Cooperstown Summer Music Festival announces lineup for 25th anniversary season

COOPERSTOWN — The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival announced the concert lineup for its 25th anniversary season, revealing a summer built around artists appealing to a diverse array of musical tastes.

“Our new season features an impressive collection of performances that will bring best-in-class artists in a wide variety of genres to perform for audiences in Cooperstown,” said Festival Founder and Artistic Director Linda Chesis.

Concerts are held in venues across Cooperstown, including the grand Otesaga Hotel, The Farmers’ Museum, and Christ Church — the church of author James Fenimore Cooper.

Founded in 1999 by flutist Linda Chesis, the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival has brought world-class chamber music performances to the Cooperstown area for 25 years. The festival has featured performances by the American, Juilliard, St. Lawrence, Jupiter, and Jasper String Quartets, Stefon Harris, Bill Charlap, Kurt Elling, Simone Dinnerstein, Mark O’Connor, John Pizzarelli, the Sonia Olla Flamenco Dance Company, and more.

Music lovers should take note of the Festival’s late summer schedule, which features a concert every Tuesday in August.

Harry Allen’s All-Star New York Saxophone Band
Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 7 pm, at the Otesaga Resort Hotel

Jazz saxophone legend Harry Allen joins forces with Ken Peplowski and Grant Stewart on tenor saxophone, Gary Smulyan on baritone saxophone, James Chirillo on guitar, Mike Karn on bass and Aaron Kimmel on drums for an evening of small group jazz with a big band feel.

Nuevo Tango: JP Jofre, bandoneon and Tommy Mesa, cello
Tuesday Aug. 8 at 7 pm, at the Otesaga Resort Hotel

Argentinian bandoneon master JP Jofre joins highly-acclaimed Cuban-American cellist Tommy Mesa for a program exploring the fusion of classical music and tango. Performing beloved works by Astor Piazzolla alongside original works by the Grammy-nominated Jofre, the duo will show you the future of tango in an evening of music, unlike anything you have ever experienced.

Caroga Arts Ensemble: A String Serenade
Tuesday Aug. 15 at 7 pm, at the Otesaga Resort Hotel

The hometown heroes of the Caroga Arts Ensemble return to CSMF for a “round robin” musical extravaganza with works ranging from quartets to chamber orchestra.

All-Bach
Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 7 pm, at Christ Episcopal Church

CSMF Artistic Director Linda Chesis combines forces with festival favorites Joseph Lin, violin, Michael Katz, cello and the inimitable Bradley Brookshire on harpsichord to celebrate the pure beauty and undeniable genius of the music of J. S. Bach. In addition to performing a selection of Bach’s instrumental sonatas — masterful compositions that reveal new meaning with each encounter — they will be joined by Glimmerglass Festival Young Artists Emilie Kealani, soprano, and Kyle Tingzon, countertenor, for performances of Bach’s beloved arias.

Borromeo String Quartet with Linda Chesis, flute
Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 7 pm, at The Farmers’ Museum

Hailed by the Boston Globe as “simply the best,” the Borromeo String Quartet returns to CSMF to perform Beethoven’s op. 127 as well as works by Amy Beach and Elena Alberga.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students under 18. Tickets for all events must be purchased online from www.cooperstownmusicfest.org or over the phone by calling Purplepass Tickets at 800-316-8559 and selecting Option 1. Please note there is a $2 service fee per phone order.

The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.