Festival News

As the month and the year come to an end, so, too, does the tenure of our longtime Director of Development, Cece Derringer, who retires on December 31. Cece’s time at the Festival marks a full-circle experience for our cherished colleague, as both her first and last jobs in Santa Fe were at the Festival.

The winter solstice—the shortest day and longest night of the year—has been a big deal for people across the globe for thousands of years. It’s a time of cosmic alignment that’s inspired all kinds of celebrations and, most notably, music. From ancient rituals to modern tunes, winter solstice music captures a deep connection with nature, resilience, and the promise of brighter days.

Some bittersweet news on our end: Leanne DeVane, who’s served as the Festival’s Director of Education and Outreach since 2019, has decided to pursue new interests and opportunities that will allow her to focus on two other areas that are dear to her heart: her farm and her animals. 

There are many ways you may be familiar with John Rubinstein: as the Tony, Drama Desk, and Theatre World award-winning Broadway actor whose numerous credits include starring in the original production of Children of a Lesser God and creating the title role in the Bob Fosse–directed production of Pippin, or as the Emmy-nominated actor who starred in such TV shows as Family and Crazy Like a Fox. You may know him as the versatile film actor who’s appeared in such movies as Being the Ricardos, Red Dragon, 21 Grams, and Someone to Watch Over Me or as the composer of several film and TV scores, including ones for China Beach and the Robert Redford movie The Candidate. You may know him as the host of the radio program Carnegie Hall Tonight or as the narrator of more than 200 audiobooks, including ones by such best-selling authors as Agatha Christie, James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, and Carl Hiaasen. Or you may know him as a longtime Festival collaborator.

Join Artistic Director Marc Neikrug, on a captivating exploration of the world of chamber music!

This new podcast, “SFCMF Unfiltered” offers a unique insider’s perspective on the Festival. In each episode, Marc delves into the upcoming season’s programming, revealing the stories behind the music and the talented artists who bring it to life.

Expect insightful discussions, engaging interviews, and a deeper appreciation for the artistry and intimacy of chamber music. Whether you’re a seasoned music lover or just discovering the joy of chamber music, this podcast is your invitation to go behind the curtain and experience the magic of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.

One of the most buzzworthy events of our 2025 season is our presentation of the Albuquerque-based Chatter Ensemble, which, on August 13, makes its Festival debut giving the first-ever Festival performance of Eight Songs for a Mad King, an avant-garde monodrama written in 1969 by the English composer Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016).

Next summer, the first sounds of our 52nd season are filled with the exquisite stylings of soprano Liv Redpath, who, on our season-opening concerts of July 13 & 14, makes her Festival debut singing Schubert’s gorgeous The Shepherd on the Rock—a roughly 12-minute work the composer wrote (one month before his death, at age 31) following a request from opera star Anna Milder-Hauptmann for a virtuosic concert piece that showcased her vocal and emotional range.

As friends of the Festival, you likely already know that there’s so much to be excited about and that subscriptions are on sale now. Subscriptions get you the best seats at the best prices and offer other benefits, too—like advance-purchase privileges for individual tickets (you can buy them before they go on sale to the general public in February), discounts on tickets for any added evening concerts, free ticket exchanges, and more.

When you’re an adventurous, risk-taking chamber-music group whose mission is to “champion new string quartet music and the transformative experiences that it creates,” being hailed by The New York Times as “fearless” and “one of contemporary music’s indispensable ensembles” signifies a particular level of “mission accomplished.” But as the three-time Grammy-nominated JACK Quartet—which makes its Festival debut next summer—approaches its 20th anniversary, the group is busier and more inspired (and inspiring) than ever, and we’re thrilled to offer two chances to hear them perform in our 2025 season.

One of the most exciting things about presenting our concerts every summer is that, in addition to welcoming back dozens of longtime friends, we welcome artists who are performing at the Festival for the very first time, too. In 2025, several thrilling artists are making their Festival debuts—including Colin Currie, who’s been called nothing less than “the world’s finest and most daring percussionist” by The Spectator, “an athlete and a star” by The Guardian, and a musician who’s “at the summit of percussion performance today” by Gramophone. On Thursday, August 7, at 12 p.m., you can catch Currie as he not only makes his Festival debut but also gives the Festival’s first-ever solo percussion recital!

Exciting news: On October 1, we’ll be welcoming our new Executive Director, Jim Griffith! Jim succeeds our wonderful Interim Executive Director, Amy Lam, who will be with us through September 30.