FREE, SkanFest U: Music and Nature
FREE, SkanFest U: Music and Nature
July 29, 2025 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church
The Soldier’s Tale
August 15 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Skaneateles Festival
The Soldier’s Tale
Don’t miss this special enchanted evening of music and theater, featuring a dramatic interpretation of Stravinsky’s timeless drama, The Soldier’s Tale. Violinist Anthony Marwood (“brilliant,“ The Washington Post) takes the role of the devil and also performs English master Thomas Adès’s magical, folk-inspired Dances from Fairy Tales. Robert Schumann’s Fairy Tales round out a colorful program that includes clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, bass and percussion.
ADÈS Märchentänze (Dances from Fairly Tales)
SCHUMANN Märchenerzählungen (Fairy Tales)
STRAVINSKY A Soldier’s Tale
Meet Anthony Marwood
Meet Brandon Ridenour
Upcoming Events
2021 TANGLEWOOD FESTIVAL: “None could outshine special guest Anthony Marwood… this concerto demands Olympian-caliber endurance from its soloist, and Marwood surely would have run away with the gold…The orchestra’s closing gesture had scarcely dissipated before the fellows sharing my row were on their feet, cheering at full blast. They knew excellence when they heard it.”
BBC Magazine
WEEKDAY EVENING CONCERTS
First Presbyterian Church
The facility was rebuilt in 1998 and the church committed to using the building as a community resource to provide space for and host various Art Shows and Music Festivals, Education programs, Co-ops, and Community based youth programs.
97 E. Genesee St, Skaneateles, NY 13152
Parking for the First Presbyterian Church along Genesee Street or in the municipal parking lot located behind M&T Bank on Genesee St. or Doug’s Fish Fry on Jordan. There is also free parking at Skaneateles High School.
From Syracuse and points east: Take Rte. 690 West to 695 West, then follow exit sign to Rte. 5 West. At the second light, turn left onto Rte. 321 (Bennetts Corners Road). Follow 321 until it ends in downtown Skaneateles. Turn left onto Genesee Street. The church is on the left, directly across from Lakeside Park and the Episcopal Church.
From Auburn and points west: Take Route 20 (Genesee Street) to Skaneateles. Go through the center village and the church will be on the left, directly across from Lakeside Park and the Episcopal Church.
SEATING
Doors open at 7:30pm – Concerts begin promptly at 8pm
The church is air-conditioned and the seats are cushioned church pews.
All seating is “first come, first served” with“A” ticket seating being designated in the front rows of the church and “B” ticket seating in the back ½ of the church.
FOOD AND DRINK
Light refreshments may be available for purchase at Intermission. There are many restaurants located in the Village within an easy walk or short drive of the church. See listing of “Friends of the Festival” restaurants.
HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY
We are happy to accommodate any accessibility needs of patrons and handicap seating is available in all price levels. Please call our office at 315-685-7418 so that we can ensure the best accommodations.
PREPARING
Attendance may be at capacity, so come early to assure yourselves of parking nearby and the seating you prefer.
Acoustics are outstanding in the church, so there are no bad seats sound-wise, but as with all venues, aisle seats may be at a premium.
Bathrooms are located in multiple locations at the church.
SKANEATELES FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE
A variety of Skaneateles Festival merchandise will be available for purchase before each concert and during intermission.
Guest artist CDs may be available on the nights they perform.
Credit cards and cash are both welcome.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND CELL PHONES
We would love for you to take lots of photos before and after the concerts and tag us on social media! We ask that you be considerate during the concert by silencing your phones and being aware of how your photography may be affecting your neighbors’ experience; we want everyone to enjoy the music in the moment. Please do not use flash during the concert.
There are a variety of ways to get tickets!
Presale tickets refer to all tickets that are sold before the day of the concert. There are no special requirements to be eligible to purchase presale tickets!
Order Online
Order by Phone
315-685-7418
Order in Person
Skaneateles Festival Office
97 East Genesee Street
Hours: M-F 10am – 5pm
97 East Genesee Street
Hours: M-F 10am – 5pm
Purchase at the Door
On concert nights, if tickets are still available, they can be purchased at the venue entrance as follows:
First Pres. Church – side entrance off the parking lot – beginning at 7:30pm
Robinson Pavilion – tent near the Tasting Room – beginning at 6:00pm
Robinson Pavilion – tent near the Tasting Room – beginning at 6:00pm