Rites of Spring Music Festival

What is Rites of Spring Music Festival?

Rites of Spring has quickly become the premier classical and contemporary music festival on the North Fork of Long Island. In this fourth edition the festival is devoted to contemporary sounds in a setting that engages the community and invites the listener to participate on many levels. We believe great music works best in a unique environment. We invite you to join us.

April 27th to June 15th, 2019

We combine classical contemporary music with great local food & wine, an historic setting, and inspiring artist talks.

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Support for Rites of Spring Music Festival is fully tax deductible

From the Founder & Artistic Director
I am delighted to present the fourth edition of Rites of Spring Music Festival focused on bringing new and thrilling music programs to the North Fork of Long Island.

We are committed to building a vibrant community that loves, respects and promotes music and the arts. Our vision focuses on deepening our relationship with the community, improving the quality of its experience and expanding music participation for young and old alike.

The 2019 schedule is even more exciting than ever exploring new combinations of music, the natural environment and historic sites.
The fourth edition of the Festival presents seven concerts this year. Each unique event will include music conversations with musicologists and composers.

The festival opens with two masterpieces announcing the great revolutions of the twentieth century: Brahms' first string sextet and Schoenberg's Transfigured Night. The 2019 season will also include the international premiere of a new Opera by the composer Grace Oberhofer based on the play by Enrick Ibsen at the Jamesport Meeting House.

The composer Chris Cerrone will present a multi dimensional program with the Grammy winning flutist Tim Munro and electronics at Custer Observatory. Cerrone’s magnetic music surrounds listeners, paints landscapes, and brings raw emotions to the surface .

Visual imagination will also be a part of three different performances. This year we will focus on visual dramaturgy to create an atmosphere of total immersion for the audience and enhance the music. As a tradition we invite young professional chamber music ensembles and renowned musicians to present classic and contemporary music programs in beautiful venues , creating extraordinary site-specific events.

We are grateful to everyone on the North Fork who have supported the Festival in the past and given us the opportunity to expand our mission and create a stronger sense of identity.

Rites of Spring Music Fest invites you to explore new sounds, light and space through the combination of music, nature, and historic sites. Our imaginative new concerts in 2019 will bring classical music direct to you in new, adventurous and appealing ways.

Enjoy the music!

Paolo Bartolani
Founder & Artistic and Executive Director

Vision Statement
Music is a vital force for developing a participatory attitude to the arts which in turn leads to a vibrant and progressive community. The Festival seeks to involve, enrich and inspire the community and audiences by providing exceptional classical and contemporary music events in unconventional and stunning venues which permit site-specific creative experiences and educational outreach activities combining music, natural landscapes and historic sites. To accomplish this the Festival will establish and maintain core values of excellence, relationship and relevance that enrich the cultural, economic and social vitality of the community and region.

Our Core Values

We value the opportunity for communities and audiences to discover, explore and appreciate classical music and arts through music events, conversations, music workshops and cultural and educational activities.
We value the opportunity to participate in music and art programs as a means to bring people together and to encourage creative and personal expression and development.
We value the ability to maintain outstanding programs which are affordable and accessible to ensure such opportunity.
We value commitment to quality and programs that focus listeners in new ways offering a new perspective on the interplay between music, art, history, architecture and landscape.
We value the contribution that young professional talents make to music and art.
We value collaboration with individuals and organizations that share our goals.
We value cultural independence and artistic experimentation.

Our Mission

The mission of the Festival is to offer the best young professional musicians as well as international chamber music ensembles and soloists, to provide audiences of all ages, in particular young people, with a stimulating introduction to the performing arts, and to reach out to those with limited opportunities to experience the arts.

The Festival is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable chamber music performances in informal venues. Concert programs are innovative and seek a balance between old and new music. The Festival endeavors to provide an unmatched experience for those who attend. We focus on growing a reputation around the positive, welcoming atmosphere found at large scale festivals.

The Festival’s innovative approach for musicians and audiences is to foster a participatory creative culture through music concerts, interdisciplinary arts programs, experiential learning and volunteer opportunities for all ages, especially young people.

Concerts