Southern Illinois Music Festival programs planned throughout area

With more than three dozen performances scheduled in multiple cities and venues, the 15th annual Southern Illinois Music Festival is back stronger than ever, organizers said.

Featuring two fully staged operas, three orchestral concerts, multiple chamber music performances, kids’ performances and jazz performances, the two-week summer festival offers genres and styles for all music lovers.

 The festival is scheduled May 24 through June 9. Performance highlights include both local and internationally recognized vocal and instrumental soloists.

Festival director Edward Benyas sees the event as the perfect opportunity to bring exceptional music to the region. He notes the grand finale, Verdi’s tragic opera, “Il Trovatore,” which is set for June 7 and 9 at SIU Carbondale’s Shryock Auditorium.

Tickets for all 2019 Southern Illinois Music Festival performances are available at the SIU ticket office and at the door the day of each performance.

Patrons may also purchase a non-transferable SIFest pass through the ticket office for $100. This will allow admission to all SIFest events (except the chamber music soirées), The pass, a $160 value, offers no waiting in line for tickets and a program booklet is included.

Ticket information is available by calling 618-453-6000.

With over 30 events on the schedule, the festival covers a variety of genres, locations and styles. Tickets are specific for each event. Casual dress is always welcome. 

More information about this year’s festival is available at SIFest.com.

Some of the highlights for the 2019 festival follow: 

May 24

7:30 p.m., New Arts Jazztet at the Varsity Center for the Arts, Carbondale. Tickets are $25.

May 28

7:30 p.m., Chamber Orchestra Concert: Handel, Haydn, Abel and Boulogne at First United Methodist Church in Carbondale. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for students.

May 29

5 p.m., Eric McCluskey recital at First United Methodist Church in Carbondale. Tickets are free.

May 30

6 p.m., chamber music concert at Cairo Public Library. Tickets are free.

7 p.m., Chamber Music Soirèe, wine and hors d’oeuvres at Lake Indian Hills. Music by C. Schumann, Farrenc, Price, Tailleferre, Borodin and Mendelssohn. Tickets are $75.

May 31

7:30 p.m., Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Mendelssohn String Quartet at Shryock Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for students.

June 1

11 a.m., Klassics for Kids at University Mall, Carbondale. Tickets are free.

3 p.m., Young Artists Program Opera Arias Performance at the Old Baptist Foundation recital hall, SIU campus. Tickets are free.

June 2

1:15 p.m., pre-concert lecture by Shirley Benyas at Shryock Auditorium, upstairs balcony, SIU Carbondale.

2 p.m., Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and Back, Cantata 82 at Shryock Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for students.

June 3

7:30 p.m., American Guild of Organists Isabella Demers recital at Shryock Auditorium. Tickets are free.

June 4

7:30 p.m., chamber music in Anna at Anna Arts Center. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

7:30 p.m., chamber music of women composers at First United Methodist Church in Carbondale. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students.

June 5

10 a.m., Klassics for Kids at the Varsity Center for the Arts in Carbondale. Tickets are free.

10 a.m., Klassics for Kids at the Anna Arts Center. Tickets are free.

June 6

5 p.m., Benyas Family Recital at the First United Methodist Church in Carbondale. Donations accepted.

6 p.m., New Arts Jazztet at the Cairo Public Library. Tickets are free.

June 7

2 p.m., David Taylor violin master class at Altgeld Hall, SIU campus, room 110, SIU Carbondale, Tickets are free.

4 p.m., SI Fest pre-college string camp recital at the Old Baptist Foundation, SIU Carbondale. Tickets are free.

5:30 p.m., New Arts Jazztet at Hanger 9 in Carbondale. Tickets are free.

7:30 p.m., Verdi’s II Trovatore, Shryock Auditorium. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for students.

June 8

Noon, Jive with Jazz at University Mall, Carbondale. Tickets are free.

3 p.m., young artists program opera scenes performance at Anna Arts Center. Tickets are free.

June 9

1:15 p.m., pre-concert lecture by Shirley Benyas at Shryock Auditorium, upstairs balcony.

2 p.m., Verdi’s II Trovatore at Shryock. Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for students.