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Celebrating 64 Years of Inspired Music Making!

June 28 – August 2, 2025

EASTERN MUSIC FESTIVAL'S 63rd SEASON

2024 Summer Recap

The 2024 Eastern Music Festival (EMF) season was an incredible success, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the support and participation of our community! Over five weeks, EMF welcomed music lovers from near and far to experience world-class performances by our esteemed faculty, emerging young musicians, and renowned guest soloists.

The season kicked off with spectacular performances like William Wolfram’s electrifying piano recital and “Welcome Bach,” an evening dedicated to the timeless works of Johann Sebastian Bach. The EMF orchestras filled Dana Auditorium with the rich sounds of Dvořák in “EMF Celebrates: Dvořák’s America” and later dazzled audiences with a wide variety of musical styles, from classical masterworks to contemporary selections.

We also had the honor of welcoming special guest artists, including banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, violinist Jeffrey Multer, and pianist Santiago Rodriguez, all of whom brought their unique artistry to the stage as part of our Joseph M. Bryan, Jr. Festival Orchestra Series. The season’s diverse programming continued with chamber recitals, tuba-euphonium ensemble concerts, and free performances by the US Air Force Heritage Winds Quintet, making each week a musical adventure.

Highlights such as KALEIDOSCOPE, showcasing our talented Orchestral Fellows, and OVERTURES, spotlighting the EMF 2024 Conducting Scholars, displayed the extraordinary growth and promise of the next generation of classical musicians. These moments were a testament to the power of music education and the bright futures ahead for these rising stars.

In addition to our performances at Guilford College, we took EMF on the road with a special concert at Appalachian State University, further broadening our reach and bringing classical music to new audiences.

As we reflect on this remarkable summer, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, from our devoted patrons and first-time attendees to the parents and supporters of our young artists.

The 2024 Eastern Music Festival (EMF) season was an incredible success, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the support and participation of our community! Over five weeks, EMF welcomed music lovers from near and far to experience world-class performances by our esteemed faculty, emerging young musicians, and renowned guest soloists.

The season kicked off with spectacular performances like William Wolfram’s electrifying piano recital and “Welcome Bach,” an evening dedicated to the timeless works of Johann Sebastian Bach. The EMF orchestras filled Dana Auditorium with the rich sounds of Dvořák in “EMF Celebrates: Dvořák’s America” and later dazzled audiences with a wide variety of musical styles, from classical masterworks to contemporary selections.

We also had the honor of welcoming special guest artists, including banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck, violinist Jeffrey Multer, and pianist Santiago Rodriguez, all of whom brought their unique artistry to the stage as part of our Joseph M. Bryan, Jr. Festival Orchestra Series. The season’s diverse programming continued with chamber recitals, tuba-euphonium ensemble concerts, and free performances by the US Air Force Heritage Winds Quintet, making each week a musical adventure.

Highlights such as KALEIDOSCOPE, showcasing our talented Orchestral Fellows, and OVERTURES, spotlighting the EMF 2024 Conducting Scholars, displayed the extraordinary growth and promise of the next generation of classical musicians. These moments were a testament to the power of music education and the bright futures ahead for these rising stars.

In addition to our performances at Guilford College, we took EMF on the road with a special concert at Appalachian State University, further broadening our reach and bringing classical music to new audiences.

As we reflect on this remarkable summer, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us, from our devoted patrons and first-time attendees to the parents and supporters of our young artists. Your enthusiasm and support make each season possible, and we look forward to welcoming you back in 2025 for another unforgettable summer of music!

Be sure to stay tuned for next year’s exciting lineup and mark your calendars for even more exceptional performances.

Until then, thank you for being a part of the Eastern Music Festival family!

EMF-Logo White with No Names

An Important Message from Eastern Music Festival

For more than six decades, Eastern Music Festival has made summers in Greensboro a place of joyful music and memories for aspiring young musicians and music lovers throughout the region.  

Sadly, we inform you that the Festival will be taking the summer off in 2025. 

Eastern Music Festival was founded to provide young musicians with an immersive musical education and the camaraderie of peers. The quality of the program and student experience is our highest priority.  

We are working toward a labor agreement that rewards our faculty for the important role they play in the Festival’s success. The unforeseen length and complexity of these negotiations has extended beyond the point that makes it possible to host this year’s festival as usual and to deliver the experience our students and the community deserve.

During this year’s pause, we will be planning for the return of the Festival in 2026 with our focus remaining on educating students to the highest musical standards – and in hopes that our shared love of music brings us together again, better and stronger than ever.

Students who have submitted an application for this year’s Festival will be fully refunded their application fees. Check back here for highlights of our previous seasons and plans going forward.

For updates on contract negotiations, see Stay Informed: Latest Updates Q&A and our latest news release.