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Established in 1974, Manchester Music Festival (MMF) has been a beacon for classical music enthusiasts for half a century, showcasing both established artists and young talents. Nestled in the beautiful Green Mountains of Southern Vermont, MMF plays a pivotal role in the cultural enrichment of our community and beyond.

The Festival celebrates its Golden Anniversary in 2024 with a curated season of more than 30 events, including performances, masterclasses, open rehearsals, talks, and outreach programs. Under the leadership of our Artistic Director, Philip Setzer, founder and violinist of the Emerson String Quartet, Season 50 celebrates “The Romantic Journey,” a theme that cuts to the heart of how art reflects our humanity.

The annual Manchester Music Festival transforms the town into a harmonious haven for music enthusiasts. – WorldAtlas.com

Message from Our Artistic Director

Philip Setzer

Artistic Director, MMF
Founder, Emerson String Quartet

Dear Friends, Old and New,

I want to say to all of you what a great honor it is to be appointed the new Artistic Director of the Manchester Music Festival.  My colleagues on the festival’s staff, the board of directors and I have worked tirelessly to create a memorable menu of musical delights for all of you for the 50th Anniversary in 2024.  The theme of the Festival will be called “The Romantic Journey”.  I have always thought of each program, and especially a series of thematically-linked concerts, as a kind of journey—one that both increases our knowledge and deepens our enjoyment of these great works of Art.  We will explore the definition and roots of Romanticism, and experience the passing of the romantic torch from Beethoven to Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms and onward to Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Dvořák, Respighi, and Barber. The journey will take us all the way to a newly commissioned work by Sarah Kirkland Snider, exploring romanticism from the viewpoint of today.  We will also have concerts featuring our Young Artists and a special program called “Given a Chance”—romantic works of composers who struggled to have their voices heard due to their gender and/or the color of their skin.  In addition, we will present two family concerts for children, informative and fun.  The opening program of the festival, performed by the Wu Han-Philip Setzer-David Finckel Trio, will consist of two monumental works that helped herald the new Romantic Era of the 19th Century:   Beethoven’s “Archduke” Trio, op. 97 and Schubert’s Eb Trio, op. 100.  The festival’s Grand Finale will feature the great American soprano, Christine Goerke, who had tremendous success as Brünnhilde in the most recent production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle at the Met Opera.  We certainly hope you will join us next summer as audience members.  We cannot do this without your help.  I know I speak for everyone involved when I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your friendship and support.

2024 Festival Artists

2024 Young Artists Program

Support Manchester Music Festival

Gifts to MMF provide the bedrock financial support to help cover the costs to bring a roster of esteemed guest musicians to Vermont for live concerts; to advance technology for live streaming, recording, and archiving performances; to rent our main concert venue at the Southern Vermont Arts Center; to offer an intensive summer residency program for exceptional young artists; and to maintain the historic Festival House which serves as our rehearsal and dormitory hub, office space, and the heart of MMF.

WILL YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TODAY?

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