The Second Annual
AMELIA ISLAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
June 1-22 at many locations on Amelia Island
| World-renowned musicians will gather on Amelia Island
to perform in the second annual Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival June 1-22 with the
sounds of "Bravo!" still ringing in their ears. And like last year, the festival
will be held at interesting venues ranging from charming historic public buildings and
churches to the rugged bastions of Fort Clinch. Atlanta Symphony Orchestra principal cellist and Festival Artistic Director Christopher Rex has realized his longtime dream of an annual festival in an Amelia Island setting. "We knew when we began organizing that the festival could be the start of something big," said Christopher Rex. "There was nothing like it in the Southeast."
What made this festival unique was the warm Amelia Island welcome, which made the musicians feel so much at home as they strolled down Centre Street with their instruments, dined in local restaurants, enjoyed the beaches and celebrated with music lovers at the galas. Many of those same musicians have committed to return this year.
Amelia Island will offer another warm welcome in 2003 to Christopher Rex and returning star artists Lynn Harrell, Hilary Hahn, Valentina Lititsa and Donald Runnicles. Joining them will be internationally acclaimed headliners André Watts, Robert McDuffie, André-Michel Schub, David Shifrin, the Guarneri String Quartet and the 2003 Grammy-Award winning Takács String Quartet.
The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival also offers many wonderful ways to introduce fine music to younger family members, including a free concert in Central Park, free "Sidewalk at Noon" performances along Centre Street, a very special concert, "Listen to the Animals," and "The Fabulous Five in Concert" featuring this year's Resident Young Artists. Other events designed to attract younger audiences will be sprinkled throughout the festival.
After only one season, this not-for-profit festival has already won international recognition throughout the community of music lovers. Last year's inaugural two-week festival sold out quickly. The 2003 festival has been expanded in order to offer even more beautiful music, in settings that are small enough to assure each audience an intimate chamber music experience.
For a detailed concert schedule and up-to-the-minute information about ticket information, festival artists, events, lodging and more, please call (904) 261-1779 or visit www.ameliaislandchambermusic.org. All photos by Wayne Howard, AICMF Photographer.
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