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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