Friday, June 19 Saturday, June 20 Sunday, June 21

Friday, June 26 Saturday, June 27 Sunday, June 28

at the Historic Cathedral Basilica in St. Augustine

Bravo, Kevin!

Preceding each of the three sections of the concert, pianist and retired educator Kevin Sharpe provided information about each of the composers, which complimented his talent on the keyboard.

From the first notes of the Bach "French suite no. 5 in G major", the audience was transfixed. And when he tackled the Gershwin "Rhapsody in Blue" at the end of the program, the audience could not contain their enthusiasm and gave Kevin a rousing standing ovation. He responded with a lovely rendition of Beethoven's "Fur Elise".

This concert on January 18 provided an exciting start to the first of our five "Sundays with SAMF" concerts at the Waterworks, as the St. Augustine Music Festival celebrates our 20th year of offering classical chamber music in St. Augustine.

We hope you can join us for one of more of next "Sundays with SAMF" concerts. They all promise to be of an extremely high quality!



Biography - Chelsea Wang, piano,

Praised by the New York Times as an “excellent young pianist”, Chelsea Wang has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician through North America, Europe and Asia. She is a prizewinner and finalist of many national and international piano competitions.

A native of West Des Moines, Iowa, Ms. Wang is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and was awarded the prestigious Sergei Rachmaninoff Award upon graduation. She received her Master of Music degree and Graduate Performance Diploma at the Peabody Conservatory and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music with James Giles. Additionally, Ms. Wang is a member of the prestigious New York-based Ensemble Connect, a highly selective two-year fellowship program under the joint auspices of Carnegie Hall, The Weill Institute, and The Juilliard School.

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The St. Augustine Music Festival is very aware that our February 8 concert is scheduled for the same day as the 2026 Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Sea Hawks.in San Francisco. If you are a football fan as well as a lover of classical music, it is possible to enjoy both, unless you are attending the Super Bowl in person! Concert at 3:00 PM, Super Bowl at 6:30 PM.

March 22, 2026 

3:00 PM 

The Waterworks

184 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine

Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door

 Aaron Lehrian, Jazz Piano and composer, “Where Jazz Meets Strings”

This program features pianist and composer Aaron Lehrian in a compelling exploration of jazz and classical traditions. At its center is the world premiere of a newly commissioned work for jazz piano and string quartet, generously sponsored by Ben Leaderman.

Blending original compositions with classical jazz selections, the program explores improvisation, lyricism, and structure—revealing how jazz language and classical forms intersect in fresh and unexpected ways. This concert celebrates collaboration, innovation, and the living evolution of American music.

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Biography

Aaron Lehrian is a highly acclaimed jazz pianist celebrated for seamlessly blending eclectic elements into his music. His journey with the piano began at just five years old, taking lessons from his grandmother—a spark that ignited his lifelong passion for the instrument. Aaron’s extraordinary talent and dedication propelled him to victory at the prestigious Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition in 2014, cementing his status as a rising star in the jazz world.

In 2023, Aaron released his debut album, A Joyous Opus, earning widespread praise, including a four-star review in DownBeat Magazine. Aaron’s innovative artistry inspires musicians and listeners alike. His commitment to pushing musical boundaries ensures his place as a beacon of creativity in the world of jazz.

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April 19, 2026 

3:00 PM 

The Waterworks

184 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine

Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door

Piotr Szewczyk and Alex Cooper - Composers. 

“Living Voices: Composers in Conversation” 

This Audience-friendly program brings two accomplished contemporary composers, Piotr Szewczyk and Alex Cooper, directly to the stage to present, discuss, and demystify today’s musical language. Through live performance and spoken insight, audiences are guided through the creative process behind modern composition—how ideas take shape, how sound is structured, and how contemporary music reflects the world we live in now.

Pairing performance with conversation, this concert invites listeners of all backgrounds to engage actively with new music, offering both an artistic experience and a deeper understanding of the sounds of our time.

Eight musicians (String quartet and woodwind quartet)



Three Summer Sketches for Violin, Clarinet and Bassoon 

Three Episodes for Violin, Oboe, Cello and Bassoon 

Sneaky Dances for Flute, Clarinet and Cello 



Alex Cooper Quartet 

Triple Trouble for Oboe, Viola and Clarinet 

San Marco Suite for Flute, Oboe and String Quartet 

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Biographies

Dr. Piotr Szweczyk

Dr. Piotr Szewcyk (pyo-ter shef-chick), Polish-American violinist and composer is a member of the Jacksonville Symphony first violin section since 2007. Previously, he was a fellow at the New World Symphony where he was a rotating concertmaster and a winner of a Concerto Competition. He is also a violinist and composer-in-residence of the Bold City Contemporary Ensemble and the creator of the Violin Futura Project. He is a winner of FSU Doctoral Concerto Competition and FSU Carnegie Hall Recital Competition. As a violinist, he performed at the Aspen Music Festival and School, Spoleto Festival USA, Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, St. Augustine Music Festival and others.

As a composer, Dr. Szewczyk has received awards from The Progressive Classical Music Award in Germany, The American Prize, Project Trio Competition, Flute New Music Consortium Competition, Shuffle Concert Competition, American Modern Ensemble, Rapido! Composition Contest, Third Millennium Ensemble, American Composers Forum, Society of Composers, Jacksonville Symphony Fresh Ink Competition, and others. He has received commissions from the Jacksonville Symphony, St. Augustine Music Festival, University of North Florida, San Marco Chamber Music Society, University of Cincinnati Philharmonia Orchestra under Mark Gibson, Buffet Crampon, Atlanta Chamber Players, Prof. Rick VanMatre at University of Cincinnati and many others. His music was released on Ablaze, Navona, Mark, JB Records and others and is available on Amazon, Spotify and other streaming services.

Dr. Szewczyk holds the degrees of D.M. from Florida State University, B.M. and double M.M. in violin and composition from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He studied violin with Piotr Milewski, Kurt Sassmannshaus and Corinne Stillwell, and composition with Michael Fiday, Joel Hoffman, Henry Gwiazda and Darrell Handel.

Alex Cooper

Born in 1994, L. Alexander Cooper grew up in Rochester, Minnesota where he studied classical piano from the age of five. Alex attended the University of Iowa as a piano performance major under the tutelage of Dr. Ksenia Nosikova and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music in 2018.

He developed a personal interest in composing music around the same time by studying counterpoint on his own time in addition to taking formal classes in music theory and orchestration and has also taken private composition lessons with Emmy award winning composer Stephen Cohn for the past few years. Since then he has written works for various ensembles ranging from solo works to full orchestral pieces.

His music has been performed in multiple venues by the St. Augustine Music Festival, the San Marco Chamber Music Society and has recently been commissioned by them as well as by the Florida Chamber Music Society.

His style combines traditional tonal harmonies and structural arrangements with a distinct sound that has been described as following a thematic storyline, with approachable yet provocative ideas and emotional language.

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May 31, 2026

3:00 PM 

The Waterworks

184 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine

Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door



Robert Sims, Baritone

Robert Sims returns as one of SAMF’s audience favorites.

“Sims powerful baritone filled the Waterworks with the appropriate emotion of the music, whether the Underground Railroad Spirituals or the Hayes arrangement of the Life Cycle of Christ”.

Whether limping like Porgy when singing Porgy's Entrance Aria or acting pompous as he portrayed the count in the Barber of Seville, Robert Sims fully embraced the respective roles he portrayed. 

Program To Be Announced

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Biography

Robert Sims, Gold Medal winner of the American Traditions Competition, has been praised for his rich tone, energetic performances, and commanding stage presence. A distinguished interpreter of spirituals and American art song, Sims has appeared with major orchestras and opera companies across the country and abroad, including the Oakland Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and Chicago Opera Theater.

He has performed at New York’s Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and in collaborations with artists such as Jessye Norman, Simon Estes, and Jubilant Sykes. His artistry has been featured in PBS specials, international festivals, and broadcasts on NPR and the BBC.

Sims has worked closely with legendary composers and arrangers such as Lena McLin, Moses Hogan, Roland Carter, and Jacqueline Hairston, and continues to be a champion of preserving and elevating the spiritual as a vital American art form.



In addition to his performance career, he is an educator and mentor, fostering the next generation of vocal artists through performance, teaching, and his work with vocal competitions and scholarship programs.

QR Code for the Robert Sims Concert

Join us for our landmark 20th season!

The St. Augustine Music Festival (SAMF) celebrates two decades of free-to-the-public performances. With six concerts over two weekends—June 19-21 and June 26-28—audiences will gather in the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine renowned for its beauty, accessibility, and acoustics.

A tradition of excellence

Founded in 2007 to educate, entertain and elevate, SAMF has become one of the nation’s largest free chamber music festivals. Each summer, SAMF musicians and guest artists fill the cathedral with world class music that brings together both beloved classics and innovative new music.

Be part of the celebration

This milestone year will feature favorites from previous seasons as well as a celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States. Returning guest artists will include violinist Nigel Armstrong, pianist Chelsea Wang, and other acclaimed performers soon to be announced.

The St. Augustine Music Festival is excited as we begin our celebration of 20 years offering Classical Chamber Music to a discerning public and as the United States commemorates 250 years as a country!

• • Why Your Contribution Matters • • 

Your gift makes the music possible!

For 20 years, the St. Augustine Music Festival has filled the 800-seat Cathedral Basilica, welcoming nearly 5,000 music lovers annually. Breathtaking acoustics, exceptional artistry, and world class performances create an unforgettable experience—free and open to all.

Community supported!

SAMF, a 501.c3 nonprofit, operates on an annual budget of about $125,000, with 85% devoted to festival production. The largest expense—roughly 50% —goes to bringing in outstanding professional musicians from North Florida and across the

nation. Historically, state and local grants have covered approximately 35%, while the remainder depends upon community donations and sponsors. As governmental support becomes less certain, community generosity is more important than ever.

Why your contribution matters!

Your generosity sustains this remarkable tradition, and every gift—large or small—helps SAMF present free concerts, attract superb musicians, collaborate with composers to exciting, relevant new music, and inspire the next generation through the universal language of music. Together, we can ensure that this 20th Anniversary

Season—and the years ahead—continue to resonate with the beauty, passion, and community spirit that define the St, Augustine Music Festival.



• • Sponsor and Patron Opportunities • • 

Community support keeps extraordinary music in our historic city.

Please consider becoming a sponsor or patron.

Festival Sponsor —- $20,000

Experience the Festival at the highest level of recognition and access

・Recognition: Exclusive naming rights to the Festival

・Experience: Prime seating for 8 for entire season

・Access: Invitation to a private rehearsal (when available); Festival reception with musicians

Concert Sponsor —- $5,000-$7,500

Support an individual concert and share in its success

・Recognition: Festival program and concert introduction

・Experience: Prime seating for 6 for the entire 2026 season

・Access: Festival reception with musicians

Program Sponsor —- $2,500

Show your support through recognition on all Festival materials

・Recognition: Program cover credit

・Experience: Prime seating for 4 for the entire 2026 season

・Access: Festival reception with musicians

Patrons

Support our chamber music traditions and receive seating and entrance benefits

・$1500 — Prime seating for 2, early entry, and Festival reception

・$500 ($350 before January 1, 2026) Preferred seating for 2 and early entry

・$250 — Early entry and general admission seating for 2

Reserved Seating for our June Concerts

Our St. Augustine Music Festival concerts in the Cathedral Basilica are general seating. If you wish to have reserved seating for the concert, we request a minimum annual donation of $500 ($350 for donations before January 2, 2026)..

An annual donation of $1,500 or more will provide you and another with Prime Reserved Seating in the front rows.

Please note: The reserved seats are not available to general admission public.

• • Watch the Videos of the 2025 Concerts Here • • 

As the June concerts are free to the public, financial contributions can be mailed to St. Augustine Music Festival, PO Box 833, St. Augustine, FL 32085-833. Donations can also be made on www.samfestival.org.

Reserved seating is available for annual donations of $500 ($350 if made before January 15, 2026) and prime seating donations of $1,000 or more.

For more information, visit www.samfestival.org or call 904-484-4960.

Personal and business checks can be made payable to the

St. Augustine Music Festival and mailed to:

Saint Augustine Music Festival

PO Box 833

St. Augustine, FL 32085-0833

The St. Augustine Music Festival is a non-for-profit corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We are qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code and can provide you with a copy of our tax exempt status upon request. We greatly appreciate all donations and acknowledge our donors in the festival program and on our website.

Each and every level of donation is important.

Please consider the level you wish to contribute.

Visit the following websites for information about

upcoming Cultural and Musical Events in Northeast Florida

Jorge Peña and Jin Kim-Peña

Artistic Directors and Co-Founders

Bill Boxer

Advisor to the Board

On behalf of the SAMF Board of Directors, we thank you!

Bill Boxer, Advisor to the Board

Nell Seymour Toensmann, Board Chair

Jorge Peña & Jin Kim-Peña, Artistic Directors

St. Augustine Music Festival (SAMF)

billboxer@SAMFestival.org

Mobile: 904 982-0146

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St. Augustine Music Festival

P.O. Box 833

St. Augustine, FL 32085-0833



904-484-4960

www.SAMFestival.org



Members of the SAMF Board

The St. Augustine Music Festival is very grateful for the hospitality

of the Historic and Beautiful Cathedral Basilica

for our Classical Chamber Music Concerts

offered to the public during the last two weekends in June.