New Brunswick Summer Music Festival

The New Brunswick Summer Music Festival (NBSMF) exists to offer all music lovers a festival of classical chamber music of international standards on an annual basis.

The vision is to provide the highest standard of music and innovative programming by a blend of top musicians from the local area, region, and country at large. The festival focuses on the music of two composers each year, one well known, and one lesser known. This provides unity to the programming and allows the opportunity to bring music of little known composers to our audience. We specialize in presenting lesser-known works and even with the more known composer often present works that are seldom heard. Pre-concert talks are presented prior to two of the concerts.

Our all-Canadian artists are a blend of local professionals, top regional artists and internationally known national musicians. This mix of talent allows the opportunity for local professionals to grow as they perform alongside seasoned musicians from the Atlantic region and the country as a whole. The festival also serves as a professional venue for emerging artists to work closely with those who have more established careers.

The high standards of the NBSMF have been rewarded by the broadcast of our concerts each year since our inception in 1994 by CBC Radio on both regional and national networks. This exposure also serves to inform the country as a whole of the high quality of music that is presented at our festival in New Brunswick.

The Schubertiad

We carry on the tradition of the Schubertiad. In the early 1800's, Franz Schubert was famous for his Schubertiad - evenings of classical music in a relaxed setting. Our Schubertiad is an evening of music, culinary arts, and refreshments. We are in our ninth year.

For the last several years we have had the privilege of holding this event in the historic setting of Old Government House, (OGH) Fredericton. OGH was built in the 1820's and is in many ways the perfect location for this musical offering.

Mozart in the Park

For the past several years, we have presented an outdoor concert in Officers' Square in downtown Fredericton. This concert is offered free of charge as a part of the City of Fredericton Tourism summer concert series.

This concert features well-known light classical music by composers such as Mozart. It is an opportunity to bring together a chamber orchestra of fourteen musicians, once again showcasing local chamber players while at the same time raising awareness of the NBSMF in the city.

This concert is scheduled for 17 August, 2006.

Main Series

The Main Series consists of four evening performances held at Memorial Hall on the Fredericton campus of the University of New Brunswick. Concerts One, Two and Three feature exclusively the music of the two selected composers. Concert Four is our Gala Concert. The musicians perform works of their choice demonstrating the more virtuoso elements of their playing. The Gala is a lighter concert, a high-spirited culmination to the Festival.

These concerts will be held from 14 - 16 August, 2006 in Memorial Hall on the UNB Campus in Fredericton.

Pre-Concert Talks

Prior to Concerts Two and Three, knowledgeable speakers provide the audience with insights into the background of each of the composers.

Talks begin at 6:45 and are held in Memorial Hall's Art Gallery.

Children's Art Workshop

This three day event introduces children ages 5 to 10 to the music of our festival composers. The children are given the opportunity to interpret the music through fine arts activities.

Dates:  TBA