Our Festivals and Programs
SUMMER FESTIVAL AND CHAMBER MUSIC INTENSIVE
Our four-week festival brings internationally renowned musicians to Manchester to perform at the summer concert series and teach at the Chamber Music Intensive. Nine talented young artists, ages 20–26, have the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in traditional and new chamber music repertoire in this full-scholarship program. In addition to two mainstage concerts at the Riley Center, Young Artists perform for the broader Shires community and teach area children at SVAC’s Fun with Music camp.
TACONIC MUSIC INTERNATIONAL
In 2023, Taconic Music launched a chamber music festival in Padua, Italy. Co-directed by Joana Genova, cellist Elisa Kohanski, and pianist Gergana Boycheva, the 10-day program, which takes place each August, is designed for intermediate and advanced string and piano players to study chamber music in a non-competitive setting, perform in historic venues, enjoy the local culture and food, and visit cities across the region.
STRINGS FOR KIDS
Coordinated by Joana Genova, Strings for Kids offers violin, viola, and cello lessons for children ages 5–18 from September through May. Students participate in recitals, masterclasses, and family concerts at MCL, Israel Congregation, BBA and other local venues. Current teachers are Deanna Baasch, Joana Genova, Heather Münch, Ariel Rudiakov, François Sécordel, and Jared Shapiro.
MUSIC IN ACTION
Through Music in Action, we visit schools, libraries, bookstores, art galleries, and senior residences, and, in addition to performing, offer instrument demonstrations, interesting information about the composers, and links between music, art, literature, science, nature, and more. Each year, we host a free family event with Manchester Community Library (MCL), Meet the Strings! in the library’s Children’s Barn, where Strings for Kids teachers and students perform on their instruments and show how they are played. Afterward, audience members have a chance to try out a violin, viola or cello.
Another joint project with MCL has brought International Voices: Music and Poetry from around the World to life, offering a glimpse into different cultures and languages, promoting understanding and respect, with members of Southern Vermont’s international community speaking about their personal journeys to the United States. Paired with music from each country—arrangements of traditional melodies or pieces by classical composers—and performed by the Taconic String Quartet, programs have showcased Burkina Faso, Hungary, Ireland, Austria, France, Chile, Greece, Sweden, China, Japan, Bulgaria, Switzerland, England, Ecuador, Czech Republic, Iran, and Venezuela.
In partnership with Manchester’s First Congregational Church, we held the first of a planned series of annual school-time concerts, providing young people an opportunity to experience a live orchestra up close. In March 2026 we presented four free performances of Peter and the Wolf, which were attended by hundreds of students from 12 area schools, homeschool families, and community members.
BEYOND CLASSICAL
Beyond Classical explores a variety of genres with a mix of pop, rock, Latin, jazz, and folk tunes arranged for string quartet. We perform with rock bands on our electric instruments; have friendly Violin vs Fiddle “duels” (and a bit of square dancing) with John Kirk and Trish Miller; and collaborate extensively with singer Maxine Linehan and producer/composer Andrew Koss on stage and in the Studio at Strawberry Fields Lane.
JAZZ IN THE BARN
Our four-week festival brings internationally renowned musicians to Manchester to perform at the summer concert series and teach at the Chamber Music Intensive. Nine talented young artists, ages 20–26, have the rare opportunity to immerse themselves in traditional and new chamber music repertoire in this full-scholarship program. In addition to two mainstage concerts at the Riley Center, Young Artists perform for the broader Shires community and teach area children at SVAC’s Fun with Music camp.