Cape May Music Festival
A seaside celebration of classical and contemporary music since 1990
Thank you for a wonderful season. Check back soon with the program for the 38th Annual Cape May Music Festival shortly.
THE WESTMINSTER CHOIR
Saturday, May 9 at 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
Westminster Choir presents WCC@100:
The Westminster Choir Looks Forward
Donald Nally, conductor with Scott Dettra, organ
The Westminster Choir celebrates the college’s 100th anniversary with a program featuring distinguished alumni as conductor and organist and works from the rich history of choral music. Brahms, the height of the Romantic era, and Howells, the pinnacle of the English 20th-century Renaissance look back, while mystical minimalism is represented by its master Arvo Pärt in his iconic, Salve Regina. Finally, a virtuosic contemporary work from American composer Stacy Garrop based on the writings of Lydia Davis; an exploration of aging, told through the metaphor of decay and dissolution in a house besieged.
THE ATLANTIC BRASS BAND
Sunday, May 24 at 7pm
Rotary Park
(rain location Cape May Convention Hall)
The internationally award-winning, 35-piece Atlantic Brass Band, under the baton of Salvatore Scarpa, returns to Cape May with an exciting new program of rousing band music, the perfect high note for Memorial Day Weekend. Co-sponsored by Cape May MAC and the City of Cape May.
Free admission.
BACH’S LUNCHES
Wednesdays, June 3, 10 & 17 at 12:30pm
Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean Street
Lunch and a classical music mini concert combine for a wonderful afternoon at the historic Inn of Cape May. These intimate performances feature members of the Bay Atlantic Symphony. Note: the title of this program is a play on words and may or may not include works by Bach.
BAY ATLANTIC SYMPHONY
Thursday, June 4: 7pm
The Episcopal Church of the Advent
Bay Atlantic Symphony presents “Song and Dance”
The center of Bach’s violin concerto is a breathtakingly lyrical middle movement with a sweeping melody of spiritual dimensions, shared between the soloist and orchestra. It is bookended by jaunty movements, the last being a gigue (jig). American composer Arthur Foote’s Serenade sings to us with bucolic grace and rhapsody. Tchaikovsky’s melodies are long, powerful, and gorgeous! The Andante cantabile will sweep you off your feet. And no wonder, then that Arensky chose another melody by Tchaikovsky for his variations that luxuriate in both song and dance. Join us and be swept away, and off your feet!
NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Saturday, June 6: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
New York Chamber Ensemble presents “Classical Classics – Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven”
Featuring Artistic Director Eliot Bailen, cello, and Susan Rotholz, flute, the New York Chamber Ensemble presents some of classical music’s notable favorites: Flute Quartet in D Major, Op. 3, No. 5, by Franz Josef Haydn, String Quartet in D Major No. 21, K. 575 by W.A. Mozart and String Quartet No. 8 in E Minor, Op. 59, No. 2 by L. van Beethoven.
GEORGE MESTERHAZY
TRIBUTE CONCERT
“WANDERLUST”
Sunday, June 7: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
Outstanding jazz musicians from near and far come for this once-a-year tradition that reignites joyful memories of a beloved and respected musician and friend, George Mesterhazy. Whether he knew you or just met you, George drew you in with his magnetism and talent. A renowned and distinguished jazz pianist, his generosity as a musician is legendary. He began his association with the festival in 2007 with an annual jazz concert devoted to music of the Great American Songbook, and since his passing in 2012, the festival continues his legacy. This year’s theme reflects the many ways music can transport us to so many beautiful places, both real and imaginary.
NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Thursday June 11: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
New York Chamber Ensemble presents “Bartok, Rachmaninoff, Dohnanyi and Stravinsky: The Genius of American Immigrant Composers”
Featuring Margaret Kampmeier, piano and Alan Kay, clarinet
The New York Chamber Ensemble presents Trio Elegaique in G Minor by Rachmaninoff, Aria for Flute and Piano, Op. 48 by Dohnanyi, Histoire de Soldat for violin, clarinet and piano by Stravinsky, Suite Paysanne Hongroise for flute and piano by Bela Bartok, and Sextet, Op. 37 for clarinet, horn, strings and piano by Dohnanyi.
JAZZ BRUNCH
Saturday, June 13 at 11am
The Shore Club
Savor a delicious jazz brunch with Paula Johns at the phenomenal Shore Club. Paula is an accomplished cabaret singer and jazz vocalist who hails from Philadelphia. She is often compared to Ella Fitzgerald, and some of the great contemporaries of that era, but Paula brings her own distinctive panache to each song she sings, featuring songs from The Great American Songbook, including Porter, Rodgers & Hart, Jobim, Bacharach and others.
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY CHAMBER PLAYERS
Thursday, June 18 at 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
Symphony members Darryl Kubian, violin, Ming Yang, violin, David Blinn, viola, and Philo Lee, cello, form a string quintet to delight audiences with String Quartet in G Major, Op. 76, No. 1 by Joseph Haydn, Strum, by Jessie Montgomery, String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 18 No. 4 by Ludwig van Beethoven, and String Quartet No. 6 in F minor, Op. 80 by Felix Mendelssohn.
BAY ATLANTIC SYMPHONY
Saturday, June 20: 7pm
The Episcopal Church of the Advent
Bay Atlantic Symphony presents “Loveletter, Lullabies, and Footstomps”
Gustav Mahler’s achingly expressive Adagietto is a love letter to his wife Alma. This hauntingly famous romance leads into an equally beautiful pastorale by Aaron Copland, which turns, on a dime, into a rhythmic jazzy stomp through the streets of Copland’s native New York. The virtuosic work was written for Benny Goodman. We embrace with open arms the various jaunty sounds of America in our second half with the Hoedown from Rodeo, Gershwin’s bluesy Lullaby, and fun-loving tunes by Leroy Anderson.
NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Sunday June 21: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
New York Chamber Ensemble presents “The Music of Freedom – A Musical Celebration of the 250th”
Featuring Paul Woodiel, violinist, fiddler and raconteur, and other special guests
The New York Chamber Ensemble presents a musical program with special guests to celebrate our founding fathers and the nation’s 250th anniversary — on Father’s Day! Join us as we celebrate the music of freedom and honor this decisive moment in history.
2026 Cape May Music Festival Business Donors
SOLO SPONSORS
DUO SPONSORS
TRIO SPONSORS
QUARTET SPONSORS
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE SPONSORS
