Meadowlark Music Festival

Called “the Festival to Watch” by Chamber Music America,the Meadowlark Music Festival was founded in 2001. Since its inception, Meadowlark has brought over 30 major chamber ensembles and soloists from 5 continents to Lincoln and other communities across Nebraska.

A 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization, Meadowlark’s mission is to make chamber music a necessary component of every Nebraskan’s definition of “The Good Life”. We do this by presenting first-rate ensembles in comfortable and interesting venues and at a fraction of the cost of larger organizations. Children under 16 are always admitted free to our Lincoln area concerts as part of our commitment to families. We guarantee that “musical memories” will be made at each of our concerts! 

Nebraska’s only summer chamber music festival, Meadowlark strives to expose a broad audience to stylistically diverse chamber music programming.  We have a subsidized ticket program to enable lower income families to attend our regular concerts. Meadowlark musicians also engage in outreach activities, performing free at schools and cultural centers throughout the community, and neighbors and businesses are invited to attend. Our educational offerings extend to Master Classes for secondary school students, held at Sheldon Museum of Art and other venues.

Meadowlark Festival Artists include the GRAMMY nominated Chiara String Quartet, now artists-in-residence at UNL, who first came to Nebraska as Meadowlark artists. Other Meadowlark Artists include the Boston Brass and Metalesm5 brass quintets; pianists Jeffery Siegel, Joel Fan, Spencer Myer, and Jon Nakamatsu; the Corigliano, Cypress, Daedalus, Dali, Jupiter, and La Catrina string quartets; and the Rastrelli Cello Quartet, Quartetto Gelato, saxophonist Harvey Pittel, and the Australian Guitar Duo.

In addition to organizing concerts and educational activities, the Meadowlark Festival also has a history of commissioning fine art. Since 2001 the festival has commissioned 11 works of art including paintings, sculptures, pottery, and woven art. These pieces are frequently displayed at concert venues and then join The Meadowlark Collection on display at the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, Nebraska.