Rachel Hadas , wife of composer and long-time VCCA Fellow George Edwards, has asked that VCCA Fellows who want to be in touch with George contact her directly at 212-666-4482, rhadas@andromeda.rutgers.edu or 838 West End Ave., #3A, New York, NY 10025-5365. George is not well and Rachel (a VCCA Fellow in 1989 and 1992) is facilitating all contact with him. She has told us that references to the VCCA have always cheered George and she welcomes memories and photographs from fellow Fellows. George is an award-winning and widely performed composer. A book of his essays, Collected Essays on Modern and Contemporary Music was published by Scarecrow Press in 2008. A CD of his selected chamber music is in the works.

VCCA Fellow Andrea Clearfield traveled to Nepal last August as part of a collaborative project to research and make field recordings of the indigenous music in the remote Himalayan kingdom of Lo Monthang in Mustang, trekking mostly on horseback during the two-week trip. Enthralled by the experience, Andrea committed herself to assisting the people of Mustang, and has organized a benefit concert in her Philadelphia home on March 1, raising money for Lo Kunpen , a school and clinic of Tibetan medicine. The evening will feature a preview of LUNG-TA, The Wind-Horse , Andrea’s artistic collaboration combining music, dance, and visual art inspired by her trip, plus a silent auction of Tibetan art. Please email Andrea for more information. "Lo Kunphen is a school in desperate financial need," says Andrea. " Those who are unable to make the benefit, but wish to contribute a donation to the school, can write a check made out to DROKPA (with the words "Lo Kunphen" i

Inspired by the VCCA trail that meanders through the woods behind the swimming pool, VCCA Fellows have installed several sculptures along the mile-long paths. The most recent is "Organic Structure," polyethylene tube and wire, by Brooklyn artist Jae Hi Ahn, who was in residence in December and January. Click on the image for full size view. The trail was conceived and constructed in 2004 by VCCA Program Director Craig Pleasants and Leigh Allen, who lives on the grounds with Communications Director Amy Allen. Photo courtesy Jae Hi Ahn

Fellow and painter Cheryl Fortier has been named the new Resident Director of the Moulin à Nef in Auvillar, France, and will begin her work there in July, following in the footsteps of the current Resident Director, poet Lucy Anderton. Cheryl and her husband will travel from their home in Vancouver to spend the season at VCCA's French studio center, facilitating residencies and workshops while representing VCCA in the community. Please visit our website to learn more about VCCA's France program. Cheryl's paintings can be found in private and corporate collections in Canada and in the United States. She is represented in Vancouver by Nest Interiors and D'or Art Consultants, in New Westminster by Van Dop Galleries, and in Toronto by the Willow Gallery. During Cheryl's most recent fellowship at Mt. San Angelo last fall, she kept an online journal of her experience. You can read it here .