The siren call of Hollywood studios gave composers like Bernard Hermann, Elmer Bernstein and John Williams free rein to create classic works, and augmented the extraordinary success of Leonard Bernstein’s beloved musical West Side Story.

Elmer Bernstein Theme from To Kill a Mockingbird
Bernard Herrmann Clarinet Quintet
Gary Eskow Storms are Coming
Duke Ellington Piece for Clarinet and Piano
John Williams Theme from Schindler’s List
Leonard Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

David Shifrin, clarinet • Christopher Johnson, piano • Philip Setzer, violin • Matthew Duvall, percussion • Ethan Cowburn, percussion • Festival Young Artists

Manchester Music Festival, the renowned Vermont chamber music festival under the artistic direction of Philip Setzer of the Emerson String Quartet, returns for its 52nd season with “Sounding America: Music That Shaped US,” a journey across American music, exploring the enduring musical threads that connect America’s past and present. July 7 through September 6, 2026.

Image courtesy: Manchester Music Festival

Enjoy dinner at SVAC’s curATE café. Visit OpenTable for reservations or call 802.362.9100.