Port City Music Festival

06/09/2025

Thank you, Wilmington! Until next year .... ❤️❤️❤️

06/08/2025

The grand finale of PCMF 2025 is this afternoon at 5 pm at First Presbyterian Church Wilmington, NC . Thanks to all who have attended this week! ❤️

06/06/2025

Tonight's concert begins at 7:30 EDT.

good shepherd

06/01/2025

Go to our website and click the merchandise tab to purchase a signed, high-quality 8x10 inch art print of this year’s poster art, painted by Aren Framil. 12 first-edition prints will also be available for purchase at our concerts this week, cash-only with limited availability. Each print is $15, not including tax or shipping fees.

The Port City Music Festival is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and program of CAMERATA PHILADELPHIA INC.

05/31/2025

Gared Crawford is a violinist with the Port City Music Festival.

“As a violinist, I have had a growing interest in antique and modern violins since my high school days. I am excited to share that over the last 2 years I have taken a deep plunge into the world of violinmaking. I have been fortunate to receive one-on-one instruction from Christopher Germain; one of the most highly regarded contemporary American violin makers. Once I began training, I quickly realized this is something I should have done a long time ago. It has dramatically increased my appreciation for lutherie as crucial facet of music making.

In addition to gaining this knowledge and experience, I have been balancing my professional performance schedule with setting up a home workshop and traveling the east coast, sourcing the best tonewood I can get my hands on. With a little luck I will have a functioning violin workshop at home by the end of the summer!” he says

See Crawford and the rest of the festival’s artists perform starting tomorrow in Wilmington, NC. More information about our events schedule is available at the link in our bio! The Port City Music Festival is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and program of CAMERATA PHILADELPHIA INC.

05/30/2025

Sarah Sutton is a violist with the Port City Music Festival.

“When asked what I’ve been up to this past year, I had a small moment of panic—turns out, trying to remember is harder than it sounds! I’ve been performing, conducting, and teaching, and when I’m not doing that, I’m usually reading, working (playing really) in my rather lovely garden, or playing with our new cat, Winnie. I also excel at taking naps that last far longer than planned. And of course, no year would be complete without embarrassing my friends and family with an endless supply of dad jokes,“ she says.

See Sutton and the rest of the festival’s artists perform next week in Wilmington, NC. More information about our events schedule is available at the link in our bio! The Port City Music Festival is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and program of CAMERATA PHILADELPHIA INC.

05/29/2025

Kyle Engler is a mezzo-soprano with the Port City Music Festival.

“This year I was named Artistic Director and Conductor of masterworks chorale of Carroll County. I conducted my first Concert with them on May 4 performing the Mozart Requiem. Next year I have scheduled Beethoven’s Mass in C and Duruflé Requiem.
I continue to direct McDaniel College Choir and the Green TerrorTones ACappella Ensemble as well as teach private voice and Director the Singing On Stage musical Theatre/ Opera workshop at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland,“ she says.

See Engler and the rest of the festival’s artists perform next week in Wilmington, NC. More information about our events schedule is available at the link in our bio! The Port City Music Festival is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and program of CAMERATA PHILADELPHIA INC.

05/27/2025

Dr. Stephanie Caulder is an oboist with the Port City Music Festival.

“Enjoying the end of my second year as a dean at UNCW in my fabulous hometown. Since last summer, I’ve traveled a lot within the US, played some golf, and won another fantasy football championship!  I’m very grateful to join the fantastic musicians of the Port City Music Festival again this year on June 4 and 5!“ she says.

See Caulder and the rest of the festival’s artists perform next week in Wilmington, NC. More information about our events schedule is available at the link in our bio! The Port City Music Festival is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and program of CAMERATA PHILADELPHIA INC.

05/26/2025

Dr. Stephen Framil is a cellist and the Music Director of the Port City Music Festival.

“Since last year’s Port City Music Festival, I enjoyed family vacations to the Philippines, Japan, and Costa Rica, completed my 2nd full Ironman, presented at the United Nations in Vienna, and completed the 19th season of Camerata Philadelphia, among numerous other adventures. I’m looking forward to this year’s 17th Annual Port City Music Festival,” he says.

See Framil and the rest of the festival’s artists perform next week in Wilmington, NC. More information about our events schedule is available at the link in our bio! The Port City Music Festival is a tax-deductible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and program of CAMERATA PHILADELPHIA INC.

05/06/2025

Join us this June for the 17th annual Port City Music Festival! From June 1-8, the festival’s artists will perform at eight events with partner venues throughout greater Wilmington, with music from Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Dvorak, and more. Joining Music Director and cellist Dr. Stephen Framil, this season’s artists include mezzo-soprano Kyle Engler, violinist Gared Crawford, violist Sarah Sutton, and pianist Dr. Daniel Lau.

Founded in 2009 by Stephen Framil and Wilmington artist Christine Farley, the Port City Music Festival is a tax-deductible non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and a program of CAMERATA PHILADELPHIA INC.

Program art by Aren Framil.

Find out about the 17th Annual Port City Music Festival 2025 and its seven acclaimed concerts and events that are free and open to all!

09/30/2024

Ok - last Ironman triathlon of the season promise (you won’t hear from me on this matter until next year). This was yesterday’s IRONMAN 70.3 New York at Jones Beach 2024. My 4th half-Ironman (since 2021, and being sick in 2023), this was my personal best time for the wee 70.3 miler. Of course, every “rain or shine” race is an adventure unto itself.

With the bands of now Tropical Storm Helene stretching far and wide … pausing for humanity, humility and respect for the devastation and carnage wreaked by Helene … this Long Island bay had the choppiest and current fighting 1.2 mile swim course I’ve yet to experience (mouthfuls of saltwater for sure).

The 2-loop bike course (56 miles) was quite exhilarating (still a turtle, exceeding 27 mph in rare moments) - except when you went head-on into gale force winds (which humbled you quickly).

The 2-loop run course started out fine … but then it began to rain sideways due the increasing gale force winds.

Powering through, was still my personal best time on the 70.3 (folks, don’t be astonished by the distance … triathlon racing can be learned - it’s mostly psychological, strategy, and knowing your body). After crossing the finish line, my primary objective was to grab my gear and get to the car with heat blasting (hence this particular photo).

On the drive home (blasting Mozart and Brahms Requiems), my personal reflection on why I Tri:

- Humility: every race comes with its unforeseen challenges that can’tbe trained for (heat, cold, rain, wind, jellyfish, sharks … ok, I’m kidding on that last one - no, really … sort of)
- Bodywise: an ongoing means of listening to my body … as long as I feel the burn, I’m alive (as I’m still a patient, this is critical)
- Respect: the human ability and spirit is amazing (while including ages teens through 70s, there was an 80-something year old in this race, as well as a one-legged para athlete … who finished far-far before me)
- Personal Compass: racing to complete rather than compete, I learn a lot about myself and values that translates to all other dimensions of my life.

Time to pack away the gear until next year (oops, there are a couple half-marathons and a full-marathon in November … but then 2024 is a wrap … looking forward to 2025!)