Celebrate our 11th Season in the Black Hills with exhilarating performances presented by the Rushmore Concert Artists!
The Rushmore Concert Artists are excited to join the roster at the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish as an ensemble-in-residence for a 6-week concert season!
Classics at the Matthews will feature six different concert programs performed by the world-class Rushmore Concert Artists—the professional faculty artist collective of the Rushmore Music Festival.
Program Details
Tuesday, June 24th – Fjords and Fairy Tales
(Program: Allegretto Pastorale from Nielsen's String Quartet No.3*, Turina's “Scène andalouse” for Piano Sextet**, Grieg String Quartet)
This program highlights vibrant contrasts in style, from Turina’s Spanish warmth to Nielsen’s Nordic delicacy and Grieg’s stormy passion. Grieg’s quartet brings the evening to a dramatic close, full of bold harmonies and sweeping intensity. A journey through Romanticism, folk influence, and vivid storytelling.
*Ava Howell is a Young Artist Fellow at the 2025 Rushmore Music Festival
**Matthew Jean Baptiste is a Young Artist Fellow at the 2025 Rushmore Music Festival
Tuesday, July 1st – From Vienna, With Love with International Soloist, Cellist COLIN CARR*
(Popper's Requiem, Brahms String Sextet No. 1, Schubert String Quintet)
Brahms, Popper, and Schubert offer a deeply emotional evening exploring memory, passion, and transcendence. From Popper’s elegiac Requiem to Schubert’s sublime C Major Quintet, this program flows with soaring melodies and heartfelt lyricism. A celebration of Romantic depth and affectionate farewells.
*Distinguished Guest Artist-in-Residence at the 2025 Rushmore Music Festival
**Gianna Beckford is an Emerging Artist Fellow at the 2025 Rushmore Music Festival
Tuesday, July 8th – Elegy & Irony
(Arensky Piano Quintet, Shostakovich String Quartet No. 10, Schnittke's Musica Nostalgica)
This concert traces a century of Russian expression, from Arensky’s lush Romanticism to Shostakovich’s searing introspection and Schnittke’s minimalist poignancy. Shostakovich’s Tenth Quartet, dedicated to his friend Weinberg, balances mystery and irony with raw intensity. A powerful meditation on nostalgia, resilience, and the soul of Russian music.
Tuesday, July 15th – Modern Conversations
(Strauss Piano Quartet, Shaw's Limestone & Felt, Corigliano's Gazebo Dances for Piano Four-Hands*)
This eclectic program opens with Caroline Shaw’s Limestone & Felt, a textural dialogue for viola and cello that contrasts friction and resonance. John Corigliano’s Gazebo Dances for piano four-hands follows, blending classical charm with playful American flair. The evening culminates in Strauss’ richly Romantic Piano Quartet, brimming with sweeping melodies and youthful intensity.
*Hanna Lee and Rose Yam are Collaborative Piano Fellows at the 2025 Rushmore Music Festival
Tuesday, July 22nd – Echoes of the Past
(Palestrina's Ave Maria*, Purcell's Chacony**, Ravel Piano Trio)
Spanning centuries, this program explores the interplay between clarity, form, and color—from Palestrina’s pure counterpoint to Ravel’s shimmering impressionism. Purcell’s stately Chacony, reimagined by Britten, connects early and modern voices. A timeless conversation where sacred meets secular and old meets new.
*Manasseh Etienne is an Emerging Artist Fellow at the 2025 Rushmore Music Festival
**Sarah Horton is a Young Artist Fellow at the 2025 Rushmore Music Festival
Tuesday, July 29th – Bohemian Rhapsodies
(Dvořák Piano Quartet, TBD by Emerging Artists Quartet-in-Residence*)
The season finale celebrates Dvořák’s joyful, folk-inflected Piano Quartet alongside a special selection by our Quartet-in-Residence. With dance rhythms, lush melodies, and vibrant storytelling, this evening honors the rich roots of classical music. A spirited close to the summer filled with warmth and nostalgia.