The Charles Ives Music Festival at the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra celebrates the legacy of Charles Ives by presenting dynamic performances of American music, fostering innovative collaborations across genres, and providing interactive educational programs that inspire musicians of all ages in Fairfield County.

Schedule of Events:

Sunday, July 27 2025

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Musical Echoes: Phantom at Lounsbury House

Award-winning harpist Emily Levin performs a hauntingly beautiful program of works for solo harp by Debussy, Britten, Liszt, and living composers Jon Cziner, Han Lash, Du Yun, and Caroline Lizotte. 

Emily Levin, harpist, CIMF Arist-Faculty member, and Principal Harp of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra kicks off our Summer 2025 CIMF programming with a hauntingly beautiful program of works for solo harp by Debussy, Britten, Liszt, and living composers Jon Cziner, Han Lash, Du Yun, and Caroline Lizotte.

Click here to Buy Tickets

Thursday, July 31, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Musical Echoes: In Time at First Congregational Church

CIMF Artist-Faculty perform a concert of chamber works inspired by stories that echo through time, including works by Jon Cziner, Aaron Jay Kernis, Paul Frucht and capped off by the iconic Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major by Johannes Brahms.

CIMF Artists pianist Mika Sasaki, violinists Julia Choi, George Meyer, and Chelsea Starbuck Smith, violist Jacob Shack, cellists Mitch Lyon and Francesca McNeeley, and harpist Emily Levin perform works by Jon Cziner, Mark Adamo, Paul Frucht, and Johannes Brahms. 

Friday, August 1, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Musical Echoes: An Evening of Chamber Music

Chamber Music Intensive Musicians and CIMF Artist-Faculty perform a concert of marvelous, engaging chamber music. This concert is open to the public and free of charge to attend.

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Musical Echoes: Between Worlds at Carriage Barn Arts Center

CIMF Artists perform chamber music at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan, CT.

Opening with a beautiful piece by Ralph Vaughan Williams, "Vocalise", and the the first movement of Beethoven's String Quartet No. 14, Op. 131, CIMF Artist-Faculty perform additional solo and chamber works by Nina C. Young and Aleksandra Vrebalov, and the CIMF Artist Chamber Orchestra, led by Jacob Joyce performs works by Paul Frucht and John Adams, all of which traverse multiple musical and emotional spaces. 

Featuring CIMF Artists violinists Julia Choi, George Meyer, Jeremías Sergiani-Velázquez, and Chelsea Starbuck Smith, violists Leah Ferguson and Jacob Shack, cellists Mitch Lyon and Arianna Nelson, and double bassist Jonathan Borden, directed by conductor Jacob Joyce. 

Thursday, August 7, 2025

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Musical Echoes: CIMF Orchestras & Composers at Ives Concert Hall at WCSU

Eric Mahl leads the Chamber & Orchestra Performance Program musicians in the Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra, plus performances of works by CIMF Composers performed by Artist-Faculty. This concert is open to the public and free of charge to attend.

A fabulous evening of music including works by CIMF Composers performed by Artist-Faculty and performances by the Chamber Orchestra and Orchestra, led by CIMF Orchestra Director Eric Mahl, featuring the 2025 CIMF Concerto Competition winner. 

Saturday, August 9, 2025

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Musical Echoes: Letters From Home at Ives Concert Hall at WCSU

CIMF Artist-Faculty and the CIMF Artist Chamber Orchestra, led by Jacob Joyce, perform small ensemble and chamber orchestra works.

CIMF Artist-Faculty and the Artist Chamber Orchestra perform small ensemble and chamber orchestra works by 2022 composer-in-residence Jared Miller, Paul Frucht, Andrea Casarrubios, Ralph Vaughn Williams, and the 2025 call-for-scores winner, Sam Wu. 

Featuring CIMF Artists violinist Julia Choi, George Meyer, Jeremías Sergiani-Velázquez, and Chelsea Starbuck Smith, violists Leah Ferguson and Jacob Shack, cellists Mitch Lyon and Arianna Nelson, double bassist Jonathan Borden, flutist Katie Althen-Velázquez, clarinetist Graeme Steele Johnson, bassoonist Rémy Taghavi, and guest musicians, directed by conductor Jacob Joyce. 

Date:
July 27 - August 9, 2025

Location:
Various Venues in Connecticut

Click here for more information