CHESTERTOWN — Renaissance and folk music ensemble Ayreheart will pay a return visit to Chestertown, kicking off the 2025-2026 Resonance concert series on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 3 p.m. in the parish hall of St. Paul’s, Kent.
Founded by Grammy-nominated lutenist/composer Ronn McFarlane, Ayreheart presents Renaissance music from the time of Shakespeare alongside traditional folk and original music performed by lute, vocals, colascione (a kind of bass lute), violin, guitar and percussion.
“Ayreheart was an audience favorite when they performed here in 2019,” said National Music Festival Artistic Director Richard Rosenberg. “We’re thrilled that they’re returning to Chestertown to open our concert season.”
The Oct. 26 program will include music of Renaissance composers John Dowland and William Byrd alongside anonymous ballad tunes and folk songs from Renaissance England, Scotland and Wales. The program will explore the parallels between high art music and traditional folk music of the time.
“I want 21st century listeners to hear the lute as a vibrant, modern musical instrument, able to reach their hearts and their feet, too,” McFarlane said in a news release. “Some think of the lute as an ancient instrument, fit only for the museum. But hearing the lute playing live music — both new and old — will change their minds,” he said.
Lutenist McFarlane founded Ayreheart in 2010.
He also is a founding member of the Baltimore Consort; has toured 49 of the 50 states of the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Austria; and has served as a guest artist with The Folger Consort and Houston Grand Opera, among others.
He will be accompanied by vocalist/guitarist Heather Aubrey Lloyd, bass, violin and colascione player Willard Morris, and percussionist Mattias Rucht.
The Resonance concert series brings five high-quality, intimate performances to Chestertown each year, October through April.
Resonance concerts take place on Sundays at 3 p.m. in the parish hall of St. Paul’s, Kent, located at 7579 Sandy Bottom Road, near Chestertown.
The lineup of artists for the 2025-2026 season includes: Oct. 26, Ayreheart; Nov. 16, Francesca Anderegg (violin) and Joy Cline Phinney (piano); Feb. 22, Matchstick Percussion; March 15, Jennifer Parker-Harley (flute) and Camilo Carrara (guitar); and April 12, Manuel Barrueco (guitar).
Tickets for Ayreheart’s performance are $25 for adults, and $5 for students with identification and children ages 5 to 14.
Individual Resonance concert tickets may be purchased online at
https://nationalmusic.us/calendar/.
Tickets also may be purchased at St. Paul’s Church, beginning one hour prior to the concert.
Resonance passes and 2025-2026 National Music Festival combo passes are on sale now at nationalmusic.us. Combo passes include all Resonance concerts this season as well as admission to the many ticketed performances during the 2026 National Music Festival, May 31-June 13.
Patrons are encouraged to use the new Single Sign-On feature, an easier login method that will simplify your login experience to purchase tickets, receive ticket QR codes, make donations and more.
The new feature also will allow you to log into your National Music Festival account using your existing Google and Amazon credentials. Just log into https://nationalmusic.us/my-account/.
The National Music Festival is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council, Kent Cultural Alliance, Mid-Shore Community Foundation, The Peoples Bank and by tax-deductible contributions.
For more information about the festival, visit the website at nationalmusic.us, email info@nationalmusic.us or call 443-480-0221.
