Skip to main content
Shedd Aquarium

Southern Illinois Music Festival

Looks like this event has already taken place.

Thu, May 23 – Sun, Jun 09, 2024 • 9:00am - 8:00pm

1415 W Grand Ave, Carterville, IL 62918

The Southern Illinois Music Festival features performances in venues from Carbondale to Cairo and at many points in between. Musicians from North and South America perform orchestral and chamber music, opera and jazz in an informal setting.

The 20th annual Southern Illinois Music Festival runs May 23rd through June 9, 2024.

The 2024 Festival will remain under the artistic direction of SIU School of Music Professor Edward Benyas. Professional singers and instrumentalists from across the United States and Europe converge in Southern Illinois to perform orchestral and chamber music, opera, jazz and educational programs, along with select SIU faculty and students. The Festival promotes our region’s reputation for cultural activity on a national scale. Symphony magazine listed it as the only professional music festival in Illinois south of I-80, AAA magazine described it as a Midwest Travel Treasure, and the Chicago Tribune cited it as one of 24 top summer activities (musical and otherwise) in an eight-state region.

Music Festival audiences will enjoy beautiful melodies as a recurring motif. Two highlights of SIFest 2024 are lesser-known operas by well-known composers. Two fully staged performances close out the Festival on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.

Alongside these beautiful operas, we will present four orchestral programs in Carterville and Marion and a free admission all-American patriotic concert at Marion High School on Saturday afternoon. Interspersed amongst these large-scale programs will be a wealth of chamber music, including under-represented composers. An admission free recital kicks off the Festival on Thursday with suggested donations that night to support a local charity. Other Festival venues include ArtSpace304, First United Methodist Church of Carbondale, Lutes Gallery in the University Museum, Anna Arts Center and the Harold Jones Fine Arts Center in Cairo. We will also present our popular free admission Jive with Jazz and Klassics for Kids events at venues around the region. All in just three weeks! Complete details on the artists and performances are at www.SIFest.com.

Images

More Information

Admission ranges from $10 for Chamber Music Concert to $20 for Large performances and $50 for the Chamber Music Soiree.

How to find us?

Back to Listings

Places to stay nearby...

Bluegill Bay Marina and Campground

Carterville

Bluegill Bay Marina & Campground is Carterville's premier marina located on beautiful Crab Orchard Lake.

Read more about Bluegill Bay Marina and Campground

Carterville Community Center

Carterville

At the heart of Cannon Park, is a community center that offers space for many different events throughout the year.

Read more about Carterville Community Center

Crab Orchard Lake Campground

Carterville

Operating on the northern side of the lake, Crab Orchard Lake Campground is located within the National Wildlife Refuge. The season opens on April 1st and…

Read more about Crab Orchard Lake Campground

You might also be interested...

Collective Soul at Walker's Bluff Casino Resort

Walker's Bluff Casino Resort •  Feb 13 @ 8PM

Celebrate 30 years of rock with Collective Soul at Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort on February 17! Enjoy iconic hits and new tracks from their double LP,…

Read more about Collective Soul at Walker's Bluff Casino Resort

Josh Turner at Walker's Bluff Casino Resort

Walker's Bluff Casino Resort •  Mar 06 @ 8PM

Experience country star Josh Turner live at Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort on March 9! Enjoy hits like "Your Man" and new tracks from his latest album,…

Read more about Josh Turner at Walker's Bluff Casino Resort

Taste of Chocolate

Walker's Bluff Casino Resort •  Apr 12 @ 6PM

Chocolate lovers unite! This annual "Fun"draiser is very delectable. Experience the 26th Annual Taste of Chocolate on April 12, 2025, at Walker's Bluff Casino Resort. Enjoy…

Read more about Taste of Chocolate

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get inspired by top travel stories, gain access to exclusive promotions and contests, and discover even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois.