For one evening only, elegance, artistry, and a well-shaken martini share the stage. On Thursday, July 24, at 5:30 P.M, the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival invites guests to Martinis, Mozart & More, one of its most beloved summer traditions—equal parts concert and celebration. Held at The Orchard House at The Farm at Old Edwards, the evening is a carefully orchestrated soiree.
Surrounded by views of green hills and lush gardens, guests sip cocktails, mingle with friends, and enjoy hors d’oeuvres before taking their seats for a program that blends classical brilliance with contemporary soul.
This is chamber music reimagined for the social set—where the dress code is cocktail chic, and the atmosphere is anything but stuffy. The Orchard House transforms into the kind of venue that makes you wonder why all concerts aren’t held in spaces this breathtaking, with natural light streaming through floor-to-ceiling glass and manicured gardens providing a living backdrop.
The evening’s musical heart belongs to the Vega String Quartet, joined by flutist Ransom Wilson and harpist Elisabeth Remy Johnson. Mozart’s Concerto for Harp and Flute anchors the classical side, while Ravel’s Sonatine for Flute, Cello, and Harp adds French impressionist color, and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah provides an unexpectedly moving contemporary touch.
The Vega Quartet has earned praise from The New York Times for their “clean intoxication,” and watching them perform in this intimate setting reveals why. Their sound is both precise and passionate, technically flawless yet emotionally immediate. It’s the kind of performance that makes converts of classical skeptics.
But the music is only part of the magic. Old Edwards Executive Chef Chris Huerta treats the pre-concert reception like an opening act worthy of the main event, with Southern-inflected hors d’oeuvres that showcase regional ingredients. The martinis are mixed with the same attention to detail as the musical arrangements.
This celebration exists within HCCMF’s extraordinary 44th season (July 5-August 10), which brings Grammy-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin, former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove, and rising piano star Zitong Wang to these mountain stages.
At $125 per person (including two drink tickets), the evening seamlessly blends world-class performance with mountain hospitality. Thanks to sponsors Dianne and Myron Mall, Jack Sapolsky, Richard Bordeaux, and Barbara Guillaume this tradition sets the standard for sophisticated yet genuinely fun classical music.
Pictured | The Vega Quartet
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