Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival Announces Star-Packed 2020 Season

The 2020 season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival (www.aicmf.com) will present music lovers with a dazzling range of world-renowned artists typically seen in New York, London or Chicago. From the opening performance in January with European superstar violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter to its closing Season Finale Celebration in April with acclaimed violin virtuoso Pinchas Zukerman, the 10 concerts of the Festival’s 19th season are packed with a stunning array of star power.  ​

In addition to violin greats Mutter and Zukerman, Festival-goers will thrill to the music of violin superstar Itzhak Perlman, bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs, dynamic pianist Valentina Lisitsa, virtuoso cellist Lynn Harrell and the internationally acclaimed Dover Quartet. This truly will be a season to remember.
  
Tickets for the 2020 season will go on sale this September for Festival donors and in October for the general public at www.aicmf.com or by calling 904-261-1779.  


Christopher Rex, the Festival’s artistic and general director, said: “Our 2020 schedule clearly reflects our growth into one of the nation’s premier classical music festivals. The ability to grace our stages with such internationally renowned artists is testimony to the strong, abiding support of our valued contributors, ticket-buyers and volunteers. We extend our sincere thanks to our many friends and, we invite you to take part in what will be our greatest season.” 


Highlights of the Festival’s 2020 season include: 

Anne-Sophie Mutter—January 24 
Anne-Sophie Mutter is universally considered one of the greatest violinists of modern times. For more than 40 years, the four-time Grammy winner has been a fixture as a soloist in all of the world’s most important concert halls. Her appearance at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival will mark one of her few U.S. appearances in 2020. 


Ricky Skaggs—February 9 
This Grammy-winning singer and composer is a bluegrass and country music legend. Ricky Skaggs has been inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, the International Bluegrass Music’s Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. 


Dover Quartet—February 16 and April 17 
The Dover Quartet, our quartet-in-residence, is one of the most in-demand ensembles in the world. The first-ever quartet-in-residence for the Kennedy Center, the Dover also is quartet-in-residence for the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, Chamber Music Northwest, Artosphere and Peoples’ Symphony in New York. The quartet will be joined by Roberto Diaz, viola, and Christopher Rex, cello, on February 16. 


Christiania Piano Trio—February 23 
The trio is composed of violinist David Coucheron, concertmaster of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO); Christopher Rex, the Festival’s artistic and general director and retired principal cellist of the ASO; and Julie Coucheron, an acclaimed pianist who tours internationally.  


Pamela Frank and Peter Serkin—March 1 
Violinist Pamela Frank performs regularly as a recitalist with many of today's foremost orchestras. Recipient of a coveted Avery Fisher Prize, she also is professor of violin at the Curtis Institute of Music. Pianist Peter Serkin is admired equally for his performances of established repertoire and as a consummate interpreter of contemporary music. He is a founding member of the acclaimed Tashi Quartet. 


Itzhak Perlman—March 19 
Violinist Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. He has appeared with every major orchestra and in recitals and festivals around the world. His recordings have garnered 15 Grammy Awards, and in 2008 he was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in the recording arts. 


Valentina Lisitsa--March 31 
With more than 83 million YouTube views, piano virtuoso Valentina Lisitsa is one of the most watched classical musicians on the internet. An Amelia Island favorite, Valentina is at ease with a vast repertoire, ranging from Bach and Mozart to Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich and Bernstein. Her orchestral repertoire includes more than 40 concertos.  


Lynn Harrell with Elizabeth Pridgen—April 5 
Known as the “Dean of American Cellists,” Lynn Harrell has been revered as one of the world’s greatest cellists for over 50 years. The Grammy-winner’s discography of more than 70 recordings includes collaboration with such eminent musicians as Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Zubin Mehta. Pianist Elizabeth Pridgen is a distinguished soloist and chamber musician. Artistic Director of the Atlanta Chamber Players, she performs regularly at festivals in the U.S. and Europe.  


Zukerman Trio—April 26 
With a celebrated career spanning five decades, Pinchas Zukerman reigns as one of today's most sought-after and versatile musicians as a violin and viola soloist, conductor, and chamber musician. He launched his trio in 2013, and since then, the ensemble has traveled around the globe and performed at such major festivals as Ravinia, the BBC Proms, Edinburgh, Verbier, and Bravo! Vail. 

Spring Institute, the Festival’s premier training program for young artists will occur in early June 2020. 

For complete information about the Festival’s 2020 season, visit us at www.aicmf.com and on Facebook. 

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