Amelia Island, Florida, sits at the southern tip of the Sea Island chain—a laid-back paradise off the southeastern U.S. coast and the most beautiful location for the Festival.
Chamber music has a few meanings. It can refer to a small group of musicians playing without a conductor, or it can refer to the size of the concert venue. Chamber Music used to be performed in small spaces, and we keep this tradition alive by performing in historic and smaller spaces here on the island.
The word festival also has a dual meaning. It can mean an isolated event spanning a few days or a few weeks, OR it can be a celebration! Our “Festival” is a concert series running from January through June that brings world-class musicians to our island.
About The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival
The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival was founded in 2001 by Christopher Rex, then principal cellist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and a frequent visitor to Amelia Island. Now celebrating its 25th season, the Festival has grown from an inspired island idea into a nationally recognized chamber music festival, known for presenting extraordinary artists in intimate and memorable settings throughout Amelia Island and Northeast Florida.
Each season, the Festival brings world-class musicians to the community for performances that span classical masterworks, contemporary voices, and genre-crossing collaborations.
Over the years, audiences have experienced performances by Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Hilary Hahn, Pinchas Zukerman, Joshua Bell, Chick Corea, Béla Fleck, Chris Thile, Emanuel Ax, Wynton Marsalis, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Ricky Skaggs, Renée Fleming, and many others. The acclaimed Dover Quartet has served as the Festival’s first quartet-in-residence, reflecting the organization’s commitment to both exceptional artistry and meaningful, long-term artistic relationships.
Rather than presenting concerts only in traditional theaters or concert halls, the Festival brings chamber music into distinctive Amelia Island spaces: churches, courthouses, hotels, wedding venues, forts even local parks. These settings help create intimate, one-of-a-kind experiences that reflect the character and charm of the island.
Music education and community engagement have been central to the Festival’s mission since its founding. Through the Christopher Rex String Seminar, masterclasses, school performances, free family programming, outreach concerts, and opportunities for aspiring young musicians, the Festival makes great music accessible to audiences of all ages while helping nurture the next generation of artists.
The Festival’s success is made possible by generous donors, sponsors, grant-making partners, and a dedicated corps of volunteers whose support sustains both artistic excellence and community access. As the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival looks beyond its 25th anniversary season, it remains committed to enriching Nassau County and the broader Northeast Florida region through extraordinary performances, meaningful education, and shared cultural experiences.
Past Season Brochures:
Season 25 (2025 – 2026)
Season 24 (2024 – 2025)
Season 23 (2023 – 2024)
Season 22 (2022 – 2023)
Season 21 (2021 – 2022)
Season 20 (2020 – 2021)
Season 19 (2019 – 2020)
Season 18 (2018 – 2019)
Season 17 (2017 – 2018)
Season 16 (2016 – 2017)
Season 15 (2015 – 2016)
Season 14 (2014 – 2015)
Season 13 (2013 – 2014)
Season 12 (2012 – 2013)
Season 11 (2011 – 2012)
Season 10 (2010 – 2011)
Season 9 (2009 – 2010)
Season 8 (2008 – 2009)
Season 7 (2007 – 2008)
Season 6 (2006 – 2007)
Season 5 (2005 – 2006)
Season 4 (2004 – 2005)
Season 3 (2003 – 2004)
Season 2 (2002 – 2003)
Season 1 (2001 – 2002)
The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival is the legacy of Christopher Rex, who founded it in 2001. Mr. Rex served as artistic and general director of the Festival until his passing in March 2022. For over two decades, Mr. Rex’s passion and enthusiasm helped grow the Festival to the highly acclaimed status it enjoys today.
Our Founder, Christopher Rex
