About Us - Rome Chamber Music Festival

Our Mission

The Rome Chamber Music Festival, a 501(c)3 and ONLUS non-profit organization, was founded by Robert McDuffie in 2003. Since its inception, the Festival has played to full houses of chamber music enthusiasts from around the world and has become one of Rome’s most anticipated annual cultural events. Each June, the Festival presents distinct programs of masterworks performed by world-renowned artists and aspiring young artists.

The Rome Chamber Music Festival wants to nurture new generations of musicians , rewarding their talent and merit. Each year it helps to enrich the training of young musicians: from the United States, Europe, Italy and the rest of the world, all are welcome in Rome. The Festival selects them both through the teaching activities and program of the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University and also through auditions in the major Italian conservatories and competitions announced via the Internet open to all (Youth Mission). Access to prominent artists and the opportunity to perform alongside them is invaluable to a young artist’s personal and professional aspirations.

History of the Festival

The Rome Chamber Music Festival was inaugurated in the summer of 2003.

It has been widely acclaimed by music critics and became an immediate success with the public. The Festival is held annually and it presents a program of rehearsals and masterclasses and a series of concerts.

Over the years it has received the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, Roma Capitale, the Lazio Region, and the Embassy of the United States of America to the Italian State. Prestigious venues have included Villa Aurelia on the Janiculum Hill, the Oratorio del Gonfalone on Via Giulia, the Pietro Da Cortona Hall at Palazzo Barberini, the Conciliazione Auditorium at the Vatican and Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

Since 2022, the iconic Teatro Argentina, known for its beauty and history, has been home to the Festival.

Board of Directors

William A. Kerr
Chairman and Treasurer

Allston Chapman
Secretary

Joseph C. Brandt
Genelle Jennings
Courtenay A. Hardy
Margize Howell
James G. Matera
Nancy McAllister
Camille McDuffie
Robert McDuffie
Sandra Pinnavaia
Tracy Roberts
Joanne F. Shiebler
Robert Skolnick
Richard J. Miller Jr.
Robert Miller

Fondazione Rome Chamber Music Festival

William A. Kerr
Chairman

Robert McDuffie
Vice-chairman

Councilors
Ciriaco Acampa
Filippo Arcieri
Luca Aureggi

Alessandro Canali
Allston Chapman
Maria Augusta Fioruzzi De Simone
Mary B. Handley
Edwards Jessica
Mujah Melehi-Maraini
Santo Emanuele Mungari
Patrizia Piccioni
Patricia Ruspoli
Alessia Salmaso
Andrea Scala
Flavio Emilio Scogna
Jacopa Stinchelli
Flavia Taggiasco