Nancy Gould-Aaron
I have to tell you – I’m still smiling as I write this thank you to our incredible community.
Our 44th season just wrapped up, and wow, what a year it’s been!
From intimate salon performances that had us all holding our breath to those enchanting moments when the music seemed to fill every corner of our beautiful venues, this festival reminded me why we all fell in love with chamber music in the first place.
The 2025 festival brought together people from all walks of life, creating shared moments of beauty that will resonate long after the final notes faded. We saw young faces light up with wonder at their first chamber music experience, watched longtime friends and new acquaintances bond over their love of these timeless musical conversations between instruments, and felt that special energy that happens when a room full of people is completely absorbed in beautiful music – that collective holding of breath during a delicate passage, the spontaneous applause that erupts after a particularly moving piece, the reluctance to break the spell even when the concert ends.
This transformation is only possible because of the incredible individuals and organizations who believe in music’s power to enrich lives. We are deeply grateful to the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Mountain Findings, Cullasaja Women’s Outreach, and A.L. Williams for their continued grant support. These partnerships form the bedrock that allows us to bring world-class artistry to our mountain plateau year after year.
To our donors, sponsors, and underwriters – you are the architects of these magical experiences. Your generosity doesn’t just fund performances; it creates opportunities for a child to discover a passion, for a couple to share an anniversary moment they’ll treasure forever, or for our community to welcome visitors who become lifelong friends of our region.
Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Faith and Fred Schwaibold for hosting our Angel Party, Dianne and Myron Mall for their wonderful Legacy Party, and Wildcat Cliffs Country Club for our elegant Gala dinner. Mary Thompson’s incredible Mountain Music Soiree created an unforgettable evening that perfectly captured the intimate spirit of our festival. These gatherings strengthen the bonds that make our musical community so vibrant.
We’re grateful to our venue partners – The Bascom, Old Edwards Orchard House, First Presbyterian Church, Highlands Hudson Library, Albert Carlton Cashiers Library, Highlands Performing Arts Center, and Cashiers Village Green Commons-Lewis Hall—for welcoming us and creating the perfect acoustical homes for our performances.
Our salon and housing hosts deserve special recognition for their extraordinary hospitality. By opening your homes, you’ve given our artists and audiences the gift of intimate musical experiences that simply cannot happen in traditional concert halls.
Festival artist Avery Rowan brought exceptional creativity and inspiration to this season, adding visual artistry that enhanced every musical moment.
Here’s what fills me with the greatest excitement: Our 45th season in 2026 will mark our Anniversary celebration, and we’re planning something truly spectacular – a real knock-out year that will create even more of those transformative moments our community treasures.
Thank you for being the heart of our musical family and for believing in the power of music to make our world more beautiful.
With profound gratitude.
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