Violist and composer Vladimir Mendelssohn was a formative and friendly presence at Staunton Music Festival for 20 seasons. After his death in 2021, friends and professional clleagues organized an international composition competition in his honor, partnering with a dozen festivals around the globe. Staunton is honored to be lone U.S. festival included in that list, charged with presenting the premiere of the top prize winner, Rosita Piritore's String Quartet. Piritore's work appears between music of Scarlatti and Debussy.

Scarlatti | Three sonatas for fortepiano
Piritore | String Quartet*
Debussy | Sonata for flute, viola, and harp

* US premiere of this work is presented in conjunction with the Vladimir Mendelssohn International Composition Competition.