A Homecoming Celebration: Eliot Heaton and Pauline Martin to Perform at the Geneva Music Festival’s Spring Benefit

Eliot Heaton, a Geneva native and newly appointed violinist with the prestigious Philadelphia Orchestra, will return home next month for the Geneva Music Festival’s 2025 Spring Benefit Concert. This special event will feature Heaton alongside internationally acclaimed pianist Pauline Martin for an evening of exceptional live music, with proceeds supporting the festival where Heaton has performed since its inception 15 years ago.

Musical Roots Run Deep in Geneva

Eliot Heaton’s connection to the festival — and to Geneva — goes all the way back to his childhood. Heaton began playing the violin at just three years old, receiving outstanding training from visiting teachers from Ithaca Talent Education. His early foundation also included a friendship with the festival’s founder, Geoffrey Herd. As neighbors and fellow musicians, the two shared an early love for music. 

“We grew up right next door to each other and used to play in the backyard,” Heaton recalls fondly. 

This early connection set the stage for Heaton’s ongoing involvement with the Geneva Music Festival. “I’ve been performing for many of these audience members since I was 9 years old,” Heaton shares. “Normally, I’m on stage and I look out and recognize maybe one person in the crowd. But here, I’m surrounded by familiar faces, and after the show we’ll have a chance to talk and share the experience. That’s a really nice feeling.”

His first appearances in the early years of the festival were formative. ”Geoff always invited artists who were much further along in their careers,” he recalls. “I remember playing with well-established artists like Clive Greensmith and Ani Kavafian. They treated us like peers, even though we were just starting out. That was empowering.” 

Collaborating with exceptional musicians at the Geneva Music Festival laid the foundation for Heaton’s current success with the Philadelphia Orchestra, considered one of the best orchestras in the world. “I’m performing a lot more frequently than I ever have,” Heaton shares. “With three or four performances a week, I’ve become much more efficient in how I prepare. The musical standard of the group is extremely high—there’s a constant need to rise to the level of your colleagues.” 

Over the years, Heaton has watched the festival grow into the world-class event it is today. “At the beginning, we were rehearsing in our parents’ living rooms,” he says with a laugh. “We’ve all come a long way since then.”

The Concert: What to Expect

On March 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM at The Cracker Factory, Heaton and Pauline Martin will deliver a delightful and energetic performance, with proceeds benefiting the expansion of the festival’s artistic programming and the community outreach initiatives, which bring live music directly to students and community members in venues around Geneva.

Their program will begin with a Mozart sonata, a perfect introduction to set the tone for the evening. The program will deepen with the evocative music of Edvard Grieg and will conclude with a series of charming, showy character pieces that highlight the dynamic synergy between these two accomplished musicians. 

Heaton and Martin have played together for years. “The pieces we’ve selected are some of our favorites from our past performances,” Heaton says.

This evening will also feature elegant hors d’oeuvres, wines, and specialty cocktails, including desserts by Mike Pavone of Anorah, cocktails crafted by Joe Kennedy of Linden Social, and wines from Hermann J. Wiemer Winery. The evening will also feature a live auction.

Ticket Information

Tickets for this performance are available now here. Seats are limited — secure your tickets soon for this one-of-a-kind evening.