The Hamptons Festival of Music Unveils “Tasting Notes” Event

 

The Hamptons Festival of Music Unveils “Tasting Notes” Event

Festival Builds Momentum Toward September’s MainStage Season

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2025

East Hampton, NY — The Hamptons Festival of Music (TH·FM) proudly announces its full 2025 season programming, featuring three major components: the Hamptons Music Club virtual series, the live MainStage Festival Orchestra Concerts, and a newly expanded slate of benefit events that bring chamber music to life in intimate and imaginative settings.

 

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NEW in 2025: “Tasting Notes” Benefit — Music Paired with Wine
Saturday August 16 | 5:00–7:00 PM | Hoie Hall

TH·FM’s celebration this year reaches a flavorful high point with Tasting Notes, an immersive “concert in the round” that blends live chamber music with regional wine pairings curated by Park Place sommelier Lisa Schock, and local eats will be provided courtesy of Moby’s East Hampton. MainStage Series guest artist Annie Chalex-Boyle, violin, and David Palmer, piano, will perform a specially curated program surrounded by guests seated at tables throughout Hoie Hall at Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in East Hampton Village.

Each musical work is paired with a wine selection reflecting musical mood and emotional character:

• Kreisler: Praeludium & Allegro

• de Falla: Suite Populaire Espagnole

• Beethoven: “Kreutzer” Sonata, Mvt I

• Ravel: Tzigane

• Encore — A surprise musical “aperitif”

The event also includes premium wine raffles, in-kind tastings, and TH·FM signature experiences available for purchase—such as Juan’s Mole Dinner and Cocktails with the Conductor. Proceeds benefit the Festival’s artistic and educational initiatives. Volunteers and donations for wine, food, and raffle items are welcome. Very limited seating is available – tickets on sale at: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/annual-benefit-tasting-notes

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The Hamptons Music Club – A Four-Part Virtual Deep Dive

Hosted by associate conductor Logan Souther and assistant conductor Eli Zelman, this virtual series explores the repertoire and stories behind the MainStage programs, offering intimate access to TH·FM’s creative process.

• Part 1 – July 20 @ 4PM: Prokofiev, Barber, Mozart

• Part 2 – August 3 @ 4PM: Stravinsky, Mozart, Tchaikovsky

• Part 3 – August 17 @ 4PM: Cimarosa, Berlioz, Beethoven

• Part 4 – August 31 @ 4PM: Beethoven: Symphony No.?4 (deep dive)

Format & Access: All sessions begin at 4?PM EST. “Contribute-as-you-are-able” admission helps fund free/reduced-price tickets. RSVP via the festival website.

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MainStage Festival Orchestra Concerts – Live & Spectacular
All concerts held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, East Hampton Village.

• Saturday, Sept 6 @ 7?PM
  Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1, Barber: Violin Concerto (Annie Chalex-Boyle), Mozart: Symphony No. 36

• Thursday, Sept 11 @ 7?PM (Conducted by Logan Souther)
  Stravinsky: Dumbarton Oaks Concerto, Mozart: Symphony No. 29, Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings

• Sunday, Sept 14 @ 4?PM
  Cimarosa: Overture, Berlioz: Nuits d’été (Greer Lyle, soprano), Beethoven: Symphony No. 4

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Tickets & Participation

• MainStage Concerts: Now on sale at thehamptonsfestivalofmusic.com

• Music Club: RSVP online to receive Zoom access links

• Tasting Notes Benefit: RSVP and donation info available via festival contact

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A Season of Connection & Community

With virtual learning, salon concerts, immersive tastings, and MainStage orchestral brilliance, the 2025 season underscores The Hamptons Festival of Music’s mission to foster joy, accessibility, and cultural enrichment across the East End.

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Support Our Vision to Make East Hampton a Premier Music Destination

As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, TH·FM relies on generous contributions from our supporters. Each donation directly impacts our mission to bring world-class music experiences to the East End. We invite you to support us in various ways, from financial gifts to volunteering to house musicians.

For more information on how you can support TH·FM, please visit https://www.thehamptonsfestivalofmusic.com/support.

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About Maestro Michael Palmer

Michael Palmer (born May 8, 1945, in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American orchestral conductor. Palmer began his professional career at age 21 when he became Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 1967 under its legendary Music Director, Robert Shaw. Palmer was later named the ASO’s Associate Conductor. In that capacity, he founded and became the first director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra in 1974. In 1975 Palmer was one of the first young American conductors selected as an EXXON/Arts Endowment Conductor by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Palmer left the ASO in 1977 to become Music Director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (1977–1990), followed by the posts of Music Director of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (1989–1997) and the American Sinfonietta (1991–2002), with whom he toured Europe for 10 consecutive seasons. Beginning in 1993, he served as Founder and Artistic Director of the Bellingham Festival of Music (Bellingham, Washington) and, as of 2023, is now Conductor Laureate.

Palmer also was Guest Conductor for three seasons for the Houston Symphony Orchestra (1978–1981) and Co-Principal Guest Conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra (1979–1982) and has made international appearances as a conductor in Canada, Europe, and China. He has also held academic conducting posts as Director of Orchestras for Wichita State University (1999–2004) and Distinguished Professor of Orchestral Studies at Georgia State University (2004–2023).

 

About The Hamptons Festival Of Music

The Hamptons Festival of Music (TH·FM) is the brainchild of Maestro Michael Palmer, who has established, maintained, and sustained the Bellingham Festival of Music, the premier orchestral music festival in the Pacific Northwest, for over 29 years. (www.bellinghamfestival.org)

Maestro Palmer recognized the artistic gravitational pull of Long Island’s East End, which is deeply rooted in the works of many legendary artists. He set in motion plans to create a similar yet unique classical music and festival experience, specifically serving the local, year-round residents in East Hampton and the surrounding hamlets and villages.

Following the success of its inaugural pilot and sophomore seasons, TH·FM returns to the Hamptons for a third consecutive year to provide concertgoers the opportunity to experience full orchestral concerts in the intimate performance space at LTV Studio 3. Festival performances will present audiences with unforgettable experiences of live performances of some of the greatest classical masterworks.

TH·FM features internationally recognized guest artists performing with The New American Sinfonietta, the resident orchestra of TH·FM. This orchestra comprises top orchestral musicians from across the US, Canada, and abroad, including many who hold principal positions with leading orchestras and ensembles.

Weblinks:

For more information about Maestro Michael Palmer, visit: maestropalmer.com

For more information about TH·FM, visit: thehamptonsfestivalofmusic.com

Festival Contact:

E-mail: contact@thehamptonsfestivalofmusic.com

Media Contact:

Mark Gresham
Lux Nova Media
e-mail: media@luxnovamedia.com
tel: 404-664-0759

 

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