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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"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 ...
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.
