Geneva Music Festival

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Geneva Music Festival

What began as a weekend-long classical music series has since grown to a variety of attractions lasting two weeks in the Finger Lakes summer.

Geneva Music Festival’s mission is to entertain, inspire, and nurture a lifelong appreciation of chamber and other musical genres in Finger Lakes communities by presenting world-class artists that engage diverse audiences of all ages. Founded in 2011 by violinist and Geneva native Geoffrey Herd, the Geneva Music Festival has remained committed to bringing a wide array of fine arts performances to

the Finger Lakes Region. The Geneva Music Festival’s mission is to entertain, inspire, and nurture a lifelong appreciation of chamber and other musical genres in Finger Lakes communities by presenting world-class artists that engage diverse audiences of all ages, including populations with little exposure to music of this caliber. Purposeful engagement with young people is an integral part of the Festival’s programming and children 18 years and younger are admitted free to all public concerts. Programs in schools and senior living facilities bring live chamber music to audiences that might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience it.

08/11/2026

The Geneva Music Festival presents a multi-genre season, but the heart of our festival is chamber music.

What do our audiences say makes chamber music so powerful? With just a handful of musicians on stage, it’s incredibly intimate.

🎤 The performers step up to the microphone to share their personal insights on the music. You're up close and in-person to hear every note. The collaboration between the musicians can be felt.

"The artists' introductions are always informative in a personal way and help create the intimate connection between artists and audience that I know is so special." ~2026

No two musicians bring the exact same voice, so no two collaborations unfold in quite the same way. Because of the intimacy, the music is truly shaped by the people making it.

Have you experienced chamber music? What made it meaningful to you?

Photo by

08/07/2026

has become a home away from home for many of our artists, providing beautiful accommodations, generously donated. This gift allows musicians from around the world to have a comfortable space to rest, while experiencing the unique charm of Geneva. Your generosity leaves a lasting impression on the musicians who join us each summer.

We're also deeply grateful to many other hosts who welcomed our artists this season, including , , as well as many local friends and families, who welcomed our artists and helped make Geneva feel like home.

08/04/2026

Behind every performance is a great deal of work that happens in the background.

Grant funding helps make so much of the Geneva Music Festival possible, from bringing exceptional artists to the Finger Lakes to expanding educational programs, like the programs and performances .sound brought to Geneva schools this past season.

We're deeply grateful to the foundations, agencies, and organizations that invest in the arts and believe in the impact they have on our region.

To our leaders within the Geneva Music Festival who spend countless hours researching opportunities, preparing applications, gathering data, and sharing our story, your work behind the scenes helps make funding a reality.

Photo by

07/31/2026

The Geneva Music Festival is known for extraordinary music. And the Finger Lakes is known for extraordinary wine. Over the last few seasons, we’ve enjoyed providing audiences the opportunity to experience both!

Our winery partners help create memorable evenings that celebrate our world-class artists alongside the incredible wines that define our region.

Thank you to , , , and , for partnering with us this past season. Your generosity and commitment to the Finger Lakes community help us celebrate the best of what our region has to offer. 🍷🎶

Photos by

07/29/2026

In June, we wrapped the 17th season of the Geneva Music Festival!

As we look back, we're filled with gratitude for a summer of extraordinary music, and for the incredible community that made it all possible.

Together, we celebrated some exciting milestones:

🎻 An expanded four-week season, bringing even more opportunities to experience world-class music in the Finger Lakes.
🎶 One of the most remarkable artist lineups in festival history, welcoming several Grammy-winning and acclaimed guest artists alongside our renowned Resident Artists.
🎓 Musical experiences that reached more than 1,600 local students and community members through concerts, educational programs, and community outreach.
🍷 Partnerships with local wineries, a chocolatier, visual artists, a woodworker, and many other Finger Lakes businesses that strengthened the connections between music and our region's broader creative community.

All of this happens because artists, audiences, donors, volunteers, sponsors, community partners, and friends come together with a shared belief that the arts enrich our region.

To each and every one of you, thank you. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Photos by Jan Regan Photography

06/15/2026

We had such an amazing final week of the 16th Geneva Music Festival! 🎶

These photos are from , one of America’s leading, multi-Grammy-winning new music ensembles. Following the performance, one audience member noted: "Without intending to detract from the splendid chamber music that is the heart of the GMF and my own experience, I will probably remember this evening the longest. They introduced me to a world of sound and artistry and compositional possibility completely new to me." Thank you also to and for being there with us that evening!

These photos capture just one of the three incredible events that made up our final weekend together. While the 16th season has officially come to a close, we're not done sharing the memories just yet! Photos from our final performances are still to come.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year's festival happen! Stay tuned for more highlights coming soon. Thank you for the great shots!

06/14/2026

The Geneva Music Festival season wraps TODAY with a sold out show featuring masterful, Grammy-winning, American roots duo at .

We're so thrilled to close with a full house!

If you weren't able to secure tickets, we hope you'll follow along on social media for highlights and join us next season!

06/12/2026

The Artist-in-Residence series culminates TONIGHT in a celebration of creative expression and possibility. With music by Mozart, Schumann, and Caroline Shaw, hear the sounds of a distinctly American ideal: the ongoing pursuit of happiness.

Mozart was a Freemason, committed to Enlightenment ideals of equality and human dignity.

Schumann's Piano Quartet is Romantic generosity at its warmest: big melodies, rich harmonies, the sense that the world is fundamentally good.

And Caroline Shaw, the youngest-ever winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Music, proves that the Enlightenment project continues: her Thousandth Orange is playful, strange, beautiful, and utterly original.

Featuring , , , and perform these works with the joy they deserve.

In a season celebrating America, this concert celebrates the belief that art can make us more fully human.

Limited tickets still available:
June 12 at 7:30 PM
Gearan Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets at genevamusicfestival.com

🍇 Enjoy a complementary tasting by

🖼️ Enjoy an exhibition featuring artist,

06/11/2026

Thank you for hosting last night's free community performance and helping us share the joy of live music with our community. This community engagement is one of the most gratifying aspects of our festival work!

Audience members enjoyed an early taste of The Pursuit of Happiness, featuring festival artists performing music by Mozart, Schumann, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw. Our incredible musicians, , , , and , brought this program to life gave an early glimpse into one of this season's most inspiring performances.

Missed it? There's still time to experience the full program this Friday! Join us for The Pursuit of Happiness and celebrate creative possibility.

🎟 Limited tickets are still available at genevamusicfestival.com

Thanks for the great photos!

06/10/2026

Eighth Blackbird has spent over two decades at the forefront of American new music, premiering hundreds of works along the way.

The New York Times has called their performances "ferociously imaginative."

They're live at GMF this week!
Thursday, June 11
7:30 PM
Gearan Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets and info: genevamusicfestival.com

Their GMF appearance offers a chance to hear one of the country's most respected new music ensembles.

Address

P. O. Box 543
Geneva, NY
14456

Telephone

+13155211623

Website

http://www.genevamusicfestival.com/

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