Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival

The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival (SFCMF) is a renowned cultural institution that has been a part of the artistic landscape of Santa Fe, New Mexico, since its inception in 1973. Founded by the husband-and-wife team of pianist Alicia Schachter-Rich and music and film producer Sheldon Rich, the Festival was born out of a desire to create an international chamber music festival in the high-desert city known as "The City Different." The idea for the Festival came to the Riches during a vacation to Santa Fe in 1972. Recognizing the city's vibrant community of painters, writers, and photographers, they envisioned a musical event that would complement the existing artistic scene. The concept quickly gained momentum, receiving positive feedback from local artists and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, thanks to the support of the Santa Fe Opera and other local institutions. In its first year, the Festival presented six concerts at the St. Francis Auditorium, the official home of the Festival's concerts, and expanded to include performances in other New Mexico and Arizona communities. From the outset, the Festival was committed to delivering the highest quality artistry and becoming an integral part of the local community. The inaugural program book paid tribute to two iconic figures: cellist Pablo Casals, with whom Schachter-Rich had studied chamber music, and painter Georgia O'Keeffe, a prominent New Mexico resident. Casals was named the honorary president of the Festival, reflecting its dedication to his ideals of peace and brotherhood, as well as the belief that music is a universal language. O'Keeffe's contribution to the Festival included allowing the reproduction of her painting "Music - Pink and Blue No. 1" on the cover of the announcement brochure and program. In 1988, the founders Sheldon Rich and Alicia Schachter-Rich were honored with the New Mexico Governor's Award for their work in establishing and directing the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Following Schachter-Rich, conductor and violist Heiichiro Ohyama took over as Artistic Director in 1991, leading the Festival for six seasons. The Festival's reputation for excellence continued to grow, and it was described as a "phenomenon in the high desert" by The New York Times. Since 1998, the Festival has been under the artistic direction of composer and pianist Marc Neikrug, who has upheld the Festival's commitment to presenting concerts of the highest artistic quality and programming that includes both iconic masterpieces and contemporary works. The Festival is known for its sophisticated audience, drawn from around the world, and the unique experience it provides in the cultural and spiritual setting of Santa Fe. The Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival's vision is to be a model chamber music festival recognized worldwide, set against the distinctive backdrop of Santa Fe. Its mission encompasses bringing together the world's finest musicians to perform chamber music in all its forms, building a broad and knowledgeable audience of all ages, providing diverse educational opportunities, and enhancing the cultural environment of Santa Fe and New Mexico. The Festival has a rich history of commissioning and premiering new works, with over 100 new pieces introduced to date. It is celebrated for its adventurous programming, led by Artistic Director Marc Neikrug, and the exceptional musicianship of its performers. The Festival's venues, including the historic St. Francis Auditorium, add to the unique quality of the concert-going experience. With the longest season of any American chamber music festival, SFCMF continues to be a major cultural event, offering a variety of musical choices and educational programs to its audience. For more information, updates, or to support the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, interested parties can visit the official website or contact the organization through the provided contact details.