News

Music festival lineup set

Internationally acclaimed violinist Robert McDuffie will kick off the 2008 season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival on May 30, and a grand gala featuring the renowned American String Quartet will bring the festival to a resounding conclusion June 15 at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

In between, area residents and visitors will delight to the music of such Amelia Island favorites as cellist Lynn Harrell, pianist Valentina Lisista and violinist Jennifer Koh.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday and can be purchased via credit card online at the www.aicmf.com, or by calling the festival office at 261-1779.

Christopher Rex, the festival's general and artistic director, said, "This promises to be our finest season yet. The musical stars at our upcoming festival also include acknowledged masters like violinist Rachel Barton Pine and piano virtuosos Claude Frank and Andreas Haefliger. The 2008 festival also will mark one of the last times you will be able to hear the Guarneri String Quartet, one of the world's greatest chamber ensembles that will retire after the 2008-9 season. These and other world-class musicians will perform American, Russian, German, Czech and French music in a wide range of styles, from classical, romantic and modern to light and just plain fun."

He added, "Our lineup of musical greats clearly demonstrates that music lovers need not travel to Europe, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles to hear classical music at the very highest level. All of this wonderful music can be enjoyed here on Amelia Island at a variety of beautiful and intimate settings, including churches, the historic Nassau County Courthouse, the Amelia Island Plantation and the Ritz-Carlton. We have even scheduled a performance at historic St. Andrew's Church in downtown Jacksonville."

Ticket prices range from $5 to $50. In addition, two free concerts are scheduled, including Chamber Music in the Park on June 1 in Fernandina Beach's downtown Central Park. A detailed program, biographies of featured artists and online ticket purchasing are available on the festival's website.