The Vicksburg Chamber Music Festival, which came to a close Saturday, brought people from all over for the eighth annual concert series. Although the event was scaled back this year, it didn’t keep people — about 350 for the three planned events — from coming out and supporting the spring offering of the Four Seasons of the Arts, an umbrella organization that uses public and private donations to bring community events to the River City four times each year.

“There was some excitement that built out beyond our resources here,” said organizer Frances Koury. “We were not limited to just a small circle here. It gave us good vibes as we look forward.”

Three public concerts gave listeners a taste of everything from the Mississippi College Singers, organist Colin Andrews and renowned vocalist Kallen Esperian.

“Anyone who didn’t come missed a once in a lifetime performance,” Koury said of Esperian’s performance Saturday. “She was so gracious and couldn’t have been more fabulous.”

Esperian has performed with Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo and brought a performance to Vicksburg Koury and others hope will help build the festival. After singing more classical pieces, the soprano vocalist joined the Sam Shoup International Trio to perform American standards at The Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal. Even though the final concert of the festival was competing with other events, such as Riverfest and Alcorn State University’s annual jazz festival, Koury said she was pleased with the turnout.

“We had a good crowd considering the other events,” she said. “It brings new life into our chamber festival.”

The choir, whose performance kicked off the event April 6, put on a show at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center that Koury called “awesome.” The group has a European tour planned as part of their performance schedule. Award-winning organist Andrews also drew a crowd of more than 100 to Crawford Street United Methodist Church, where he performed selections and gave summaries.

The event was to kick off with a fund-raising event, but thunderstorms that inundated Vicksburg April 4 called for the concert, which was to bring classical guitarist John De Chiaro to Anchuca, to be postponed until April 29. Koury said planners are looking for another classical guitarist for the event because De Chiaro has a scheduling conflict. The event, which is invitation only due to limited space, will have the same format as originally planned.

The series, deemed a success by Koury, is one she plans to continue next year with possibly more entertainers. She said the reason only four events were planned was due to Easter being early and the fact that other spring events were planned here.

“I look forward to next year — planning a larger, extended festival,” she said.

Although plans aren’t final, Four Seasons is gearing next for its annual Fourth of July activities, which will coincide with events the city is planning.