Staunton Music Festival presents about 40 concerts per year, featuring 80+ acclaimed professionals from around the world. The highlight of each season is the annual Summer Festival in August, a time when each day offers visitors multiple concerts of chamber, vocal, and symphonic music. In April SMF's BaroqueFest offers a shorter, three-day festival devoted to a particular repertoire. During April and August most concerts are preceded by free, informal and short Preconcert Talks.
Throughout the year, SMF presents a series of more intimate Recitals that include solo and chamber repertoire in historic venues. In addition, we host a few Special Events of limited seating capacity, including Nightcaps and longer lectures with a catered meal.
For information about ticket prices, including discounted admission for military, college, and youth; seating plans, and various discounted passes on offer, please visit the Ticket Info page.
Ticketing: (540) 800-6012
boxoffice@stauntonmusicfestival.org
Keyboard Music of Bach
Sunday March 2 at 3:00 pm
Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church | $26
Relax for an afternoon amidst the compelling music of J. S. Bach, including the E-Minor English Suite, lute suite and more
Admission available individually or with Annual Pass.
Colleagues
Friday April 25 at 12:00 pm
Central United Methodist Church | Free admission
BaroqueFest 2025 opens with a free concert of music by Bach and his colleagues
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SPONSORED BY NANCY CARPENTER
European Union
Friday April 25 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $32
Enjoy a dazzling array of works by J.S. Bach for voice, keyboard, and orchestra.
Admission is included with BaroqueFest Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY NAOMI ADANIYA & BRANDON EGREN
Bach's Sources
Saturday April 26 at 12:00 pm
Central United Methodist Church | Free admission
Experience the composers that inspired a young J.S. Bach, including Buxtehude, Schmelzer, Vivaldi, and others
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SPONSORED BY JOYCE KELLY & PAUL HEALEY
Music at Sanssouci
Saturday April 26 at 3:00 pm
The American Hotel | $22
Travel back in time to Frederick's summer palace for a one-hour concert featuring J.S. and C.P.E. Bach, Quantz, and Graun
Special Event, not included in any subscription passes
SPONSORED BY HARRIET HANGER
Canonic Variations
Saturday April 26 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $32
Bach's incredible talent for counterpoint is here on full display, with music from The Art of Fugue and much more
Admission is included with BaroqueFest Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY RICHARD & MARY BARNES
Bach for Breakfast
Sunday April 27 at 10:30 am
Blackfriars Playhouse | $16-$22
Wake up to the sounds of Sebastian Bach in the glorious setting of Blackfriars Playhouse
Admission is included with BaroqueFest Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY JUDITH WIEGAND
St John Passion
Sunday April 27 at 4:00 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $32
One of the most powerful works in his output, Bach's poignant St John Passion closes BaroqueFest 2025
Admission is included with BaroqueFest Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED IN MEMORY OF MICHAEL J. BURCH by his family
Die Schöne Müllerin
Friday May 2 at 7:00 pm
Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church | $26
Tenor Derek Chester and pianist Carsten Schmidt revel in Schubert's musical poetry
Admission available individually or with Annual Pass.
Schubert's Great Quintets
Saturday May 3 at 3:00 pm
Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church | $26
The great "Trout" Piano Quintet and String Quintet in C are performed on period instruments
Admission available individually or with Annual Pass.
CO-PRESENTED WITH THE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA
The French Connection
Sunday June 1 at 3:00 pm
VENUE TBA | $26
Harpsichordist Carsten Schmidt explores French Baroque music and its influence.
Admission available individually or with Annual Pass.
Handel's Messiah
Friday August 15 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
The 2025 Summer Festival opens with a rarity: Handel's Messiah as a staged opera, directed by Timothy Nelson
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY DAVIDSON PERRY-MILLER, LINDA STEIGLEDER & CLARK WIEDMANN, AND DR & MRS RICHARD L M COLEMAN
Nightcap 1: Life is a Cabaret
Friday August 15 at 10:00 pm
Silver Line Theatre | $25
Festival singers unwind in Silver Line Theatre with cabaret songs from the heartfelt to the ribald
Special Event, not included in any subscription passes
Heaven and Earth
Saturday August 16 at 12:00 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | Free admission
Beethoven is featured in this one-hour concert, including the Piano Concerto No. 4 and songs based on his music
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SPONSORED BY FLORENCE JOWERS & PAUL WEBER
Midday Baroque Escape
Saturday August 16 at 3:00 pm
Blackfriars Playhouse | $25
Beat the midday heat of August and escape with music by Bach, Vivaldi, and Caldara.
Special Event, not included in any subscription passes
SPONSORED BY DR SARA N JAMES
I Could Have Danced All Night
Saturday August 16 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
The Festival programs continue on Night 2 with music by Strauss, Chopin, Brahms, Wadsworth and more
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY JOHN & ANNE SILLS AND LIZA DELZELL
Summer Sounds
Sunday August 17 at 10:30 am
Blackfriars Playhouse | $16-$22
Beethoven's Wind Octet closes this one-hour Sunday morning program at Blackfriars Playhouse
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY KEITH MORTON
Esprit de France
Sunday August 17 at 4:00 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
A diverse program of French music, from Dufay to Boulez and featuring Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY AN ANONYMOUS SUPPORTER
Great Britten
Monday August 18 at 12:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church | Free admission
A free noon concert featuring chamber music by the great English composer Benjamin Britten
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SUPPORTED BY JAMES GRAY & DAVID GREINER
Virginia Soundscape 1
Monday August 18 at 3:00 pm
Central United Methodist Church | Free admission
Four Virginia composers are featured in conversation and performance
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SUPPORTED BY VIRGINIA HUMANITIES
A Night at the Movies
Monday August 18 at 7:00pm
Silver Line Theatre | $22-$30
Step back in time to cinema’s Golden Era. Live musicians accompany two short silent films.
Special Event, not included in any subscription passes
Schola Cantorum
Tuesday August 19 at 12:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church | Free admission
This free one-hour concert pulls together a wide variety of vocal works from Thomas Tallis to Adolphus Hailstork
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SUPPORTED BY THE FRANCES WHITESEL SMITH CHARITABLE TRUST
Early Keyboard Extravaganza
Tuesday August 19 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
A feast for keyboard lovers, sampling music from the French harpsichordists and Handel to Schumann
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY TERRY E GRANT
Nightcap 2: Improv Night
Tuesday August 19 at 10:00 pm
VENUE TBD | $25
Festival musicians unwind at the end of the day with some lively and humorous improvisation
Special Event, not included in any subscription passes
Bohemian Rhapsodies
Wednesday August 20 at 12:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church | Free admission
Travel to the Bohemian region of central Europe for program of works by Dvorák, Zelenka, and Schulhoff
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SPONSORED BY LOUISE SCOTT
Virginia Soundscape 2
Wednesday August 20 at 3:00 pm
Central United Methodist Church | Free admission
Three Virginia composers are featured in conversation and performance
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SUPPORTED BY VIRGINIA HUMANITIES
All Creatures Great & Small
Wednesday August 20 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
Schubert's "Great" Symphony No. 9 concludes a program enlivened with numerous shorter works
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY ANN ZIRKLE AND BROOKS CUSHMAN,
in memory of W. Denman Zirkle
Musica Notturna
Thursday August 21 at 12:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church | Free admission
The nighttime is always the "right" time when it comes to inspiring music and poets.
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SUPPORTED BY CITY NATIONAL BANK
Musica Intima
Thursday August 21 at 3:00 pm
VENUE TBD | $22
Enjoy solo and chamber music up close and personal
Special Event, not included in any subscription passes
Who's Afraid of New Music?
Thursday August 21 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
Have courage! Even medieval sacred hymns and Beethoven's "Egmont" Overture were once "new music."
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY CLIFFORD GARSTANG, RODNEY YOUNG & MANDI SMITH
Autumn Leaves
Friday August 22 at 12:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church | Free admission
Enjoy a free program of exceptional chamber music by Johannes Brahms and Edward Elgar
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SUPPORTED BY THE LEONARD & ELSIE CHITTUM MEMORIAL FUND
Baroque Inside/Out: Italian Import-Export
Friday August 22 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
Vivaldi's sumptuous Gloria for chorus and orchestra caps a festive Italian-inspired Baroque program
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY BILL & LISA MOORE, RICK CHITTUM, AND CHRISTINE & MICHAEL BURCH
Nightcap 3: Baroque Jam
Friday August 22 at 10:00 pm
BluPoint's Music Room | $22-$30
A rousing end to a busy day! Catch Festival musicians in more intimate surroundings performing Baroque music.
Special Event, not included in any subscription passes
Serenades at Noon
Saturday August 23 at 12:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church | Free admission
One hour recital features Piazzolla, Ysaÿe, and new music by Stefan Heucke
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SUPPORTED BY THE ETHEL SMEAK MEMORIAL FUND
Baroque Lovers' Afternoon
Saturday August 23 at 3:00 pm
Central United Methodist Church | Free admission
This annual tradition combines fundraising (1:1 matching event) with highlights from Baroque repertoire
Admission is free and tickets are not required. Just show up!
SPONSORED BY BOB BARRON & FRED BLANTON
Rule, Britannia!
Saturday August 23 at 7:30 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
Anglophiles take note! A program of English works by Vaughan Williams, Dunstable, and many others.
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY JAMES & TAMARA RIDENOUR,
AND SUSAN STEVICK, in memory of Kenneth Webb
Let the Sun Be Our Guide
Sunday August 24 at 10:30 am
Blackfriars Playhouse | $16-$22
This Blackfriars concert features both old and very new music, combining Viennese classicism with contemporary jazz.
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
Moses Memorial Lunch & Lecture
Sunday August 24 at 1:00 pm
BluPoint Seafood Co. | $45
Following full meal, Mozart expert Tim Carter speaks in detail about the finale program, Mozart’s Magic Flute.
Special Event, not included in any subscription passes
SPONSORED BY TIMBERLAKE SMITH & THE DONALD MOSES MEMORIAL EDUCATION FUND
Finale: Mozart's Magic Flute
Sunday August 24 at 4:00 pm
Trinity Episcopal Church | $22 - $38
Mozart's final opera, The Magic Flute (in concert version) provides a fitting conclusion for the summer festival
Admission is included with Summer Pass or Annual Pass.
SPONSORED BY TOM & DIANE FECHTEL AND SANDRA LOGAN & RODNEY VANDERPLOEG
Beethoven Cello Sonatas
Sunday October 19 at 3:00 pm
Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church | $26
James Wilson (cello) and Carsten Schmidt (fortepiano) team up for a program of three Beethoven cello sonatas
Admission available individually or with Annual Pass.
Piano Music Circa 1830
Sunday November 2 at 3:00 pm
Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church | $26
Fortepianist Carsten Schmidt surveys significant solo works by Schubert and Schumann from the decade around 1830
Admission available individually or with Annual Pass.
