August 16-25, 2024
August 15-24, 2025
Each August Staunton Music Festival welcomes over 80 acclaimed professionals from around the world to perform in 30 events. Multiple concerts daily make for an exhilarating immersion in chamber, vocal, and symphonic music. The days are given over to one-hour, free admission programs, while the evenings come alive with longer, ticketed concerts preceded by special dinners and short lectures. And for those who enjoy music after dark, look for the Nightcap concerts that take place at 10:00 pm in interesting spaces downtown.
CLICK THE PASS IMAGE TO PURCHASE DISCOUNTED SUMMER PASS!
The Summer Pass includes all events listed below EXCEPT any labeled Special Events.
Free concerts do not require tickets.
Ticketing: (540) 800-6012
boxoffice@stauntonmusicfestival.org
SPONSORED BY DAVIDSON PERRY-MILLER, LINDA STEIGLEDER & CLARK WIEDMANN, AND DR & MRS RICHARD L M COLEMAN
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.
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
SPONSORED BY FLORENCE JOWERS & PAUL WEBER
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 DR SARA N JAMES
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 JOHN & ANNE SILLS AND LIZA DELZELL
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 KEITH MORTON
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 AN ANONYMOUS SUPPORTER
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.
SUPPORTED BY JAMES GRAY & DAVID GREINER
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 VIRGINIA HUMANITIES
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!
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
SUPPORTED BY THE FRANCES WHITESEL SMITH CHARITABLE TRUST
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!
SPONSORED BY TERRY E GRANT
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.
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
SPONSORED BY LOUISE SCOTT
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!
SUPPORTED BY VIRGINIA HUMANITIES
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!
SPONSORED BY ANN ZIRKLE AND BROOKS CUSHMAN,
in memory of W. Denman Zirkle
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.
SUPPORTED BY CITY NATIONAL BANK
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!
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
SPONSORED BY CLIFFORD GARSTANG, RODNEY YOUNG & MANDI SMITH
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.
SUPPORTED BY THE LEONARD & ELSIE CHITTUM MEMORIAL FUND
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!
SPONSORED BY BILL & LISA MOORE, RICK CHITTUM, AND CHRISTINE & MICHAEL BURCH
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.
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
SUPPORTED BY THE ETHEL SMEAK MEMORIAL FUND
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!
SPONSORED BY BOB BARRON & FRED BLANTON
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 JAMES & TAMARA RIDENOUR,
AND SUSAN STEVICK, in memory of Kenneth Webb
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.
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.
SPONSORED BY TIMBERLAKE SMITH & THE DONALD MOSES MEMORIAL EDUCATION FUND
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 TOM & DIANE FECHTEL AND SANDRA LOGAN & RODNEY VANDERPLOEG
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.