Skaneateles is a hidden gem tucked away in the scenic Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. Positioned on the north end of Skaneateles Lake, this town is home to sprawling vineyards, several local shops accompanied by restaurants, and the Skaneateles Festival. (“For decades, this hardy festival has brought high-quality chamber music to the Finger Lakes region,” New Yorker). While they now attract some of the world’s greatest musicians to the scenic lakeside pavilion, the Festival maintains its traditions of hospitality and community that distinguished it in its early years. Celebrating their 44th season, this year promises to both inspire and challenge listeners with everything from Mozart to Broadway, bluegrass, and jazz.
This season will run from July 26 through August 19 and will feature an incredible variety of concerts with both return appearances by Festival favorites and exciting performers making their Festival debut. The season includes thirteen main series concerts, two KidsFest performances, a music lecture series with Juilliard professor Aaron Wunsch, and several community outreach performances.
Saturday nights at the beautiful Robinson Pavilion at Anyela’s Vineyards will feature something for everyone. Opening the first Saturday of the season, 15-time Grammy award-winning banjo-player and composer Béla Fleck will bring his 2022 Grammy-winning ensemble My Bluegrass Heart including singer and mandolinist Sierra Hull; Michael Cleveland on fiddle; multi-instrumentalist Justin Moses; Mark Schatz, bass; and Bryan Sutton, guitar. Week Two, the Festival proudly welcomes Broadway singer and 2015 Tony Winner for The King and I, Kelli O’Hara (“One of the most beautiful voices on Broadway today” Broadway World, 2021) sharing a selection of her favorite Broadway songs. Another favorite, the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO) (“exciting conductor-less band of strings,” New Yorker) returns featuring American pianist Shai Wosner, with a stellar Saturday performance on August 12 inviting the audience to grab a glass of wine and share in music by the classics with Mozart Under the Stars. For week Four, the Festival welcomes the return of jazz great Joshua Redman (“one of the few naturally gifted musicians,” The New York Times) and the Joshua Redman Quartet with a jazz finale concert.
This year will also feature return appearances by several other Festival favorites, among them world-renowned guitarist and Syracuse native, Eliot Fisk performing the first-ever matinee concert, as well as a celebratory program for guitar and strings on opening night. Other returning artists include the Danish String Quartet (“the string quartet’s best hope,” Wall Street Journal) and the Parker Quartet.
Artists making their Skaneateles debuts will also include Buffalo native Kearstin Piper Brown, performing the world premiere of Fortitude, Nailah Nombeko’s new work for soprano and string quartet inspired by the life of Harriet Tubman, as well as the first Emerging Artist in Residence, classical saxophonist Steven Banks.
Artistic directors Aaron Wunsch and Julia Bruskin return for their ninth year with the Festival. While some of their supporters have been coming to Skaneateles Festival concerts for decades, audiences continue to grow as new listeners discover the musical experiences that the Skaneateles Festival has to offer. “
The Festival remains a magical place to hear music in an intimate setting,” says Bruskin. “We’d encourage everyone to come experience the magic with open ears and open hearts.”
For more information on the season and to get tickets, visit skanfest.org.
Locations and tickets
Skaneateles Festival concerts are held Thursday and Friday evenings at 8 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 97 E. Genesee St. in downtown Skaneateles.
Saturday concerts take place at 8 p.m. at the Robinson Pavilion located at Anyela’s Vineyards, a lakeside vineyard 4.5 miles south of Skaneateles on West Lake Road (Route 41A). Audiences are welcome to arrive as early as 6 p.m. and bring picnic dinners to enjoy on the lawn overlooking the lake. Wine and beer will be available for purchase at Anyela’s Vineyards; outside alcohol is not permitted.
In the event of inclement weather, Saturday concerts move indoors. Venue changes and rain locations may be confirmed by calling 315-685-7418 or visiting skanfest.org after 3 p.m. on concert days.
Tickets range from $32-65 for adults based on concert and seating choice. Youth under 18 are free in Section B (lawn). College students may purchase $10 student tickets at the door of the concert. Weekly passes, season passes, flex passes, and VIP Saturday tickets are also available. Visit https://skanfest.org/tickets/ for more details.
Since 1980, the Skaneateles Festival has grown from a few concerts in the local library to a month-long celebration each summer that attracts some of the world’s finest musicians, involves community volunteers, and draws audiences from all over the Northeastern United States. It is the Festival’s mission to be one of the nation’s outstanding summer music festivals, set in the beauty of the Finger Lakes region, community-inspired, and recognized for its creative and dynamic concert programming, education, and outreach.
Submitted photo
The Skaneateles Festival recently announced plans for this summer’s series of performances. Kelli O’Hara is among those slated to perform.
