Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival Presents: Series Concert III

SERIES CONCERT III: We Hold These Truths

The Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival returns for its 27th season, September 8–19, 2026, with two weeks of concerts that explore the influence of revolutionary thought in this 250th anniversary year of our nation. Founded in 2000 by Charlottesville natives and accomplished musicians Raphael Bell and Tim Summers, the Festival continues its tradition of bringing internationally acclaimed musicians to Charlottesville for performances that combine artistic excellence with emotional connection and intellectual curiosity.

A major highlight of the 2026 Festival will be the performance of a newly commissioned work by Iranian-American composer Kian Ravaei. Through a string quartet of incredible musicians and narration of the text by Doug Schneider, Ravaei’s composition offers a close reading of the Declaration of Independence, illuminating its language, aspirations, and continuing resonance in contemporary civic life. This new work, paired with Amy Beach’s sweeping Piano Quintet and Gabriel Fauré’s emotional Piano Quartet, will make for a complete evening.