Over the past month, Geneva Music Festival (GMF) presented a robust, online program of discussions and performances with GMF artists and composers. Those events are now available to view anytime on the Festival’s YouTube Channel.
“We wanted to be able to interact with our audiences, despite not being able to be with them in person,” says violinist Geoffrey Herd, director of GMF. “As artists, we’ve all been pushed to find new and innovative ways to practice, collaborate and entertain, and audiences seemed eager to embark on this journey with us. It was a great virtual season and we’re looking forward to being back in the Finger Lakes in person next year.”
The virtual season, attended via Zoom, Facebook and YouTube, included performances by violinist Jinjoo Cho, the Latin jazz band La Voz de Tres and cellist Clive Greensmith. Audiences interacted directly with two Pulitzer Prize-winning composers, Jennifer Higdon and Shulamit Ran, and discussed the music of Florence Price with one of her 21st-century champions, pianist Michelle Cann. In the unconventional season finale, Herd sat down with violinist Ani Kavafian to discuss her long and varied career as one of America’s most prominent chamber musicians.
“Every experience we’ve had with GMF has been inspiring and quite memorable. This festival has an amazing community feel to it, with the involvement of the hosts and other volunteers being so crucial to the operation,” said seven-string guitarist Jason Ennis, of La Voz De Tres, prior to their virtual performance. “We’re going to miss sharing that in person, but we’re thrilled that the streaming platform will at least give us the opportunity to share music with the GMF community and to keep the momentum going.”
As it has always been part of GMF’s mission to provide community outreach and engage with young people, the Festival presented an online masterclass with the students from St. Peters Community Arts Academy and a series of video lectures for Geneva City School District students and staff, the Boys and Girls Club, Geneva YMCA and other groups.
In addition to performances from the Virtual Season, the GMF YouTube channel includes performances from previous Geneva Music Festival seasons.