June 8-24, 2012 marks the 8th season of the Southern Illinois Music Festival under the direction of SI Symphony Maestro Edward Benyas.

Carbondale Community Arts has been proud to contribute to festival programming throughout the event's history.  This year, CCA is especially pleased to announce that the City of Carbondale will once again offer major financial support to the Festival through a special grant to CCA that will underwrite several concerts within the City. 

Among these is a free chamber concert June 13 at the Carbondale Civic Center showcasing the Festival's string quartet performing works by Ravel, Tombeau de Couperin, and Greig.  (For a full Southern Illinois Music Festival schedule, visit www.SIFEST.com/concerts.)

The informal concert will be staged in conjunction with a special exhibit by CCA that features work by area artists who show and sell their work from their own studios, or who participate in art and artisans programs that encourage tourism.