About Us

Our Mission
Five Boroughs Music Festival (5BMF) seeks to bring musical performances of the highest caliber to all parts of New York City. In a day when more and more artists and music fans are living in the so-called ‘outer boroughs,’ it is our goal to equally serve audiences in every part of the city by presenting diverse, intimate, and affordable programs throughout the year.

Our Leadership
Jesse Blumberg, Artistic Director
Donna Breitzer, Executive Director

Board of Directors:
Robert Conley, Secretary & Treasurer
Kirstin Grant
Michele Kennedy, Vice President
Andrea Reichenbach, President

Our History
Since 2007, 5BMF has presented over 25 traditional and contemporary chamber music programs in nearly six complete cycles around NYC. Described as “imaginative” by the New York Times and “vital” by WQXR’s Operavore blog, 5BMF’s commitment to musical outreach and diverse programming has attracted positive attention from the NYC arts community from our earliest days; highlights include a performance for over 1,500 music lovers at the Third Annual Bryant Park Fall Festival in 2010, and the annual presentation of free outdoor concerts for Make Music New York.

5BMF’s artist roster is comprised of diverse, talented emerging artists and distinguished musicians alike. 5BMF’s venues are just as eclectic, and have included historic NYC landmarks such as Steinway Hall, the University Church at Fordham University, Flushing Town Hall, Brooklyn Conservatory of Music and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, to name merely a few.

Our outreach initiatives include public masterclasses; artist talk-backs; and the donation of programming to charitable causes: Bach to the Bronx!, a program of early music, benefited Save the Children and their efforts in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake; and in 2008, 5BMF partnered with music outreach organization Sing for Hope to present Notes from Brooklyn, which raised $10,000 for the Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service.