Antigua Guatemala Festival of Chamber Music
The IV Annual Antigua Guatemala Festival of Chamber Music features concerts on Tuesday 17th, Thursday 19th and Saturday 21st of February at 7 PM at the Nueva Fabrica in Santa Ana. The Festival will feature performances by American musicians Eric Silberger (violin), Siwoo Kim (violin), Matthew Lipman (viola), Daniel Lelchuk (cello) and Kwan Yi (piano). The three concerts will include works by Brahms, Bruch, Mendelssohn, and Dvorak.
About the musicians:
Daniel Lelchuk: A cellist described by The Washington Post as a “dazzling virtuoso,” he has developed a distinguished international career. He has performed at major festivals and venues in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, collaborating as a soloist or principal cellist with renowned orchestras and ensembles. For a decade, he served as associate principal cellist with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Orleans Opera Association. He was principal cellist of the Castleton Festival under the direction of Lorin Maazel and is currently a member of the Salomé Chamber Orchestra. In 2023, he co-founded the Early Chamber Music Festival, promoting musical excellence in Guatemala.
Eric Silberger: A violinist who enjoys widespread international acclaim. The Guardian has praised his “stirring” performances, while The Washington Post highlights his “dazzling virtuosity.” Winner of prizes at the XIV International Tchaikovsky Competition and the Michael Hill International Competition, he has performed as a soloist with orchestras in Europe, Russia, and the United States. He has collaborated with conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Valery Gergiev, and Michael Tilson Thomas, and has appeared in venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Royal Festival Hall. Trained at Columbia University and the Juilliard School, he was a close student of Lorin Maazel. He currently plays a 1757 J. B. Guadagnini violin.
Siwoo Kim: Recognized by The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune for his “stylistic sensitivity and generous tonal nuances,” the violinist maintains an active career as a soloist and chamber musician. He debuted at Carnegie Hall with the Juilliard Orchestra and has since performed with orchestras on four continents. He is a co-founder and co-artistic director of the VIVO Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio, and a strong advocate for contemporary music, premiering and recording works by living composers. He studied at Juilliard School with Robert Mann and Donald Weilerstein and was a fellow of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect program.
He recently released the recording of Michael Torke’s Last.
Matthew Lipman: A violist praised by The New York Times for his “rich tone and elegant phrasing.” He has appeared as a soloist and guest musician with major international ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the Minnesota Orchestra. He has given recitals at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Tonhalle Zurich, and collaborated with Anne-Sophie Mutter in Berlin and Vienna. A member of the Bowers Program, he performs regularly with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. A recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and a prizewinner in the Primrose and Tertis Competitions, he currently teaches at Stony Brook University and has recorded works by Dvořák and Mozart for Sony Classical.
Kwan Yi: An acclaimed pianist, he has enjoyed a distinguished international career, performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Auditorium du Louvre, Suntory Hall, and the Seoul Arts Center. He has appeared as a soloist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra and the Russian National Orchestra, and collaborated with musicians such as Itzhak Perlman and Miriam Fried. A frequent guest at prestigious international festivals, he maintains an active recording career, including the album *The Last Look* (Centaur Records). He has been awarded the Mieczyslaw Munz Prize and received recognition at the Sendai International Piano Competition. Trained at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, and the Peabody Institute, he is currently an associate professor at East Carolina University.
I have been lucky to attend many of the past years concerts and was thrilled by these superb musicians. Trust me, you don’t have to be a lover of classical music to enjoy this music. If you’re classical music curious, then go on and take the plunge. The concerts are free, and you might even be offered a glass of wine! Here’s a taste
Transportation Service for Concert Attendees
The Municipality of Antigua Guatemala will provide free transportation to the first two concerts of the festival. This service will be available on Tuesday, February 17, and Thursday, February 19, 2026. Please note that this service will not be offered on Saturday, February 21, due to the procession at the Church of Santa Ana.
Routes and Schedules
Outbound:
From Central Park of Antigua Guatemala to the Central Plaza of Santa Ana
6:00 PM (first bus)
6:15 PM (second bus)
Return:
From the Central Plaza of Santa Ana to Central Park of Antigua Guatemala
9:00 PM (all three buses)
6:30 PM (third bus)
Suggested Parking
It is recommended to use the El Vagamundo Camping parking lot, with rates of Q15 per hour, Q75 for 12 hours, and Q150 for 24 hours. Location: https://waze.com/ul/h9fx6xrvpu
