Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival: 41 Years of Musical Excellence

The Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival stands as a cornerstone of classical music in Virginia, celebrating over four decades of bringing world-class chamber ensembles and soloists to audiences. The 2026 edition, running June 12–20, continues this legacy with six carefully curated concerts featuring repertoire spanning from the classical era through contemporary works.

The Festival Experience

Each concert is thematically organized to guide audiences through musical styles and periods. The festival opens with "Festival Opening Extravaganza" on June 12, featuring Schubert, Soper, and Dvořák. Subsequent concerts explore specific themes: "Music of Four Nations" pairs Mozart with Villa-Lobos, Shostakovich, and Schumann; "Heritage and Home" encompasses Beethoven, Fauré, Ravaei, and Brahms; and "Bridging the Eras" revisits Mozart, Brahms, and Schubert on June 18. A Friday evening concert on June 19 showcases the winners of the 2026 Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, alongside works by Schubert and Vaughan Williams. The festival concludes on June 20 with the "Festival Finale," featuring Boccherini, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky.

Artistic Leadership

Under the artistic direction of Marcy Rosen (cello) and Catherine Cho (violin/viola), the festival curates performances that "delight, engage, and surprise today's audiences and educate, inspire, and develop tomorrow's," according to the organization's mission. The roster includes established soloists such as Stella Chen (violin), Lucy Fitz Gibbon (soprano), Lydia Brown and Robert McDonald (piano), alongside ensemble musicians including Julia Yang and Chase Park (cello), and the competition-winning Dolphins Quartet.

Access and Support

Subscriptions bundling all six concerts at a discount (five concerts' price) are available, alongside individual ticket sales. Free open rehearsals are offered on June 4 and 11 at 10:00 AM (registration required). The festival welcomes donations and has established a "Circle of Friends" supporter program. For more information, contact info@chesapeakemusic.org or call 410-819-0380.