Tides & Harmonies
A Summer Chamber Music Festival on Lake Erie
June 20-27, 2026 | Erie, Pennsylvania
Experience the transformative power of chamber music as it flows through Erie's most beloved venues, where intimate musical conversations meet the vast beauty of Lake Erie. Tides & Harmonies celebrates the ebb and flow of musical expression through three distinctive concert programs featuring world-class musicians and groundbreaking World Premiere performances.
Like the gentle rhythms of Lake Erie's shores, this week-long festival explores how music creates expanding circles of influence—from the intimate dialogue between musicians to the profound connection with audiences against the backdrop of Pennsylvania's Great Lakes coastline. Each performance showcases the full spectrum of chamber music, from the crystalline conversations of string quartets to the rich tapestries of mixed ensembles.
Concert Programs
Program I: "First Light"
An evening of strings and woodwinds opens the festival with classical elegance and contemporary innovation. Features a World Premiere string quartet commission inspired by sunrise over Presque Isle, alongside beloved works that capture the awakening energy of early summer.
Program II: "Deep Currents"
Brass quintet and mixed chamber ensembles explore the powerful undercurrents of musical tradition and innovation. This outdoor performance includes a World Premiere work for brass and strings that echoes across the peninsula's natural amphitheater, complemented by pieces that celebrate Erie's maritime heritage.
Program III: "Evening Tide"
The festival culminates in an intimate setting where all instrumental families unite in carefully curated mixed ensembles. Features the festival's signature World Premiere—a large chamber work commissioned specifically for Tides & Harmonies that weaves together the week's musical threads.
Featured Elements
World Premiere Performances: Three commissioned works by contemporary composers, each inspired by Lake Erie's natural beauty and Erie's cultural heritage
Diverse Instrumentation: String quartets, woodwind quintets, brass ensembles, and innovative mixed chamber groups
Iconic Venues: From churches to art galleries, restaurants and museums - there is a space for everyone!
Local Connection: Programming that reflects Erie's unique position where Pennsylvania meets the Great Lakes
Artists & Community
Tides & Harmonies brings together established chamber musicians and rising artists in collaborative performances that honor both tradition and innovation. Each concert flows seamlessly from familiar masterworks to bold new voices, creating an experience where musical tides carry audiences from the known to the unexpected.
Join us where the rhythms and harmonies of great music meet the timeless pulse of Lake Erie's shores.