Celebrating 35 years of bringing beautiful music to Cape May, NJ.

Classical music lovers will welcome the return of the New York Chamber Ensemble performing two chamber concerts, the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players performing one chamber concert and the Bay Atlantic Symphony performing one chamber concert, and a second concert featuring the full symphony at Cape May Convention Hall.

New York-based BAILEN returns, bringing their stellar musicianship and power trio vocals and guitar to Cape May Convention Hall. The award-winning Atlantic Brass Band returns this year in a free outdoor concert during Memorial Day Weekend.

Jazz lovers will enjoy a Jazz Brunch at the Inn of Cape May featuring Mary Lou Newnam and Ray Mallach; the return this year of the exciting Atlanta-based cellist-songwriter, looper, improviser and storyteller, Okorie “OkCello” Johnson; and the heartfelt George Mesterhazy Tribute Concert in the intimate setting of the Episcopal Church of the Advent.

Capping off this year’s festival is the exciting new Cape May Cabaret with Erich Cawalla & the Uptown Band Orchestra, at Cape May Convention Hall.

Festival Schedule:

Sunday, May 26, 2024

7pm: Atlantic Brass Band

The award-winning, 35-piece Atlantic Brass Band, under the baton of Salvatore Scarpa, returns to Cape May with an exciting new program of rousing band music, the perfect high note for Memorial Day Weekend.

FREE Admission. No purchase necessary.

Location: Rotary Park (rain location Convention Hall)

Thursday, May 30 & June 13, 2024

7pm: New York Chamber Ensemble

Featuring Artistic Director Eliot Bailen, cello, and Susan Rotholz, flute, the New York Chamber Ensemble presents selections from the classical chamber music repertoire performed by accomplished New York musicians.

Location: Episcopal Church of the Advent

Saturday, June 1, 2024

7pm: Ok Cello

Atlanta-based cellist-songwriter, looper, improviser and storyteller, Okorie “OkCello” Johnson returns after a triumphant Cape May debut in 2023. OKCello shares themes and expressions of the African Diaspora, his personal truths, a deep love and celebration of women, and a commitment to musical prayer, immersing his audiences in vivid stories as well as songs, creating a richly layered and transcendent experience.

Location: Episcopal Church of the Advent

Sunday, June 2, 2024

7pm: George Mesterhazy Tribute Concert "A Time for Love"

Artistic Director Barry Miles once again brings together musical friends and colleagues of the late jazz pianist George Mesterhazy for this intimate tribute. A Time for Love marks 12 years since George’s passing. This annual remembrance concert celebrates how much George meant to so many through original musical arrangements and meaningful songs.

Location: Episcopal Church of the Advent

Wednesdays, June 5, 12 & 19, 2024

12:30pm: Bach's Lunches

Lunch and a classical music mini concert combine for a wonderful afternoon at the historic Inn of Cape May. These intimate performances feature members of the Bay Atlantic Symphony.

Location: Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean Street

Thursday, June 6, 2024

7pm: Bay Atlantic Symphony

Sensual sounds, contemporary rhythms and harmonies from the Americas will fill the air in a program that features a quartet of soloists for the Brazilian Suite Retratos (Portraits). Fabio Oliveira solos on the magical sounds of the marimba with a Brazilian Regional group that includes a 4-string Cavaquinho, a 9-string Guitar, the Brazilian Pandeiro frame-drum, as well as a 9-piece string ensemble. The mood goes sultry and sentimental with a work by Tango king Astor Piazzolla. An adored string orchestra favorite of great melodic sweep and beauty, Dvorak’s Serenade for Strings, steals your heart away.

Location: Episcopal Church of the Advent

Sunday, June 9, 2024

10am: Jazz Brunch

Savor a delicious jazz brunch at the historic Inn of Cape May that celebrates the music of The Great American Songbook and features Mary Lou Newnam on saxophone, clarinet and flute, and Ray Mallach on piano.

Location: Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean Street

Friday, June 14, 2024

12:30pm: Midday Music and More

Enjoy an intimate classical music performance over lunch at the historic Washington Inn, presented by Friends of the Cape May Music Festival, featuring Eliot Bailen, Susan Rotholz and Jed Gaylin.

Location: The Washington Inn

Saturday, June 15, 2024

7pm: Bailen

New York-based, indie-pop group BAILEN, comprised of Julia Bailen on vocals and guitar, David Bailen on vocals and drums and Daniel Bailen on vocals and bass, returns to the festival this year, bringing their power trio of stellar musicianship and emotional lyricism to Cape May Convention Hall.

Location: Cape May Convention Hall

Sunday, June 16, 2024

7pm: New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players

New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players, Eric Wyrick and Brennan Sweet on violin, Brett Deubner on viola and Jonathan Spitz on cello, perform a diverse string quartet program featuring works by Florence Price, Beethoven, George Walker and Jessie Montgomery.

Location: Episcopal Church of the Advent

Thursday, June 20, 2024

7pm: Bay Atlantic Symphony

Incisive rhythms, happy harmonies, musical musings and brilliant colors fill the air in a program that highlights Felix Mendelssohn’s most celebrated works. These iconic pieces, though, trace a vast universe of emotion and inspiration, even as they bear Mendelssohn’s stunningly distinctive imprint. Bay Atlantic Symphony and Cape May favorite violinist Qing Li returns in an impassioned take on the violin concerto.

Location: Cape May Convention Hall

Sunday, June 23, 2024

6pm: Erich Cawalla

Don’t miss this exciting evening of outstanding big band music capped off with dinner and dancing! Erich Cawalla returns with his big band after a resounding Cape May debut in 2023.

Location: Cape May Convention Hall

Fest Date: Sunday, May 26 – Sunday, June 23, 2024

Locations:
Rotary Park, 400 Lafayette Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Episcopal Church of the Advent, 612 Franklin Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Inn of Cape May, 7 Ocean Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
The Washington Inn, 801 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Cape May Convention Hall, 714 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204

Click here for more information.