Charles Ives Music Festival

The Charles Ives Music Festival is dedicated to exploring and celebrating the legacy of composer Charles Ives through the lens of contemporary classical music. Taking place in Ridgefield, Connecticut, between July 26 and August 8, 2026, the festival presents a diverse program of concerts across multiple venues.

A central feature of the festival is the "American Sounds" series, comprising four concerts each focusing on a different musical style: strictly classical works by American composers; "Anthem, Bluegrass and Folk" interpreting traditional music with classical stringed instruments; "Music for the Theater" featuring Broadway, ballet, and opera-inspired pieces; and "Rhapsody, Rock & Roll" showcasing classical works with rock elements and George Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue." Performances are scheduled at locations such as Lounsbury House, Keeler Tavern Museum, Lund Hall in Ridgefield’s First Congregational Church, and Western Connecticut State University’s Ives Concert Hall.

As a program of the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra, the festival provides a unique platform for youth orchestra players to perform alongside accomplished professional artists, many of whom are members of major symphony orchestras. Additionally, the festival includes an "Orchestras and Composers" concert, which is free to attend, featuring works by faculty composers and the winner of the Charles Ives Music Festival Concerto Competition.