SHCMF 2026: From Hungary to Brahms, and Beyond
Seven Hills Chamber Music Festival Announces 2026 Season:
“The Season of Song”
Lynchburg, Virginia — August 12–23, 2026
The Seven Hills Chamber Music Festival officially returns for its August 2026 season with “The Season of Song,” bringing an eclectic and ambitious lineup of vocal works, song-inspired chamber music, and a world-premiere opera to the Hill City. With classical masterworks and exciting new music alike, this year’s festival celebrates the voice alongside Lynchburg’s unique history.
SHCMF 2026:
Wednesday, August 12th — Strum & Swing
The festival opens with a spirited program featuring Jessie Montgomery’s rhythmic work Strum for string quartet alongside a special Louis Armstrong tribute. Continuing a tradition established last year, the evening also highlights newly discovered repertoire by historic local composers from the town of Lynchburg.
Location: The Lynchburg Museum, 6pm (901 Court St, Lynchburg, VA 24504)
Sunday, August 16th — A Study in Scale
An exploration of contrasts, this afternoon ranges from J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 to Villa-Lobos’s Chôros No. 7. The program is centered by the human voice, including selections from the opera Infinitesimal by SHCM’s very own Nicole Brancato and Jeremy Weiss.
Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4pm (1022 Floyd St, Lynchburg, VA 24501)
Wednesday, August 19th — From Hungary to Brahms, and Beyond
In this program, audiences will experience movements from Béla Bartók’s monumental Piano Quintet as well as Rezső Kókai’s 4 Hungarian Dances, paired with Brahms, Mahler, and a contemporary work by William Susman called Clouds and Flames, lauded as a “labyrinth of rhythms” (David Sanson).
Location: Peakland United Methodist Church, 7pm (4434 Boonsboro Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24503)
Sunday, August 23rd — La Trout Lily
The season concludes with the festival’s anchor production: the world premiere (concert version) of the opera La Trout Lily by composer Paul Scherer and librettist Wallace Wilhoit Jr. This Southern gothic mystery serves as the centerpiece of “The Season of Song,” and marks a historic moment for the Seven Hills Chamber Music Festival.
Location: Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, 7pm (21206 Timberlake Rd, Lynchburg, VA 24502)
All concerts are free but capacity is limited! Please reserve your seat at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/69572299753
