Missouri Chamber Music Festival Announces 16th Annual Fest June 10-21 in Partnership w/The Sheldon

ST. LOUIS - March 25, 2026 - PRLog -- Hope is the Thing with Music explores the deep connection between poetry and music, where lyric and line intertwine. Featuring works by Judith Weir and Augusta Read Thomas, the season draws inspiration from the poetry of Emily Dickinson, illuminating themes of nature, immortality, inner life, and the enduring power of words. The Festival's commitment to expanding artistic voices continues with a new commission by David Werfelman, further amplifying diverse perspectives in chamber music.

The season reflects longstanding artistic relationships, featuring the Arianna String Quartet and the Calyx Piano Trio, alongside a new partnership with the Sheldon Concert Hall and the appointment of Managing Director Aviva Hakanoglu.

The Festival's educational initiative, ACMI (Adult Chamber Music Intensive), will take place May 26–31, 2026. Applications are currently open, with an extended deadline of April 10, 2026.

All events:
The Sheldon Concert Hall
3648 Washington Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

Concert I. "Upon Enchanted Ground" June 10, 2026 @ 10:30 AM
Concert II. "Musicians Wrestle Everywhere" June 15, 2026 @ 7 PM
Concert III. Arianna String Quartet June 17, 2026 @ 7 PM
Prelude Concert of Young Artists from ACMF @ 6 PM
Concert IV. "There's a certain slant of light" June 21, 2026 @ 7 PM
WORLD PREMIERE: New Work by David Werfelman

Festival Performers

The Arianna String Quartet
The Calyx Piano Trio
Nina Ferrigno, piano
Sixto Franco, viola
Tzuying Huang, clarinet
Nadine Hur, flute
Hannah Ji, violin
Nathan Lowry, violin
Benedetta Orsi, mezzo-soprano
Kevin Ritenauer, percussion
Davin Rubicz, cello
James Sommerville, conductor
Robert Walker, clarinet
Shen Wen, pian

Tickets
On sale now:  www.mochambermusic.org (https://mochambermusic.org/season-14/)
4-Concert Festival Passes $100
Single Tickets $30/ Student Tickets $10 with ID

SUPPORT

Season 16: Hope is the Thing with Music is funded in part by the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis, and the Missouri Arts Council.  With partnership support from The Sheldon Concert Hall & Galleries, Webster University Department of Music, and the Community Music School of Webster University

ABOUT MOCM

The Missouri Chamber Music Festival (MOCM) was formed in June 2010 to educate, cultivate, promote, foster, sponsor, develop, and encourage understanding of and public interest in classical chamber music. MOCM brings nationally recognized professional musicians to St. Louis, MO to perform a series of chamber music concerts in collaboration with local artists during an annual Festival each June. Diverse programming including new and commissioned works are a defining attribute of the Festival illuminating the fine art of the small ensemble genre.