Beverly Hills International Music Festival Returns in 2025 with Poignant Commemorations

Beverly Hills, California – The Beverly Hills International Music Festival, a cultural fixture founded in 2004, is poised for a significant return in April 2025, offering a series of concerts aimed at both celebrating classical music and profoundly commemorating historical tragedies.

The festival, established by Ukrainian conductor and violinist Gregory Cherninsky as a dual performance and educational event, faced cancellation in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and has subsequently navigated various funding challenges. Its planned revival marks a pivotal moment under the leadership of its new director, Veronica Bell.

A Return to Greystone Mansion

The initial events of the festival’s relaunch are scheduled for April 24 and April 25, 2025, with both concerts commencing at 7 p.m. The chosen venue is the majestic Greystone Mansion and Gardens, providing an elegant and resonant backdrop for the performances.

Music of Remembrance and Resilience

A central theme of the 2025 programming is the powerful commemoration of two immense historical events: the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. This focus lends the festival’s return a profound sense of purpose, connecting musical artistry with human history and memory.

The concert on April 24 holds particular significance, coinciding directly with Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp in April 1945. This deliberate timing underscores the festival’s commitment to historical awareness through the arts.

New director Veronica Bell emphasized the crucial role of music in processing and remembering such events. She articulated the festival’s mission in this context as a form of “resistance through art,” highlighting music’s capacity to confront difficult histories and foster understanding where words alone might falter.

Featured Performances and Artists

The April 24 concert is set to feature a program rich in emotional depth and historical connection. Compositions by acclaimed figures such as Nicola Piovani and John Williams will be performed, alongside works by prominent Armenian composers Arno Babajanian and Aram Khachaturian, weaving together diverse musical narratives relevant to the evening’s themes.

The performance will be delivered by the Shell Piano Trio, a chamber music ensemble comprising a pianist, a violinist, and a cellist. This configuration is known for its intimate yet powerful expressive capabilities.

Pianist Shushana Hakobyan, a member of the Shell Piano Trio, conveyed the ensemble’s shared philosophy regarding their role in this commemorative performance. She stated their collective goal is to utilize the “universal language of music to tell the truth” and effectively convey their message to the audience, underscoring the belief in music’s unique power to communicate profound human experiences.

Charting a New Course

Veronica Bell’s vision for the Beverly Hills International Music Festival extends beyond these initial concerts. Her stated aim is to restore it to its previous stature as a significant cultural and educational institution. The 2025 concerts, with their potent thematic core and high-caliber performances, represent the crucial first step in this ambitious endeavor.

The return of the festival is anticipated to be a vital contribution to the cultural landscape of Beverly Hills, bringing world-class classical music back to the city while serving as a poignant reminder of history’s lessons through the transcendent power of art.