Event Details
DERBY CITY CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR SEASON FIVE
Three Concerts May 17, 19, and 21 at Second Presbyterian Church
The Derby City Chamber Music Festival, led by Artistic Director Nicholas Finch, returns for its fifth season this May with three concerts presented at Second Presbyterian Church (3701 Old Brownsboro Rd.) on May 17, 19, and 21, 2026.
All performances are free to attend, with a suggested donation of $40 for adults and $10 for students. Audiences are encouraged to reserve seats in advance at derbycitychamberfest.org.
The 2026 festival brings together an international roster of acclaimed artists alongside leading musicians from Louisville. Guest artists include Avery Fisher Grant-winning violinist Giora Schmidt, pianist Adam Golka, violinist Stephen Miahky of the Blair Quartet, violist Andrew Gonzales of the Jasper String Quartet, and cellist Michael Nicolas of Brooklyn Rider, along with performers from the Louisville Orchestra and the broader regional music community.
The Derby City Chamber Music Festival continues its mission to present chamber music in an accessible and community-centered format, bringing together artists from across the country to perform alongside musicians from Louisville.
“Our goal is to bring together artists and audiences in a shared experience of discovery,” says Nicholas Finch, Artistic Director. “These programs reflect both the depth of the chamber music repertoire and the collaborative spirit that defines the festival.”
FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING
Concert One: String Theory / Indivisible by Four
Sunday, May 17 at 3:00 PM
The festival opens with a program dedicated to some of the greatest chamber music for strings, bringing together artists from leading ensembles to perform in newly assembled configurations. The program includes Janáček’s String Quartet No. 1, inspired by Tolstoy’s The Kreutzer Sonata, Schubert’s “Rosamunde” Quartet, and Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht for string sextet.
Concert Two: Concertomania! / The Soloist as Hero
Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30 PM
The second program traces the evolution of the concerto, from Baroque concerto grosso to the modern conception of the soloist. The program features Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, Chausson’s Poème (starring pianist and composer Sebastian Chang), Copland’s Clarinet Concerto (featuring violinist Giora Schmidt and Louisville Orchestra principal clarinetist Andrea Levine), and Stravinsky’s Suite from Pulcinella.
Concert Three: War Horses
Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 PM
The festival concludes with a program of some of the most popular and beloved works of the chamber music repertoire, including Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Dvořák’s Terzetto in C major, and Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor, featuring pianist Adam Golka.
ADMISSION & DETAILS
All concerts take place at Second Presbyterian Church at 3701 Old Brownsboro Rd. and are free to attend, with a voluntary suggested donation. Seating is limited, and reservations are encouraged.
For full details and to reserve seats, visit: derbycitychamberfest.org