Asheville – The Asheville Symphony will conclude its season with the spectacular Asheville Amadeus Festival. This biennial celebration of music and the arts runs from April 30 to May 10, 2025, across venues in Buncombe and Transylvania Counties. With the 2025 theme, “The Art of Storytelling,” this year’s Amadeus Festival explores the power of music, theatre, art, foodways, and more to inspire, connect, and captivate.
World Renowned Headliners Chris Thile and Time For Three
Co-headlining the festival are GRAMMY Award-winning mandolinist, composer, and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Chris Thile and the GRAMMY- and Emmy-winning ensemble Time For Three (TF3), known for their genre-blending virtuosity.
You might recognize Chris Thile, a multifaceted musical talent described by The Guardian as “that rare being: an all-round musician,” and hailed by NPR as a “genre-defying musical genius.” He is also the host of the public radio favorite Live from Here with Chris Thile (formerly known as A Prairie Home Companion).
Time for Three (TF3)—comprised of violinists Charles Yang and Nick Kendall and bassist Ranaan Meyer—are a GRAMMY- and Emmy-winning ensemble that defies conventions with their genre-bending excellence. Their captivating sound merges eras, styles, and traditions across Western music genres, including classical music, Americana, and singer-songwriter styles. TF3 has collaborated closely with esteemed artists such as Chris Brubeck and Pulitzer Prize winners William Bolcom and Jennifer Higdon.
Featured Asheville Symphony Events
The Asheville Symphony Orchestra will be featured multiple times during the festival, starting with the Festival Kickoff and Beer Release on April 30 at Appalachian Mountain Brewing, where they will debut the festival-exclusive Fables & Folklore Hazy IPA.
On May 1, Time For Three (TF3) will host two events: a Symphony Talk at The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company discussing musical storytelling, and a concert, Time For Three’s Jukebox, at The Orange Peel featuring their mix of originals, covers, and classical favorites.
On May 3, the Asheville Symphony’s Masterworks 7: Tall Tales concert at First Baptist Church of Asheville will showcase works by Weber, Puts, Wagner, and Strauss, including Kevin Puts’ Contact, written for TF3.
The festival finale on May 10 will feature Chris Thile in An Evening with Chris Thile, performing his narrative song cycle ATTENTION! alongside works by Barber and Bach with the Asheville Symphony.
A Celebration of Narrative Through Arts
“The 2025 Asheville Amadeus Festival is a true reflection of the power of collaboration,” says Asheville Symphony Executive Director Daniel Crupi. “We’re proud to join forces with an incredible array of partners… Together, we’re creating a festival that celebrates the art of storytelling and the vibrant spirit of our community… This is a celebration of what makes Western North Carolina uniquely beautiful.”
Musical Adventures
Some other events to check out include the fun Peter & the Wolf Gang: A Music & Movement Story presented by The Asheville Conservatory of the Arts. This free event will include singing, dancing, and making music together with bells, shakers, drums, scarves, bubbles, and more. At a later date, the beloved Peter and the Wolf will be performed.
There will also be performances by the Blue Ridge Orchestra, Asheville Chamber Music, WNC Young Musicians, Asheville Youth Orchestra, the Asheville Symphony Chorus along with the Youth Chorus, the Brevard Music Center, and the Alt Aso season finale, Cabaret, at The Orange Peel.
The Play’s The Thing
NC Stage is presenting King James, about LeBron James. The Asheville Community Theater will feature Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. Gaspard & Dancers will perform at the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts with their versatile and inventive choreography. The Asheville Storytelling Circle will present Voices in Harmony, and the Asheville Art Museum will host a music and puppet performance.
Food and Music
Chef Katie Button of Cúrate and La Bodega presents an evening of culinary storytelling that shares the vibrant flavors of Spanish cuisine and how food weaves together culture, memory, and community.
Music Director Darko Butorac and the Asheville Symphony Board of Directors are proud to present the Symphony’s Fifth Asheville Amadeus Gala with special guest Chris Thile. This event will feature cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, a private performance, and a seated dinner followed by a live auction. Full schedule and tickets at https://ashevillesymphony.org/asheville-amadeus.