Our Story
Co-founded in 2024, with the caring support of the St. Andrews Arts Council, the St. Andrews Chamber Music Festival is the brainchild of Mathilde Handelsman, a pianist from Paris, France, and Edward Cho, a cellist originally from Saint John, New Brunswick. With its picturesque landscapes, tranquil charm, and welcoming community, the town of St. Andrews by-the-sea captured our hearts immediately. For years we had envisioned creating a small, intimate music festival which could unite artists, students, music lovers, and nature enthusiasts alike, and from the first moment we discovered the idyllic rural setting of St. Andrews, we knew this would be the ideal place to realize our dream!
Founders & Artistic Directors
Since their encounter in 2017 at Indiana University Bloomington, during respective studies under Peter Stumpf and Menahem Pressler, the Korean-Canadian cellist and pianist Edward Cho and French-American pianist Mathilde Handelsman have formed a couple on and off the stage, performing across North America and Europe.
In addition to their individual musical studies, the Cho-Handelsman Duo received guidance from renown Irish pianist John O’Conor. Recent highlights include their participation as semi-finalists in the IX Vainiunas International Chamber Music Competition in Vilnius, Lithuania, as well as performances in Paris, France at the “Dimanches Musicaux” of the Arts George V concert series.
While the Cho-Handelsman Duo most often performs as a cello and piano ensemble, they sometimes appear as two-piano/4-hand piano musical partners as well.
Through this festival, we aspire to forge meaningful connections with audience members and our local community, to create unique experiences, and to provide concerts that combine creative programming with the highest artistic caliber. Our events cater to audiences of all ages, with an array of programs that include family concerts, music played in schools, senior homes, and less traditional settings. Overall, our St. Andrews Chamber Music Festival is dedicated to bringing people together to enjoy the beauty of music in a stunning location. Join us this summer as we celebrate the joy of chamber music!
Our Mission
