Media Contact

Kathy Moore • Principal
Moore Public Relations
540.255-2662
info@moorepublicrelations.com
 

Press Release

With public health as SMF's top priority, the festival will be postponed to August 13-22, 2021
 
For 10 days and nights, experience 30 performances featuring renowned international musicians 
 
Photo Gallery
Dozens of additional high-resolution images available by request
 

Quick Facts

  • Established in 1998
  • A 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization, presenting world-class chamber music 
  • Annual 10-day summer music festival presents 30+ performances
  • Concerts span 600 years of music, representing all classical musical styles and genres from solo to large ensemble
  • Brings 70+ world-renowned musical artists to Virginia each August (including members of New York Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera, and more)
  • Showcases new works from an international selection of composers-in-residence each season including U.S. and commissioned world premieres
  • Musicians are acclaimed for their knowledge of historical performance traditions (SMF annually presents Baroque, Renaissance, and Medieval programs entirely on period instruments.)
  • SMF's performance collection of historic keyboards is one of the largest on the East Coast
  • In 2019, festival attendance surpassed 9,000. Festival attendees came from 25 states and 3 foreign countries.
  • More than 40% of SMF’s audience is made up of out-of-town patrons
  • 100% of visiting musicians are hosted in private homes
  • Media coverage includes: Washington Post, Virginia Living, Travel+Leisure, NPR, etc. SMF concert recordings are occasionally featured on American Public Media’s Performance Today.
  • Youth aged 18 and under can attend nearly every SMF concert for free.
  • Motto is #RethinkClassical
  • Artistic Director and Founder is Carsten Schmidt. Executive Director is Jason Stell.
 

Future Festival Dates

  • August 13 to 22, 2021
  • August 12 to 21, 2022