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STAUNTON MUSIC FESTIVAL

Staunton proudly hosts "Virginia's world-class music festival" (Travel + Leisure), which brings more than 90 world-class musicians from around the world to the Blue Ridge Mountains to perform for ten consecutive days and nights of eclectic chamber, vocal, and symphonic music. All performances are held entirely in historic downtown Staunton — named one of the "best small towns in America" by Smithsonian.  ​

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SpringFest: Baroque Journeys

April 12-14, 2024

April 2024 offers a three-day celebration of period-instrument Baroque music, culminating with Handel's Italian oratorio La Resurrezione. 

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The Summer Festival

August 16-25, 2024

The signature event of SMF's season.  Ten days of eclectic vocal, orchestral, and chamber music featuring 80+ artists from around the world.

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Other Recitals

Spring & Fall

Staunton Music Festival presents one-off recitals of specific repertoires in spring and fall, from solo harpsichord to 19th-century chamber music.

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Special Events

Throughout the year

From fundaisers to Nightcaps and lectures over lunch, the Festival offers many ways to celebrate the richness of music in our world.

"Staunton [is] an arts-and-culture magnet." - Washingtonian

Artist Spotlight (Nov 27, 2023)

Erik Higgins, double bass, is a musician known for his versatility and fluency in many different styles and musical languages. After graduating from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2007, he moved to Germany where he completed a post-graduate training program at the Bavarian Radio ...

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The spirit behind our tagline, Rethink Classical, touches on two basic convictions about what classical music can be in the 21st century. First, by taking a deep interest in historically-informed performance practice, we can rediscover the subtlety and color that emerges from period instrument concerts. Second, by merging past masterworks with world premieres, we remind ourselves that music from all eras is vital and expressive--that all music was once "modern".  We believe programming the old and the new, together, deepens the appreciation of both.

Together, these commitments to historically-informed performance of older music and to the creative, mixed programming of contemporary works define Staunton Music Festival.  For us, therefore, the call to "Rethink Classical" is more than just a tagline -it's a key element of our mission statement.

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