David Cote

“For those of us raised in the country who moved to cities (and still live there), a residency at Hambidge can be a marvelous jump back in time. Just as, when young, we wandered the woods and paused at fallen trees and tiny brooks, gazing at wise old mushrooms or gaudy flowers, hearing birds or eerie silence, our feet crunching leaves, so we gently regress at the natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Hambidge's winding trails. If our impulse for storytelling, painting, sculpting or singing did not begin in the woods, it was nurtured there. We were building worlds in our heads even as we were plugged into the green world. When I was at Hambidge, I felt like a child again, in the best sense. I was full of stories; everything seemed new and possible. I was alone when I wanted to be alone, and I could share with like-minded new friends. Living in a city can be hard. Making art can be a struggle. But evolved, enlightened places like Hambidge help you refuel your imagination and get back in touch with the child who started this whole crazy journey.”

– David Cote, New York, Opera Librettist and Playwright