Every year, by the time winter has truly turned to spring, our chamber music festival brings an inspiring cast of international guest artists to Ithaca. Mayfest was founded in 2008 and this year we feature another wonderful group of musicians, many known to our devoted audience. We are especially excited about the programs this year, featuring music from Bach to Britten, from Hildegard von Bingen to the premiere of a Mayfest commission by Christopher Stark. Every work will be a discovery from beautiful and rarely heard works by Crusell and Cassadó, to fresh readings of Beethoven’s “Archduke” Trio and the great Schubert String Quintet in C Major to close the festival. In addition, we offer a special hour-long Sunday brunch concert at the A.D. White House with coffee and croissants featuring the music of Clara and Robert Schumann (with Brahms, to complete the triangle). Join us, as we share in the music-making with our friends, offering our gratitude to our community and the music that helps bind us together. You can find programs since the beginning of the festival here in our archive.  Come join us!

— Miri Yampolsky and Xak Bjerken, Artistic Directors