Savannah Music Festival

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The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) is a 17-day annual music festival held each spring in Savannah, Georgia. In addition to the main festival, SMF operates year-round, producing youth concerts, lectures, in-school touring programs, a high school jazz band competition and festival, a weekly radio series, recordings, and various online and digital initiatives. [1]

Contents

The festival includes original, one-time-only productions, premieres and double bills, including commissioned works. SMF collaborates with many local organizations, including the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, Telfair Museums, Savannah Tour of Homes & Gardens, Lucas Theatre for the Arts, Historic Savannah Foundation/Davenport House Museum, The Creative Coast, Georgia Historical Society, and the Savannah Stopover Festival. It also partners with several houses of worship across the city, such as Temple Mickve Israel, Christ Church Episcopal, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and Trinity United Methodist Church. [2]

History

In 1989, the Savannah On Stage International Arts Festival was founded by community leaders, fostered by the Savannah Chamber of Commerce, and administered by Elizabeth Stewart and Stewart Gordon. Until 2002, the multi-disciplinary arts festival brought performers to Savannah for a 10-day event that included the week-long American Traditions Competition (ATC). Unlike many vocal competitions focused on European repertoire, the ATC aimed to highlight the value and stylistic diversity represented by 19th- and 20th-century American art songs and popular music. In 2002, Rob Gibson was hired as Executive and Artistic Director, and the organization's name was changed to Savannah Music Festival (SMF). In 2003, Gibson enlisted Daniel Hope and Marcus Roberts as Associate Artistic Directors. Gibson had seen Hope perform with the Beaux Arts Trio in New York City and, after conversations about Hope's musical vision and artistic endeavors as a protégé of Yehudi Menuhin, found him to be a good fit for SMF programming. Gibson had worked with Roberts since 1989, and Roberts' skills and commitment to jazz education made him a top choice to spearhead SMF's high school jazz band workshop and competition, Swing Central Jazz. Both Hope and Roberts have premiered new works at SMF and performed with various musicians, including Roberts' trio with Béla Fleck at SMF (2011) and a "concerto for piano trio and orchestra" performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra on April 6, 2013 (co-commissioned by ASO and SMF).

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 32nd SMF in 2020, which was deferred to 2021. [3]

Music Education

Since 2003, the Savannah Music Festival has operated a music education program called Musical Explorers. The free program is designed to build foundational music skills by introducing students to songs from diverse cultures and encouraging them to reflect on their own communities. Each semester, students explore three musical genres, culminating in live and digital concerts where they have the opportunity to engage with professional musicians. [4]

Program history

2024 Artists

AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Amy Helm, Ana-Maria Vera, Andrew Ripley, CJ Chenier, Benny Kim, Bobby Rush, Brandee Younger, Bridget Kibbey, Cha Wa, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet, David Finckel & Wu Han, Derek Gripper & Ballake Sissoko, Dervish, Dubhe Ensemble, Dumpstaphunk, Dylan Triplett, Eddie 9V, Ellis Jazz, Emanuel Ax, Eric Kim, Escher String Quartet, Futurebirds, Gabrielle Lamb, Garrison Voices, Hillary Simms, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, Isaiah J. Thompson, Jack Liebeck, JaeLynn Boschulte, Jean Laurenz, Joshua Gersen, Juana Molina, Kaia Kater, Keith Robinson, Kieran Kane & Rayna Gellert, Leigh Mesh, Lena Jonsson Trio, Madison Cunningham, Marc Chesanow, Mark Delavan, Marta Pereira da Costa, Matthew Whitaker, Michael Collins, Michael Moody, Mighty Poplar, Nanci Belmont, North Mississippi Allstars, Orquesta Akokán, Oumou Sangare, Philip Dukes, Pittsburgh SMFJA, Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Rebirth Brass Band, Renée Fleming, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Robin Ashwell, Rosanne Cash, Samara Joy, Savannah High, Savoy Family Cajun Band, Sebastian Knauer, SMF Jazz Academy, Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca, Stephane Wrembel, T. Hardy Morris, Tatiana Eva Marie, Tinsley Ellis, Tony Trischka’s EarlJam, Turtle Island Quartet, Victor Caccese, Viv & Riley, Warren Wolf & Wolfpack, Windsor Forest HS Marching Band, Zakir Hussain Trio. [5]

References

  1. ↑ "Events Archive". Savannah Music Festival. 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  2. ↑ "Corporate & Government Sponsors". Savannah Music Festival. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  3. ↑ Dennis, Zach. "Savannah Music Festival canceled due to coronavirus concerns". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
  4. ↑ "Musical Explorers". Savannah Music Festival. Retrieved 2025-04-14.
  5. ↑ "Program History". Savannah Music Festival. Retrieved 2025-04-21.

[1]

32°04′42.6″N81°05′20.7″W / 32.078500°N 81.089083°W / 32.078500; -81.089083

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  1. ↑ "Home". Savannah Music Festival. Retrieved 2025-04-05.
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