Experience the FIU Music Festival from October 25 to November 9, with jazz, orchestral, Latin, organ, chamber music, and musical theatre! Enjoy seven dynamic concerts featuring world-renowned artists and rising stars. Don’t miss the magic of live music!

Our festival has a rich legacy of musical curiosity, presenting new and rarely heard works that we hope you’ll enjoy. We continually strive to offer programming that deepens our engagement with the South Florida community, reaffirms our commitment to push for diversity, and nurtures the next generation of musicians through meaningful collaborations and partnerships.

For our students, this festival offers a combination of unique, hands-on learning experiences. They are able to learn from, and play with, the best in the business. Students also prepare, produce, and manage the festival while developing their entrepreneurial acumen and fluency in music management under the guidance of faculty and professionals.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, October 25, 2024 7:30pm

FIU Music Festival 2024 Opening Concert: Habana Sax Quartet

Get ready for an electrifying night as the Habana Sax Quartet returns to kick off the FIU Music Festival with an unforgettable performance! Join us on October 25 at the Wertheim Concert Hall for an evening that promises to be nothing short of spectacular!

After years away, Habana Sax is back and better than ever, blending Latin Jazz and Brazilian rhythms into a whirlwind of sound that embodies the vibrant essence of Cuba’s music scene. Known for their fiery energy and innovative style, this ensemble will take you on a thrilling musical journey where tradition meets modernity, transforming lively salsa rhythms into deep jazz moments—all anchored by powerful Latin percussion.

Graduates of Cuba’s prestigious Superior Institute of Art and Culture, the members of Habana Sax are master musicians who push the boundaries of traditional forms, creating a sound that is fresh, exhilarating, and deeply rooted in their cultural heritage. Don’t miss the chance to witness their triumphant return and experience the musical mastery and infectious energy that have captivated audiences worldwide. Whether you're a jazz enthusiast or simply a lover of great music, this is a night you won’t want to miss!

Saturday, October 26, 2024 7:30pm

FIU Music Festival 2024: All Stars Jazz

Don’t miss the ultimate Miami jazz experience at the FIU Music Festival! For one night only, a star-studded lineup brings together Grammy-winning artists and FIU’s top student ensembles for an unforgettable night of Jazz. Featuring Alfredo Chacón on vibraphone and percussion, Julio Montalvo on trombone, Yan Carlos Artime on piano, and Thommy Lowry on trumpet, this powerhouse performance is backed by the FIU Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Michael Eckroth, and the FIU Jazz Big Band, led by Aldo Salvent.

Prepare for an evening of extraordinary musical collaboration, showcasing some of the finest jazz talent in the region.

Alfredo Chacón: Composer, band leader, recording artist, and virtuoso percussionist/vibraphonist. He has toured extensively for over 25 years with notable artists like David Bisbal, Diego Torres, Paquito D'Rivera, Bebo Valdés, Beatriz Luengo, and Magnus Lindgren.

Julio Montalvo: · Julio Montalvo is one of the leading trombonists from Cuba. Songwriter, producer, arranger and session musician, he also appears as a solo artist, directing his own project since 1998, in which he blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with elements of modern Jazz to achieve an ingenious style – New Latin Jazz. He won a Grammy Award for co-producing the Acoustic David Bisbal “A Night at the Theatre Royal” where he participated as co-arranger and multi-instrumentalist.

Thommy Lowry: Trumpeter, band leader, composer, producer, and award-winning studio musician. He has been featured on major Latin jazz albums and has played with Chucho Valdés & Irakere, Omara Portuondo, Alexander Abreu & Habana D'Primera, Buena Vista Social Club, and Juan de Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All Stars.

Yan Carlos Artime: Virtuoso Cuban pianist, composer, producer, and arranger. He has toured and recorded with Orlando Valle (Maraca), Paoli Mejia, and Eliades Ochoa, among others.

Sunday, October 27, 2024 3pm

FIU Music Festival 2024: Ryan Chan, Organ

Join us for an extraordinary performance by Ryan Chan, one of the most dynamic young organists on the international stage, as part of the FIU Music Festival, presented in partnership with the Tri-County American Guild of Organists.

Lauded for his "solid technique," "imaginative programming," and "tasteful creativity in registering orchestral textures" (AGO Charleston Chapter), Chan has captivated audiences with his mastery of both early and contemporary repertoire. His performances span the U.S. and Europe, gracing prestigious venues such as Freiberger Dom and St. James' in the City, Los Angeles.

A multi-award-winning artist, Chan claimed First Prize and the Audience Prize in the 2024 American Guild of Organists National Young Artist Competition in Organ Performance and Second Prize at the renowned International Gottfried Silbermann Organ Competition in 2023. He is also the 2018 First Prize winner of the Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition in Organ Playing. Ryan currently serves as Organist at the Rochester Christian Reformed Church in Rochester NY. Artist is represented by Karen McFarlane Artists, Inc.

Don't miss this opportunity to witness Ryan Chan's brilliance on FIU's Sydell Ida Wertheim Organ, one of the largest in Southeast Florida!  

Friday, November 1, 2024 7:30pm

FIU Music Festival 2024: Amernet with Clive Greensmith and Lawrence Dutton

Experience an evening of unparalleled musical mastery as the Amernet String Quartet, FIU's acclaimed Artist-in-Residence ensemble, is joined by two towering figures in the classical music world: cellist Clive Greensmith, formerly of the legendary Tokyo Quartet, and violist Lawrence Dutton, from the iconic Emerson String Quartet.

Together, they will bring to life a program of the highest caliber, featuring Luigi Boccherini's charming and elegant String Quintet in C Major, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's masterful String Quintet in C Major, and Arnold Schoenberg's breathtakingly emotional sextet Verklärte Nacht, a dramatic and transformative work that remains one of the most profound pieces in the string repertoire.

This is a rare opportunity to witness these world-class musicians perform together in an extraordinary program that will captivate and inspire. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable concert — a must-see for any classical music lover. Secure your seats now for what promises to be a sold-out event!

Saturday, November 2, 2024 7:30pm

FIU Music Festival 2024: FIU Symphony Orchestra: From the New World to Latin America

Prepare for a thrilling evening at the FIU Music Festival 2024, as the FIU Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the dynamic Javier José Mendoza, brings together two monumental works that bridge the sounds of the Americas.

The program opens with Dvo?ák’s iconic Symphony No. 9, "From the New World," which captures the raw spirit of America with sweeping melodies that merge classical sophistication with the pulse of spirituals and Native American influences. The energy then surges with Revueltas’ "Noche de los Mayas," a high-octane celebration of Mexico’s ancient culture, driven by thunderous percussion, powerful brass, and vivid orchestrations. Revueltas’ work is an exhilarating sonic journey, bursting with life and the rhythm of Latin American heritage.

This concert will take you on a journey from the wide-open plains of Dvo?ák’s America to the mystical, ancient rituals of Revueltas’ Mexico. Don’t miss your chance to experience these two explosive works in one breathtaking night!

Sunday, November 3, 2024 2pm

FIU Music Festival 2024: Banyan Percussion Quartet

Feel the rhythm and experience the pulse of Miami's own BANYAN Percussion Quartet!

Get ready for an electrifying afternoon of percussion that will take you on a journey through the bold and thrilling world of modern music. From the high-octane energy of Julia Wolfe's Dark Full Ride, through the minimalistic stylings of Steve Reich's Mallet Quartet, to the instrumental variety of Paul Lansky's Springs, this concert is a dynamic showcase of percussion mastery.

Banyan Quartet brings their passion for high-level artistry and deep connection to their community to every performance. With a mission to engage audiences with honesty and vulnerability, they craft musical experiences that resonate with the heart of Miami.

Come feel the energy, feel the connection, and let BANYAN Quartet show you the power of percussion!

Performers | Dr. Tony Kirk, Dr. Guillermo Ospina, Dr. Colin Williams, and Cristian Zavala

Friday, November 8, 2024 8pm

FIU Music Festival 2024: Kings, Queens, & Thieves

Headliners

Broadway's Meghan Murphy and Jelani Remy

FIU Musical Theatre Ensemble

Rick Leonard, Music Director

Step into a world of grandeur, intrigue, and daring escapades with “Kings, Queens, and Thieves,” a spectacular musical theater review that weaves together the tales of royalty and rogues. This enchanting evening will star Broadway's Jelani Remy, Meghan Murphy, also known as “Big Red,” and the Herbert and Nicole Wertheim School of Music’s very own musical theater majors. Together they will take you on a journey through the ages, celebrating the timeless allure of majestic rulers and cunning outlaws.

Prepare to be mesmerized by a dazzling array of musical numbers from classic and contemporary musicals, Experience the regal splendor and dramatic intensity as we explore the lives of legendary monarchs, from the ambitious aspirations of young kings to the wisdom and strength of venerable queens. Feel the thrill of high-stakes heists and daring escapades as our charismatic thieves charm and outwit their way through an unforgettable night of song and story.

Featuring beloved songs from iconic musicals such as “Pippin,” “Lion King,” “SIX”, “Camelot”, “Hamilton,” and “Aladdin”, “The Prince of Egypt”, “A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder” and “Beauty and The Beast,” among others. This concert promises to deliver powerful performances, stunning costumes, and captivating storytelling. Join us for an evening where the lines between nobility and knavery blur, and the music reigns supreme.

“Kings, Queens, and Thieves” is a must-see event that will leave you spellbound, celebrating the timeless themes of power, passion, and adventure. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this royal affair—secure your tickets now!

Buy Tickets

Festival Date:  October 25 - November 8, 2024

Location: FIU Wertheim Performing Arts Center

10910 SW 17th St. Concert Hall 170 

Miami, FL 33199

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