Each year, the Cathedral Basilica comes alive the last two weekends in June with six FREE concerts of World Class Music in the beautiful and acoustically superior Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, Florida. The St. Augustine Music Festival (SAMF) has grown over the years, recognized as a summer musical gem in St. Augustine and the largest FREE classical/chamber music festival in the USA.
Jorge Peña and Jin Kim-Peña, Co-Artistic Directors and founders of the festival 18 years ago, are pleased to announce the commencement of the 2024 season.
Just two days before the concerts in the Cathedral begin, there will be a special Juneteenth Concert at Lewis Auditorium.
60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and Commemorative Juneteenth Marcus Roberts Concert
The St. Augustine Music Festival and the St. Johns Cultural Council are presenting a special Juneteenth Concert starring virtuoso pianist Marcus Roberts and the New Jazz Generation, featuring Jason Marsalis. This program is part of a series of events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which was largely influenced by demonstrations in St. Augustine.
Roberts will perform his program “From New Orleans to Harlem” which will include a 100th-anniversary arrangement of “Rhapsody in Blue” with members of the St. Augustine Music Festival orchestra.
This special Juneteenth Recognition Concert will take place at 7:30 PM on June 19 at the Lewis Auditorium of Flagler College, 14 Grenada St., St. Augustine, FL 30284. Tickets are $40 and available at www.SAMFestival.org.
Six Free Classical Chamber Concerts in the historic Cathedral Basilica
For the 18th season, the St. Augustine Music Festival will once again offer six concerts of classical chamber music during the last two weekends in June. These concerts are held at the historic Cathedral Basilica on the Plaza de la Constitution in downtown St. Augustine. The doors open at 7:00 PM for the 7:30 PM concerts.
The first concert on Friday, June 21, “Evolution” features the music of Telemann, Ginastera and Bach’s Double Violin Concerto, featuring violinists Nigel Armstrong and Gabriella Peña.
Nigel Armstrong
Gabriela Peña
On Saturday, June 22 the theme is “Mystic Latin”, with music by Villa-Lobos, Frank, De Falla and Telemann’s Don Quixote Suite.
The Sunday, June 23 “Mozart and Americana” concert will highlight the music of Still, Foote and Mozart’s Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra.
The Friday, June 28 concert “War & Romance” will highlight the music of Stravinsky, Soldier’s Tale for Violin, Clarinet and Piano, Shostakovich Quartet No. 8 and Ferrari’s Sinfonia da camara.
“Musical Saga” is the theme for Saturday, June 29 highlighting Brahms Horn Trio, Sibelius and Gregory.
For the final concert on Sunday, June 30 “A Reflective Journey” the program includes Shostakovich Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings featuring Yukino Miyake, piano and Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor “Farewell”.
The St. Augustine Music Festival offers these concerts to the public at no charge and encourages families to attend, if younger attendees can be respectful of the musicians. For reserved seating, a minimum donation of $350 to SAMF will provide reserved seating for each of the Cathedral concerts. Donations can be made on the website: SAMFestival.org or by check to P.O. Box 833, St. Augustine, FL 32085. For more information, visit the website or call 904-484-4960.
MUSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, June 21, Evolution
Telemann Sinfonia Spirituosa in D major
Bach Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
featuring Nigel Armstrong and Gabriella Peña
Ginastera Concerto for Strings
Saturday, June 22, Mystic Latin
H. Villa-Lobos: Sexteto Místico – Mystic Sextet
Flute, Oboe, Alto-Sax, Guitar, Harp, Celesta.
Gabriela Lena Frank – Quijotadas for String Quartet
Georg Philipp Telemann, Don Quixote Suite (St. Continuo)
Manuel De Falla: “’El Amor Brujo” for Piano Sextet (1926)
Sunday, June 23, Mozart and Americana
William Grant Still: Enganga for Harp, Strings Quintet and Piano
Arthur Foote: Suite in E major for String Orchestra ”
Mozart: Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra in C major, K 299
Friday, June 28, War & Romance
Stravinsky Soldier’s Tale for Violin, Clarinet and Piano
Shostakovich: Quartet No.8
WOLF FERRARI, Sinfonia da camara (1.1.1.1-1000) String Quintet, Piano, Flute)
Saturday, June 29, Musical Saga
Sibelius, “En Saga” Septet Brass Quintet,
Flute and Clarinet arr. Gregory Barrett
Sunday, June 30, A Reflective Journey
Shostakovich Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings
Featuring Yukino Miyake, piano
Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor “Farewell”
