2015 Members
- Frank and Kay Borkowski
- Ralph Glaser Jr. and John A. Pfeifer
- Doug and Teresa Johnson
- Ralph and Venda Lerch
- Neil and Nancy Schaffel
- Mark and Nancy Tafeen
2019 Members
- Boone Area Visitors Bureau (Wright Tilley)
- Wendy & Mike Brenner
- Sue & Steve Chase
- Chetola Resort (Kent & Shelley Tarbutton)
- Creekside Electronics (Lane Robinson)
- Susan & Harvey Durham
- Lynn & Barry Eisenberg
- Adrienne Finkel
- Barbara & Larry Freiman
- Mary & Nick Friedman
- Goodnight Brothers (Jim Goodnight & Bill Goodnight)
- Susie Greene
- Ralph Grier
- Sandy & Marc Kadyk
- Helen & Roger Michelson
- Nanci Tolbert & Larry Nance
- Peabody’s Wine & Beer Merchants (Jeff Collins)
- Edie Peiser
- Tina & Gary Silverstein
- SkyBest Communications (Karen Powell & Edward Hinson)
- Sandi Finci Solomon
- Letty & Keith Stoneman
- Cyn D Weaver
- Helene & Stephen Weicholz
Festival Advisory Council
The Festival Advisory Council provides critical leadership for An Appalachian Summer Festival by offering overall guidance, fundraising assistance, programming ideas and long-term direction for the festival. Advisory Council members are representative of the festival audience and the community — providing valuable feedback to the staff and serving as advocates and community ambassadors for the university and the festival.
- Carol Berns, Chair
- Joe Logan, Vice Chair
- Ira Abrams
- Carol Blumberg
- Steve Brooks
- Penn Broyhill
- Sue Chase
- Lorraine Childers
- Jeannine Collins
- Lynn Eisenberg
- Adrienne Finkel
- Ellen Harrell
- Ben Henderson
- Leonie Kruger
- Wendy Kulunas
- Morris Lioz
- Babette McAuliffe
- Kristin Nagy
- Peter Petschaeur
- Chris Petti
- Alice Roess
- Traci Royster
- Linda Russell
- Elizabeth Salter
- Nancy Schaffel
- Sandi Finci Solomon
- Lynn Neisler Sumner
- Nancy Tafeen
- Wright Tilley
Ex-Officio Members
- Jane Barghothi, Vice Chancellor for University Advancement
- Hank Foreman, Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff
- Dr. James Douthit, Dean of the Hayes School of Music
- Jenny Miller, Former Advisory Council Chair (2023)