Cactus Pear Music Festival 2024: A Summer of Surprising Spontaneity

CPMF kicks off its summer Festival season in San Antonio July 13 and 14 and runs a second week with concerts on July 19, 20 and 21.

CPMF's 2024 Festival season—“Spur of the Moment: A Summer of Surprising Spontaneity”— is Cactus Pear’s 28th season. That’s quite something—28 years of amazing musicians, incredible chamber music, and spectacular concerts. That’s 28 years of sitting on the edge of your seat, riveted by the masterful spontaneity of what’s happening on stage. In honor of that spontaneity, our 28th season is entitled SPUR OF THE MOMENT. Aside from being a playful nod to the San Antonio Spurs, the title celebrates the special ingredient—spontaneity—that makes for thrilling chamber music performances. We have an incredible line-up of top-drawer artists from around the country and four imaginative programs that include familiar chamber music masterpieces, thrilling and thought-provoking new works, and important chamber music by Black composers and women composers. All concerts are FREE. We do request that all those attending REGISTER THEIR ATTENDANCE through our website.

WEEK ONE
Sat. July 13, 3pm | OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD
University of the Incarnate Word, Diane Bennack Hall, SAN ANTONIO

Mel Bonis (1858-1937): Suite dans le style ancien (1928)
Mozart (1756-1791): Piano Concerto no. 17 in G Major, K. 453 (1784)
Kevin Puts (b. 1972): Einstein on Mercer Street (2002)

Sun. July 14, 3pm | OUT OF THE BLUE
University of the Incarnate Word, Diane Bennack Hall, SAN ANTONIO

David Baker (1931-2016): Roots II for piano trio (1992)
Paul Wianko (b. 1983): American Haiku for viola and cello (2015)
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): Sextet for clarinet, piano, and string quartet (1937)
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): Rapsodie nègre for flute, clarinet, string quartet, piano,
and baritone (1917)
George Gershwin (1898-1937): Rhapsody in Blue for piano four-hands (1924)

WEEK TWO
Fri. July 19, 7pm | ON THE FLY
University of the Incarnate Word, Diane Bennack Hall, SAN ANTONIO

Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979): Midsummer Moon for violin and piano (1926)
Beethoven (1770-1827): Piano Trio in E-flat Major, op. 70, no. 2 (1808)
Gershwin: An American in Paris for two pianos (1928)

Sat. July 20, 3pm | OFF THE CUFF
University of the Incarnate Word, Diane Bennack Hall, SAN ANTONIO

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912): Ballade for cello and piano (1898)
Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847): Piano Trio in D minor (1846-47)
Kenji Bunch (b. 1973): Concerto for piano trio and percussion (1996)
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990): Symphonic Dances from West Side Story for two pianos
and percussion (1960)

Sun. July 21, 3pm | YOUNG ARTISTS PROGRAM CONCERT
University of the Incarnate Word, Seddon Recital Hall, SAN ANTONIO

CPMF’s 28th season concludes with a performance featuring our 2024 Young Artists. CPMF’s Young Artist Program (YAP), managed by Education Director Craig Sorgi, offers full tuition scholarships to talented young instrumentalists and singers in the San Antonio area. These students are organized into mixed chamber music ensembles rehearsing under the watchful eye of Sorgi. They receive lessons and coaching from the CPMF professional artists—guidance that can be life-changing for these young adults. This concerts offers an opportunity to hear the fruits of their labors.

DON'T MISS THIS WORLD-CLASS FESTIVAL OF CONCERTS. PLEASE REGISTER YOUR ATTENDANCE WITH US USING THE BUTTON UPPER RIGHT.

It's world-class artists, incredible music and a summer of spontaneity that you don't want to miss. Reserve your place today.

Here's a glimpse at the kind of performances you can expect this summer when Cactus Pear Music Festival brings its 28th Season to San Antonio.