named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Children’s Concert
Family-friendly chamber music event designed for children ages 5–11, introducing live classical music through interactive and imaginative programming.
Community Concert
Free or low-cost concert featuring festival artists, aimed at broadening access to live chamber music performances in the region.
Reading Party Fundraiser
Intimate, invitation-only event where musicians perform spontaneous chamber works in a private home, combining fundraising with unique audience experiences.
Summer Festival
Annual week-long chamber music festival featuring world-class musicians in intimate venues across the Finger Lakes region, including concerts, educational events, and community engagements.
Suzuki Play-In
Interactive music-making event where violinists and cellists of all ages perform side-by-side with professional musicians, promoting community participation in classical music.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 3 activities
- Broadcast chamber music performances and artist interviewsShares chamber music with wider audiences through media, including live radio broadcasts and interviews on WXXI Classical 91.5 FM featuring artists such as harpist Bridget Kibbey and pianist Audrey Andrist.
- Organize annual chamber music festivalProduces an annual chamber music festival in its 22nd season, presenting live performances by world-class musicians in Canandaigua, NY and the Finger Lakes region, with a focus on musical excellence and innovative programming to enrich regional cultural life.
- Sponsor public chamber music performancesPresents live chamber music concerts featuring works by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Dvořák, Saint-Saëns, and Bartók, performed by professional musicians and guest artists at venues across the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes areas.
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Community Music Performances & Education 3 activities
- Conduct community participatory music eventsOrganizes inclusive community music events such as side-by-side performances where violinists and cellists of all ages and skill levels, including local Suzuki students, perform alongside professional musicians to foster broader access to classical music.
- Deliver educational outreach programs in partnership with community organizationsImplements educational and outreach initiatives in collaboration with local institutions including libraries, schools, wineries, and performing arts centers to expand access to classical music and support community engagement.
- Host interactive educational concerts for childrenProvides free, interactive concert experiences designed for children ages 5–11, including family-friendly programs like "Stomp, Soar, Dino Roar" and other outreach events that introduce young audiences to chamber music through engagement and participation.
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Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
- Produce fundraising concerts and curated music eventsHosts small-scale and themed fundraising events, including a sold-out five-course dinner with live chamber music and wine pairings, intimate concerts for thirty attendees, and spontaneous reading parties featuring professional musicians to support the festival’s operations.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$89K
Contributions & grants$42K48%
Program service revenue$47K52%
Investment income$120%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$81K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$11K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$62K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$62K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aimee Ward | Executive Director | 10 | $11K |
board members · 1
- OJ Sahler — Board Member
relationships · 38
Who they work with
- Alasdair Fraser Partner — Performed works by Alasdair Fraser as part of the concert program.
- Amy Partner — Co-director of the festival
- Amy Barston Partner — Guest cellist performing in concert
- Amy Sue Barston Partner — Cellist performing in a ChamberFest Canandaigua concert
- Amy Sue Barston Partner — Co-artistic director and cellist leading the concert program.
- Amy Sue Barston Partner — Performing partner at the Suzuki Play-In event
- Audrey Partner — Co-director of the festival
- Audrey Andrist Partner — Co-Artistic Director and featured performer in the Festival Finale concert.
- Audrey Andrist Partner — Performing partner at the Suzuki Play-In event
- Casa Larga Vineyards & Winery Partner — Partner organization in ChamberFest Canandaigua's educational and outreach programs.
- Chiara Kingsley Dieguez Partner — Performing partner and violist participating in the Suzuki Play-In event
- Cobblestone Arts Center Partner — Partner organization in ChamberFest Canandaigua's educational and outreach programs.
- Cobblestone Arts Center Partner — Venue partner hosting community and educational music events.
- David Brickman Partner — Violinist performing in a ChamberFest Canandaigua concert
- Ferris Hills at West Lake Partner — Partner organization in ChamberFest Canandaigua's educational and outreach programs.
- Finger Lakes Community College Partner — Partner organization in ChamberFest Canandaigua's educational and outreach programs.
- Fort Hill Performing Arts Center Partner — Partner organization in ChamberFest Canandaigua's educational and outreach programs.
- Jason Vieaux Partner — Featured performer in a concert presented by ChamberFest Canandaigua
- Katie Lansdale Partner — Guest violinist performing in concert
- Katie Lansdale Partner — Performing partner and violin professor participating in the Suzuki Play-In event
- Kevin Kumar Partner — Violinist performing in a ChamberFest Canandaigua concert
- Natalie Haas Partner — Performed works by Natalie Haas as part of the concert program.
- Nazareth University Partner — Partner organization in ChamberFest Canandaigua's educational and outreach programs.
- Notre Dame Retreat House Partner — Venue partner hosting chamber music concerts.
- Phil & Lucy Sheils Partner — Host a private fundraiser event at their home to support ChamberFest Canandaigua.
- Robert Donowick Partner — Violist performing in a ChamberFest Canandaigua concert
- Ted Atkatz Partner — Percussionist performing in a ChamberFest Canandaigua concert
- The Lake House on Canandaigua Partner — Collaborates with The Lake House on Canandaigua to host a signature dinner and music event.
- The Lake House on Canandaigua Partner — Partner organization in ChamberFest Canandaigua's educational and outreach programs.
- The Lake House on Canandaigua Partner — Venue partner hosting a multi-course dinner with wine and live chamber music.
+ 8 more
strategies · 2
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Intimate and Accessible Chamber Music Engagementmethodology: intimate_musical_presentationsBy presenting chamber music in intimate, informal, and creatively programmed settings—such as private homes, vineyards, and through storytelling—we increase audience engagement and emotional connection, because these formats reduce perceived barriers to classical music and foster authentic human connection.
- Music Education Through Immersive Language Acquisitionmethodology: Suzuki_methodBy applying the Suzuki "Mother Tongue" method, we develop young musicians’ abilities through immersion and shared repertoire, because learning music as a spoken language fosters deeper retention, communal participation, and early mastery.