Photo above: Chamber Orchestra playing Beethoven's Violin Concerto Op. 61 (Rechtman arrangement)

Featuring Nigel Armstrong, violin, on Sunday, July 2, 2023.

In 2007, the St. Augustine Music Festival (SAMF) was conceived as a free chamber music concert series to celebrate the rich artistic and cultural traditions of St. Augustine. The SAMF Chamber Orchestra concerts are presented at the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, a beautiful, convenient, and accessible location with exceptional acoustics. This uplifting and welcoming setting provides SAMF attendees the opportunity to deepen their appreciation for this genre of music, connect with the community, and participate in a memorable and fulfilling experience.

Celebrating almost two decades of world-class concerts, the SAMF Chamber Orchestra attracts internationally accomplished performers and young rising stars to its series roster each year. The annual festival has since become a highlight of St. Augustine’s summer season and continues to be the nation’s largest free chamber music festival.

The Mission of the St. Augustine Music Festival is to produce, perform, and promote a world-class experience of traditional and contemporary classical/chamber music to a diverse audience in an accessible, welcoming, and uplifting environment to enhance the quality of life within the community through the inspiring power of music.

You may ask, "How is the St Augustine Music Festival able to offer six chamber music concerts free to the public each year?"

As with many non-profit organizations in the community, we rely on cultural grants and the generous contributions from our many donors, individuals and corporate sponsors to pay our musicians and other ongoing expenses. Recovering from the COVID years, we were able to produce the 2023 Festival on a limited budget. Moving forward, it is necessary for SAMF to increase our budget in order to continue to attract quality musicians for future concerts.

Can we count on you?

Please consider making a donation to SAMF towards our 2024 concert season. This is an opportune time to make your donation! Not only is Tuesday, November 28 National Giving Tuesday, but you may want to consider making this donation in order to have a tax deduction on your 2023 taxes.

Or, if you have a retirement account that encourages you to spend a certain amount of money each year, you can make a contribution to the St. Augustine Music Festival as well as gain tax benefits.

Concert Sponsorships

A minimum donation of $5,000 will support one evening concert sponsorship during the first five of the Festival concerts. For the final concert on June 30, the minimum donation requested is $7,500.

New Sponsorship Opportunities at $1,000 each.

Would you like to be a sponsor of your favorite instrument? Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, Bassoon, Piano, French Horn, Bass, etc.

Or perhaps you might prefer to be a sponsor of one of our Artistic Directors - Jorge Peña or Jin Kim-Peña?

If you would like to discuss one of these sponsorships, please contact

SAMF Executive Director Bill Boxer, billboxer@samfestival.org or 904-982-0146 or

Chair Nell Toensmann, nelltoensmann@gmail.com or 904-484-4960.

Please note: If making a contribution to SAMF from an outside financial organization, such as Fidelity or Morgan Guarantee, please advise us of your donation and/or request that their institution issuing check provides the name of the donor. We want to ensure that all of our donors are recognized.

Addition Donor and Sponsorship information is included below.

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.

Mark your calendar with the dates for the

2024 St Augustine Music Festival:

Friday, June 21, Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23

Friday, June 28, Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30

Doors open at 7:00 PM for the 7:30 PM Concerts

The October 22 concert was the second concert that the St. Augustine Music Festival sponsored in the historic Waterworks building in St. Augustine this year. An earlier Sundays with SAMF concert was offered there on April 23.

During this concert Marc Dickman provided information about the three musical instruments that he played during the afternoon.... the Euphonium, the slide trombone and the finger trombone. The tuba, which he also plays, remained in Jacksonville.

Joining Marc was the incredible Scott Giddens Trio... Giddens on piano, Claude Bassingthwaite on Bass and Clyde Connor on drums. Even though a list of potential music selections were provided, there were additional familiar tunes offered for the appreciative audience. An interesting question was asked to the audience - "How many of you like jazz and classical music?" Almost everyone raised their hands. It was a most appreciative audience listening to these very talented musicians.

The exposed brick walls of the building provide a unique acoustical experience for music lovers. One of the pianists, who performed during a Romanza Concert in May, proclaimed that brick walls provide the best experience for enjoying music. The Waterworks building, managed by the St. Johns Cultural Council, has become an important venue for the arts in St. Augustine.

You can read about this historic and unusual building here.

• • SAMF at Jacksonville Symphony in 60 • • 

The St Augustine Music Festival was present at a table prior to the the October 26 Symphony in 60 concert of the Jacksonville Symphony. It was Pride Night at the Symphony and some of the neighboring tables included various Pride organizations in the Jacksonville area. The adjacent table to ours represented other St. Augustine organizations - Romanza, First Coast Opera and A Classic Theatre, all of which have upcoming productions.

The SAMF Table was displayed at the Jacksonville Symphony in 60 and during the Marc Dickman Quartet Concert..

SAMF Chair Nell Toensmann and Board Member Katheryn Hancock talking to a visitor to the SAMF table prior to the concert.

Visit the Jacksonville Symphony Website for information on their upcoming concerts which include: Tchaikovsky & Barber December 1-2, the Holiday Pops December 7-10, the Jacksonville Youth Symphony and the First Coast Nutcracker and more.

• • Become a SAMF Donor or Continuing Donor • • 

Donors are vital to the success of SAMF performances as each donor's contribution furthers the sense of connection and positive impact within the community as we offer FREE concerts at the Cathedral Basilica.

As you consider your donation, think about the cost of attending a comparable concert... would it be $25, $40, or perhaps much more? Are you planning to attend two or three, or perhaps all six concerts? If so, then consider making a donation to SAMF that you can consider as the cost of your tickets. Sponsor levels of $5,000 or more entitles the donor/organization to be the sponsor of an evening's concert.

We Have 8 Sponsor Donor Levels:

*Regular Entry and Recognized Donor in the Program

**Early Entry and Reserved Seating. Recognized Donor on Website and in the Program

*** Possible Concert Sponsor with Early Entry and Prime Seating. Recognized Donor on Website, in the Program and Champaign Reception

****Final Concert Sponsor with Early Entry, Prime Seating, Recognized Donor Logo on Website and Champaign Reception

Or Use our SAMF QR Code

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

Each and every level of donation is important.

Please consider the level you wish to contribute.

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.

Jorge Peña and Jin Kim-Peña

Artistic Directors

Bill Boxer

Executive Director

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

Bill Boxer, Executive Director

Nell Seymour Toensmann, Board Chair

Jorge Peña & Jin Kim-Peña, Artistic Directors

St. Augustine Music Festival (SAMF)

billboxer@SAMFestival.org

Mobile: 904 982-0146

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

St. Augustine Music Festival

P.O. Box 833

St. Augustine, FL 32085-0833

904-484-4960

www.SAMFestival.org