Savannah Music Festival Announces 2014 Lineup

SAVANNAH, GA – The 25th Anniversary Season of the Savannah Music Festival (SMF) features an international roster of artists, replete with one-time only productions, new collaborations and commissioned works that celebrate the organization’s commitment to artistic excellence across the entire spectrum of the musical arts. “Whether it’s a 400-year old masterpiece or the premiere of new work, it is the clear and unfiltered exchange between hungry audiences and willing artists that continues to fuel us,” remarks SMF Executive & Artistic Director Rob Gibson.
Tickets for the 2014 festival, which includes more than 100 productions between March 20th and April 5th, range from $15-85 and can be purchased in person at 216 E. Broughton Street in Savannah, by phone at 912-525-5050 and online at www.savannahmusicfestival.org

CHAMBER AND SYMPHONIC MUSIC

• WORLD PREMIERE OF The Sun Was Chasing Venus, AN SMF COMMISSION BY CHARLOTTE BRAY, performed by the DOVER QUARTET
• U.S. PREMIERE OF The Given Note, AN SMF CO-COMMISSIONED WORK BY DAVID BRUCE, performed by DANIEL HOPE & FRIENDS
• Mandolinist AVI AVITAL is joined by special guests THE DOVER QUARTET
• CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER in its SMF debut, premieres the “Destination America” program in Savannah
• ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, under the direction of Robert Spano, makes their eighth consecutive SMF appearance with violinist DANIEL HOPE and soprano JESSICA RIVERA
• MICHAEL SCHADE (tenor) is the centerpiece of two original concerts with DANIEL HOPE & FRIENDS
• CELEBRATING VIVALDI features PERFORMANCE TODAY’S FRED CHILD hosting a program with DANIEL HOPE (above left), LORENZA BORRANI and MEMBERS OF THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA performing Vivaldi and Richter’s Vivaldi Recomposed

AMERICANA, FOLK & TRADITIONAL

• SMF Associate Artist MIKE MARSHALL teams up with CHRIS THILE for a duo recital of original works
• A variety of Nashville-based masters including BELA FLECK & ABIGAIL WASHBURN, VINCE GILL, TIM O’BRIEN & DARRELL SCOTT and RICKY SKAGGS & KENTUCKY THUNDER present unique programs in Savannah
• Virtuoso instrumentalists abound, including PUNCH BROTHERS, JULIAN LAGE & CHRIS ELDRIDGE on a bill with FRANK VIGNOLA & VINNY RANIOLO, NOAM PIKELNY on a bill with BECCA STEVENS, and the CASEY DRIESSEN SINGULARITY
• Major Americana stars THE AVETT BROTHERS play the Johnny Mercer Theatre
• STRINGBAND SPECTACULAR spotlights new work from participants in the 3rd annual ACOUSTIC MUSIC SEMINAR featuring Mike Marshall, Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott and Julian Lage
  Georgia-born, Brooklyn-based up and comers THE LONE BELLOW share a bill with AOIFE O’DONOVAN
• SOUTHERN SOUL ASSEMBLY features J.J. GREY, LUTHER DICKINSON, ANDERS OSBORNE AND MARC BROUSSARD in a spectacular all-acoustic program
• Decorated bluegrass band THE GIBSON BROTHERS takes the stage alongside the LONESOME RIVER BAND

JAZZ & BLUES

• KIND OF BLUE: MILES, TRANE & CANNONBALL is an original production for the finale of SWING CENTRAL JAZZ, under the musical direction of JASON MARSALIS
• TAJ MAHAL brings his trio for his SMF debut with longtime collaborator JOHN SIMON on the bill
• CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE TRIO shares a double-bill with jazz vocalist CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT
• ROBERT CRAY BAND plays the historic Lucas Theatre for the Arts
• LADIES SING THE BLUES highlights the music of Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters in a three-day run with CATHERINE RUSSELL AND CHARENEE WADE
• SMF’s original PIANO SHOWDOWN continues with MARCUS ROBERTS, AARON DIEHL, CYRUS CHESTNUT AND CHRISTIAN SANDS
• Saxophonist BRANFORD MARSALIS‘ quartet plays a matinee concert
• PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND plays four-shows over two-nights at SMF’s in the intimate, club-styled Charles H. Morris Center

WORLD MUSIC

• A new artistic partnership with Flamenco Festival International showcases performances by TOMATITO and ESTRELLA MORENTE, in addition to a newly-fostered collaboration between jazz pianist AARON DIEHL and flamenco guitarist DANI DE MORON.
• A unique double-bill includes Malian singer FATOUMATA DIAWARA alongside Tuareg guitarist BOMBINO
• Qawwali singer ASIF ALI KHAN performs with his ensemble
• WHEN THE SCOTS MET THE IRISH is an only-in-Savannah program featuring heralded Scottish ensemble LAU sharing a bill with a specially assembled Irish group including KEVIN CRAWFORD, CILLIAN VALLELY, JOHN DOYLE AND DUNCAN WICKEL
• RED BARAAT closes out the 2014 festival with a dance party

ABOUT SAVANNAH MUSIC FESTIVAL

The Savannah Music Festival (SMF) is dedicated to presenting world-class celebrations of the musical arts by creating timeless and adventurous productions that stimulate arts education, foster economic growth and unite artists and audiences in Savannah. Celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season in 2014, SMF produces one of the most distinctive cross-genre music festivals in the world. The 2014 festival runs from March 20th through April 5th, including more than 100 performances in intimate venues throughout Savannah’s historic district. For more information visit www.savannahmusicfestival.org.

Media Contact

Ryan McMaken at 912.234.3378 x104 or e-mail

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