Since celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2025, Winchendon Music Festival is back for its eleventh instalment in 2026. After being started by founding member Andrew Arceci to honour his late father, the Festival has grown into a world-class series of local, national, and international musical talent.
The festival will feature a range of stellar performances from some of the industry’s most experienced and celebrated performers. Highlights are set to include performances from the Worcester Chorus, directed by Chris Shepard, on the 23rd-24th of January, with Peter Urquhart’s ensemble, Capella Alamire, featuring the following day.
Winchendon Music Festival is also looking ahead to April, where it plans to present a host of classical, jaz,z and world programs to the public, highlighting its enthusiasm and dedication to bringing the joy of music to Massachusetts.
The impact of Andrew’s father has helped shape the community’s ethos that the festival still holds. The concerts programmed are mostly free to attend, encouraging the local community to take some sonic risks and explore unfamiliar soundscapes and genres.
“In full candour, we weren’t sure what to expect when we started in 2016, but WMF has evolved into something quite special. We’re excited to return in January with three largish programs, and in April, with several solo and chamber events.”
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Andrew Arceci, founder of the Winchendon Music Festival, has performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, earning himself a reputation as a widely celebrated musician. With his credits including work with the BBC, NPR, Juice Music, and Cedille Records, he has taught at a collection of institutions, including the likes of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania and Worcester State University. Additionally, he is no stranger to education further afield, making appearances at Oxford University, as well as Edinburgh and Cambridge. Arceci was a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University’s Centre for Middle Eastern Studies during the 2019/20 academic year.
The Winchendon Music Festival is a non-profit organisation and concert series held in Winchendon, Massachusetts. The Festival showcases performances by international artists from a variety of genres, including – but not limited to – classical, folk, jazz, historical performance, and world music. Concerts are free to the public, with support from several individuals, businesses, and foundations.
