WASHINGTON SQUARE MUSIC FESTIVAL
Peggy Campbell with (L to R) Gerald Tarack,
concertmaster; unknown; Jack Glick, viola; Henry Schuman, oboe circa 1968
Founded in 1953 by renowned violinist Alexander "Sasha" Schneider, the Washington Square Music Festival began as a series of popular summer concerts in New York’s Greenwich Village. Schneider, a refugee from Nazi Europe, brought his love of music to the city, and by 1956, the festival was established as a not-for-profit entity under the Washington Square Association.
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Initially held in front of the Alexander Lyman Holley statue and broadcast by WNYC, the festival has grown into New York’s second-oldest free outdoor concert series. Margaret “Peggy” Campbell, a key early organizer, led the Concert Committee until 1987. The festival expanded its repertoire over time, including diverse and international artists, and was renamed the Washington Square Music Festival to reflect this broader scope.
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Significant moments include hiring Henry Lewis, an acclaimed conductor who faced racial barriers in the U.S., and featuring his protégé, Marilyn Horne, early in her career. The festival paused from 1969 to 1971 for park renovations, during which a new permanent stage was designed. Subsequent renovations in 2009 enhanced the performance space.
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Under the leadership of Henry Schuman, the festival expanded to include contemporary works, jazz, and world music. Following Schuman’s death in 2001, Lutz Rath, and later Ahmed Alom, have continued to enrich the festival’s programming. Throughout its history, the festival has paid musicians at least union scale and hosted distinguished performers like Wynton Marsalis, Gabriella Tucci, and the Charles Mingus Jazz Orchestra.
Now in its 66th season, the festival remains committed to offering free, world-class music while celebrating both classical and contemporary works, and showcasing a diverse range of artists.
