PRESS - Staunton Music Festival

Media Contact

Kathy Moore • Principal
Moore Public Relations
540.886.3131
info@moorepublicrelations.com

Media Resources

Press Release Announcing 2018 Summer Season World-Renowned Artists Bring Exceptional Classical Music Experience To Staunton (July 20, 2018)

Gallery of Images Includes a selection of images from last season. 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 2017, festival attendance surpassed 8,000. Festival attendees came from 24 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