Asheville Amadeus Festival Returns with Co-Headliners Chris Thile and Time for Three

Presented by the Asheville Symphony, “Asheville Amadeus: The Art of Storytelling” blends music, art, foodways and more in a celebration of narrative through community. 

The Asheville Symphony proudly announces the return of the Asheville Amadeus Festival, a biennial celebration of music and the arts, from April 30 – May 10, 2025. 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), renowned for their genre-blending virtuosity.

Chris Thile is an acclaimed GRAMMY Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, composer, and MacArthur Fellow recipient of the prestigious “Genius Grant.” He is 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.” Thile is a founding member of the highly influential string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, and has collaborated with countless luminaries from Yo-Yo Ma to Fiona Apple to Brad Mehldau. 

For four years, Thile hosted public radio favorite Live from Here with Chris Thile (formerly known as A Prairie Home Companion). With his broad outlook, Thile creates a distinctly American canon and a new musical aesthetic for performers and audiences alike, giving the listener “one joyous arc, with the linear melody and vertical harmony blurring into a single web of gossamer beauty” (New York Times). 

Time for Three (TF3)—comprised of violinists Charles Yang and Nick Kendall and bassist Ranaan Meyer– are a GRAMMY and Emmy-winning ensemble who defy 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’s remarkable blend of instruments and voices resonates with listeners globally. They have worked closely with esteemed artists such as Chris Brubeck and Pulitzer Prize winners William Bolcom and Jennifer Higdon. Their most recent commission, Contact, composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts, premiered with the San Francisco Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Their album, Letters for the Future, conducted by Xian Zhang, reached the Billboard top 10 and won a Grammy. With charismatic performances on renowned stages, TF3’s versatility shines through collaborations with artists like Ben Folds and Arlo Guthrie. Their achievements, including an Emmy and collaborations with acclaimed artists, showcase TF3’s unwavering dedication to pushing creative boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide. 

Featured Events

The festival kicks off on Wednesday, April 30, with a Festival Kickoff and Beer Release at Appalachian Mountain Brewing, featuring the debut of Fables & Folklore Hazy IPA, a festival-exclusive brew inspired by the storytelling theme.

On Thursday, May 1, TF3 will take center stage for two dynamic events: a Symphony Talk at The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage Company, where they’ll discuss the power of musical storytelling, and Time For Three’s Jukebox at The Orange Peel, an electrifying concert featuring their signature blend of originals, covers, and classical favorites.

On Saturday, May 3, the Asheville Symphony’s Masterworks 7: Tall Tales concert at First Baptist Church of Asheville will feature works by Weber, Puts, Wagner, and Strauss, including Kevin Puts’ Contact, an ethereal concerto written specifically for TF3.

On Saturday May 10, Chris Thile will headline the festival Finale: An Evening with Chris Thile. Featuring Thile’s ATTENTION! A narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra alongside works by Barber and Bach, performed 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, from brewers to storytellers to local cultural institutions. Together, we’re creating a festival that celebrates not only the art of storytelling but also the vibrant spirit of our community, weaving together music, theater, art, and much more. This is a celebration of all that makes Western North Carolina uniquely beautiful.” 

Asheville Amadeus: The Art of Storytelling partners include:
Asheville Symphony
Appalachian Mountain Brewing
Asheville Art Museum
Asheville Chamber Music Series
Asheville Community Theatre
Asheville Conservatory for the Arts
Asheville Storytelling Circle
Asheville Symphony Chorus
Asheville Symphony Guild
Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestra
Blue Ridge Orchestra
Brevard Music Center
Devil’s Foot Beverage Company
Events by Cúrate
NC Stage
Wortham Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets & Information

For full event details, ticketing information, and festival updates, visit www.AshevilleAmadeus.org. 

The 2025 Asheville Amadeus Festival is presented by Flow Automotive. It is made possible by support from our sponsors, including Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Thomas C. Bolton, Dr. E. Brown Crosby, Devil’s Foot Beverage Company, Lynne & John Eramo, Explore Asheville, Dr. Bolling Farmer, Bill & Nancy Gettys, Henry A. LaBrun, Amy Loether, the Payne Fund, Penley Produce Vacation Rentals  in memory of Bill Burton, and many more. 

About the Asheville Amadeus Festival:
The Asheville Symphony originally formed the Asheville Amadeus Festival in 2015 as a celebration of the life and work of Mozart and has evolved into a celebration of arts and culture unique to Asheville, North Carolina. No longer focused on Mozart, the Asheville Amadeus Festival celebrates the local arts community by collaborating with arts-focused nonprofits across the region to co-create festival programming.

The Asheville Amadeus Festival brings together some of Asheville’s most talented musicians, artists, creators and entertainers for ten days of performances, education programs, collaborations, and social events.

Previous Asheville Amadeus headliners include Emanuel Ax, Midori, Warren Haynes, Garrick Ohlsson, Kishi Bashi and Béla Fleck.