Issuu

Chamber Music America National Conference

The Drake Hotell Hotel • Constellation • Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

AUGUST 20–23

CHI AGO

CONTENTS COVER: Claes Oldenburg’s Soft Saxophone

(Black, Yellow, Red) is on display the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

PHOTO CREDIT: Museum of Contemporary

Art Chicago / Art Resource, NY | Artist: Oldenburg, Claes (1929-2022) © Copyright Description: Soft Saxophone (Black, Yellow, Red), 1992. Lithograph on Somerset Soft paper; Framed: 42 1/8 x 50 3/4 in. (107 x 128.9 cm). Gift of the artist and Brooke Alexander Editions, 1993.22. Photo: Nathan Keay. Location: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

A Note from the Conference Chair

A Note from the Mayor of Chicago

Schedule at a Glance

General Information

CMA’s 2026 Gala and Award Recipients

CMA Awards Luncheon & Recipients

Instrument Showcase

Agenda—Thursday

The Jazz Summit

A Night of Jazz at Constellation

Agenda—Friday

CelloBello by CMA Masterclass Series

Explore Chicago

Agenda—Saturday

The Chamber Music Festival

Honoring Tradition, Shaping the Future: A Gala Concert

Speaker Bios

Exhibitors & Partners

Sponsors & Donors

Chamber Music America Staff

WELCOME TO CHICAGO!

ON BEHALF OF CHAMBER MUSIC AMERICA’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS, I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME YOU TO CHICAGO FOR THREE DAYS OF MUSIC, CONVERSATION, AND COLLECTIVE IMAG INATION.

very National Conference is an opportunity to reflect on where our field stands today and to consider where it can go next. We gather not simply to share ideas, but to challenge assumptions, celebrate artistry, forge new partnerships, and reaffirm the essential role that music—specifically small ensemble music— plays in our communities. At a moment when artists and organizations continue to navigate profound change, coming together has never felt more meaningful. Chicago is the ideal place for this conversation. Its extraordinary artistic legacy, entrepreneurial spirit, and vibrant creative communities remind us that innovation flourishes where people from different backgrounds, traditions, and disciplines come together with curiosity and purpose. Over the coming days, I hope you’ll draw inspiration not only from this remarkable city I am lucky to call home, but from one another. This year’s Conference reflects the remarkable breadth of our field. You’ll engage in conversations about artistic leadership, creative engagement, education, technology, funding, entrepreneurship, and the evolving realities of building sustainable artistic careers and organizations. You’ll experience extraordinary performances by established and emerging artists, discover innovations in modern lutherie, celebrate jazz at Constellation, and gather at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago for a full day of chamber music. The true value of the Conference, however, extends beyond any single session or performance. It lives in the conversations that continue in hallways, over coffee, between rehearsals, and after concerts. It grows through unexpected introductions, spirited debate, and the simple act of listening to one another. These moments of connection remind us that our greatest resource is not any one institution or individual—it is the collective whole of this community. As you move through the Conference, I encourage you to be open to discovery. Attend a session outside your usual area of expertise. Introduce yourself to someone you’ve long admired. Visit our exhibitors and partners. Ask questions. Share your experiences. Thank you for being part of Chamber Music America and for the passion, artistry, and leadership you bring to this work every day. Together, we can create a field that is more connected, more resilient, and more capable of meeting what lies ahead.

Jennie Oh Brown Chair, Conference Committee Chamber Music America 4

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE 6

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 8:30am – 5:30pm

Registration Open

9:00am – 12:00pm

Exhibitor Setup

9:30am – 11:30pm

Presenter Pre-Conference Convening, sponsored by Chicago Chamber Music Society

12:00pm – 12:30pm

Welcome Address

12:00pm – 4:30pm

The Jazz Summit at The Jazz Institute of Chicago, sponsored by the Doris Duke Foundation

12:30pm – 6:30pm

Camellia Exhibit Hall

12:30pm – 5:30pm

SONOS Listening Lounge, featuring ASCAP

12:45pm – 5:30pm

Resonance 2026: Carriage House Violins Instrument Showcase

12:45pm – 1:45pm

Chamber Music as a Catalyst: Designing Pre-College Programs for Today’s Students, sponsored by The Wallace Foundation

12:45pm – 1:45pm

New Trends in Historically Informed Chamber Music

12:45pm – 1:45pm

The Chicago Arts Ecosystem

1:45pm – 2:45pm

Making It Happen

2:00pm – 3:00pm

Pierrot Ensembles: Exploring the Pocket Orchestra

2:00pm – 3:00pm

Keeping the Funding Alive: Succession Planning

3:15pm – 4:15pm

Creative Engagement in Chicago: Sound Journeys & Echoes of the City, sponsored by The Wallace Foundation

3:30pm – 4:30pm

The Voice in Chamber Music

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Curating Connection: How Cultural Crossroads: Dvořák in America Came to Life

4:15pm – 5:15pm

Beyond the Prize: Reimagining the Future of Chamber Music Competitions

5:00pm – 6:30pm

Happy Hour, sponsored by Carriage House Violins

8:00pm – 10:00pm

A Night of Jazz at Constellation

CHI AGO

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 8:30pm – 5:30pm

Registration Open

10:00am – 5:45pm

Resonance 2026: Carriage House Violins Instrument Showcase

10:00am – 11:00am

Keynote: The Art of Presence, from The Second City Works

11:30am – 5:30pm

CelloBello by CMA Masterclass Series

11:30am – 7:00pm

Camellia Exhibit Hall

11:30am – 5:45pm

SONOS Listening Lounge, featuring Cedille Records

11:30am – 1:00pm

In Tune We Trust—Mostly: Intonation Secrets, Laughs, & Problem Solving

11:30am – 12:30pm

Identity in Chamber Music

11:30am – 12:30pm

Convening Voices: Grants & Chamber Music in Times of Change

11:30am – 12:30pm

From School to Sustainability: Bridging the Early- to Mid-Career Divide

1:00pm – 2:00pm

CMA Awards Luncheon

2:45pm – 4:00pm

Concept Lab Composers Reading

2:45pm – 3:45pm

The Role of Mentorship: Breaking Barriers & Engaging Next Generations in Jazz

2:45pm – 3:45pm

Making the Dance Work

4:00pm – 5:00pm

30 Years of Thinking Small: Big Community Impact in the Midwest

4:30pm – 5:30pm

From Ensemble to Organization

4:45pm – 5:45pm

Composers & Their Money: A Case for Financial Competence

4:45pm – 5:45pm

Commissioning the Contemporary Woodwind Quintet: Repertoire Creation & Performance in Practice

5:45pm – 7:00pm

Happy Hour, sponsored by BMI

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 9:30am – 5:00pm

Camellia Exhibit Hall

10:00am – 5:00pm

Chamber Music Festival at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

10:00am – 11:00am

The AACM: Its Impact & Legacy

11:30am – 12:30pm

El Sistema & Chamber Music Frameworks in Education, sponsored by The Wallace Foundation

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Chamber Jazz or Third Stream?

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Recording & Technology

5:30pm – 7:45pm

The 2026 CMA Gala: Where Chamber Music Meets the Moment

8:00pm – 10:30pm

Gala Performance: Honoring Tradition, Shaping the Future at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

WE THE PEOPLE Available Now

New commissions by John Corigliano, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Homayoun Sakhi featuring guest artists Tracy Silverman, John Holiday, and more.

“..compelling works... brilliant programming...” - BBC Music Magazine

BOLD SERE N I T Y SEASON 19 • 2026-27

TRANQUILITY October 3, 2026

Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

FLOW

“Apollo believes that classical music must engage with today’s issues, ideas, and problems.” - NPR

November 21, 2026 Live Oak Quaker Meeting House

VOICE: Living Democracy February 4, 2027 Rothko Chapel

REFLECTION May 28, 2027 MATCH

Artwork by Lynn Lane

Learn More

DIRECT YOUR INQUIRIES TO ONI BUCHANAN I N F O @ A R I E L AVA N T . O R G | ( 8 5 7 ) 4 7 2 - 3 3 6 6 I N TA G R A

@ AVA N TA R I E L

GENERAL INFORMATION

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT CMA’S 2026 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN CHICAGO! We hope that your time spent with us is insightful and inspiring.

B A DGES Upon arrival, head to the Registration desk outside the Grand Ballroom to pick up your badge. Badges must be worn at all times; they serve as tickets for admission to all activities for which you are registered. Those without badges will not be admitted. VFA IRS A P P Download the CMA Conference app to stay connected and up to date. Save your personal agenda, message attendees, and join our Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a hotel stay at a Hilton property. To download, search “vFairs” in your phone’s app store, then enter the email used to register for the Conference and select our event. Need assistance? Visit Registration. C A MELLIA E XH I B I T H AL L Visit the exhibit hall in the Camellia room all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you’re registered Thursday and Friday, don’t miss happy hour in the exhibit hall for beverages and light hors d’oeurvres. SHU TTLE TO CO NST E L LAT I O N On Thursday evening, shuttle service from The Drake to Constellation begins at 6:45pm and again at 7:00pm. There will be buses running in a continuous loop. At the hotel, follow signs to the pickup point on the Oak Street side.

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CH ICAGO Saturday’s all-day Chamber Music Festival is located at 220 East Chicago Avenue. It is a 6-minute or 0.3-mile walk from The Drake Hotel. REFRESH MENTS For those staying in the hotel, breakfast will be served Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 8:30am to 10:00am. Coffee and hot beverages will be available throughout each Conference day in the Camellia Exhibit Hall and Instrument Showacse. Water stations are in each room. For those with Friday passes, the CMA Awards Luncheon from 1:00pm to 2:30pm is included—no need for an extra ticket. Happy Hours on Thursday and Friday, sponsored by Carriage House Violins and BMI, will include light bites. SONOS LISTENING LOUNGE & TH E CMA MEMB ER CORNER With playlists curated by ASCAP and Chicago’s own Cedille Records, the SONOS Listening Lounge offers a space to sit, relax, and catch up with fellow CMA Members. On Thursday and Friday from 3:00pm to 5:00pm, stop by the Lounge to chat with CMA’s Advancement team. Fill out a Member survey and snag an extra drink ticket for that evening’s Happy Hour!

Join the community that powers chamber music nationwide. SHAPIN G THE F IE L D FO R 50 Y E ARS Chamber Music America was founded in 1977 by a group of 34 musicians determined to create a more sustainable chamber music field. In the years since, the organization has grown dramatically, expanding its offerings to be more inclusive, equitable, and widereaching. Today, CMA serves an increasingly diverse constituency—including individual musicians, composers, and educators; ensembles; presenters; managers; businesses; and advocates —representing a wide range of musical styles and traditions, all united by a shared belief in the power of small ensemble music.

T HE NATIONAL NETWORK FOR S MA L L ENSEMB L ES Chamber Music America unites a national community of more than 5,000 professionals, creating a space for Members to exchange ideas, build meaningful relationships, and strengthen the artistic and business sides of their work.

FUN DIN G C R EATI V I TY & O P P O RT U N I TY Chamber Music America invests in the creation, performance, and sustainability of small ensemble music. Through a portfolio of grant programs, CMA supports the commissioning and presentation of new work in both classical and jazz traditions, while also providing mentorship and artistic guidance for ensembles and bandleaders at every stage of their careers. CMA also leads initiatives connecting artists with schools, communities, and locally driven projects. In 2026, CMA distributed more than $1.3 million through 69 awards, supporting 338 musicians across more than 20 states.

✱ Regional gatherings and the National Conference

A CMA MEMBERSHIP PROVIDES ACCESS TO: ✱ Monthly professional development and networking sessions with arts leaders ✱ Funding opportunities, with more than $1.3 million awarded annually

✱ Chamber Music magazine, the only national publication dedicated to chamber music ✱ Discounted instrument insurance through Clarion Insurance Through these programs, CMA helps Members stay engaged with the conversations, opportunities, and collaborations influencing our collective future.

2026 GALA

WHERE CHAMBER MUSIC MEETS THE MOMENT AUGUST 22, 2026 • 5:30 PM

MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO Advance tickets required.

CMA’s 2026 Gala honors the recipients of the Cleveland Quartet, Richard J. Bogomolny National Service, and Michael Jaffee Visionary Awards. The evening will also include a special recognition of CMA’s Board Members and the CMA Executive Award recipient, Laura Sewell. CLEVELAND QUARTET AWARD

CMA 2026 Honorary Host Committee Reba Caferelli, Nick Csicsko, Carlton Ford, Jim Ginsburg, Jennie Oh Brown, Jeffrey Zeigler Table Hosts Nicholas Csicsko, Kevin Kwan Loucks, Northwestern University The gala cocktail hour is generously sponsored by David Murphy, Morgan Stanley

POIESIS QUARTET Presented by the Balourdet Quartet, 2024 recipients CMA EXECUTIVE AWARD

LAURA SEWELL

Presented by CMA CEO Kevin Kwan Loucks MICHAEL JAFFEE VISIONARY AWARD

IMANI WINDS

Presented by Jennie Oh Brown THE RICHARD J. BOGOMOLNY NATIONAL SERVICE AWARD

TAKÁCS QUARTET Presented by Janet Green

AWARDS

CLEVELAND QUARTET AWARD RECIPIENTS

POIESIS QUARTET With a focus on expanding the string quartet repertoire with vibrant new works by emerging composers, the Poiesis Quartet infuses each performance with unique moments of synchronicity and verve. The quartet won the First Prize and Commission Prize at the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition. In 2023, they were named the Grand Prize and Lift Every Voice Prize winners of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, as well as Gold Medal and BIPOC Prize winners at the 2023 St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Poiesis is slated to be the quartet-in-residence at the Curtis Institute of Music starting fall 2026.

“The Poiesis Quartet creates a vibrant energy around their music-making that makes everyone listening want to jump for joy! This kind of impassioned and expressive music sharing—a spark ignited from generation to generation of string quartet players—makes me excited for the future and so very grateful for our past.” —ANNIE FULLARD

“Poiesis has provided Cincinnati a great deal of enthusiasm with their engaging performances and presentation of underrepresented composers. Our fan group has enjoyed getting to know the members since they arrived. The Cleveland Quartet Award is yet another testament to their commitment to new and relevant music that is bringing new fans to contemporary classical events.” —MICHAEL MOORE

CMA EXECUTIVE AWARD

LAURA SEWELL

Dedicated philanthropist and chamber musician Laura Sewell was the founding cellist of the award-winning Lark Quartet, which, during her tenure, won the Bronze Medal at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and served as the Juilliard String Quartet’s teaching assistants. She was the cellist of the acclaimed Artaria String Quartet from 2007–2016 and continues to perform with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Twin Cities-based Isles Ensemble. An alumna of The Juilliard School and Cleveland Institute of Music, Sewell served as CMA’s Board President from 2005 to 2008. Today, through the Sewell Family Foundation, she and her family champion initiatives that expand access to the arts. This fall, CMA will revive its hallmark Residency Program through a major gift from the Sewell Family Foundation.

MICHAEL JAFFEE VISIONARY AWARD

IMANI WINDS Embarking upon their landmark 30th season, the Grammy-winning and four-timenominated Imani Winds has redefined the wind quintet through bold artistry and visionary leadership, sharing their music worldwide. Their acclaimed recordings include Passion for Bach and Coltrane, winner of the 2024 Grammy for Best Classical Compendium, and their most recent release, Rise. Through institution-building initiatives including their nonprofit foundation, the Legacy Commissioning Project, their annual Chamber Music Festival, and Imani Winds Media, a bespoke record label, the ensemble continues to shape the future of chamber music. The first Faculty Wind Quintet at Curtis Institute of Music, Imani Winds’ legacy is also recognized in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“Throughout our many years of working together, we’ve witnessed firsthand the Imani Winds’ unstoppable energy, both on and off the stage. The Quintet consistently creates fresh, vibrant programs that inspire and engage audiences, and their artistic vision is indeed one of their defining strengths. It is this commitment to innovation and excellence that has kept them at the forefront of the chamber music world.” —ARTS MANAGEMENT GROUP

RICHARD J. BOGOMOLNY NATIONAL SERVICE AWARD

TAKÁCS QUARTET Widely regarded as one of today’s leading string quartets, the Takács Quartet was founded in Budapest in 1975. The group has sustained its musical excellence across five decades, bringing integrity, insight, and expressiveness to core repertoire and new

music alike. They continue to enrich the chamber music landscape through new commissions and creative projects. Since 1986, the quartet has held a residency at the University of Colorado, Boulder, combining an extensive international touring career with a strong commitment to teaching. They are frequent guests at the world’s leading festivals and concert halls, including as Associate Artists at Wigmore Hall. Their recordings have received numerous accolades, including Grammy and Gramophone Awards, and since 2005 they have recorded exclusively for Hyperion.

DORI

I D

I TET

Artists

NOW BOOKING FOR THE 26/27 SEASON & BEYOND BOYD MEETS GIRL

L REMO T TRIO

D ED L S

TRIO

ELSIS ER

SSIO

RTET

BO EMI

AWARDS LUNCHEON

ESTABLISHED IN 2024, THE CMA AWARDS PROGRAM CELEBRATES ARTISTS, advocates, ensembles, and organizations whose extraordinary contributions are enriching the chamber music field. Nominations were made by CMA Members across the country, recognizing those who are driving meaningful change and excellence in the categories of ensembles, commissions, recordings, community impact, collaboration, and advocacy. Please join us in celebrating these individuals and organizations who reflect the diversity, breadth, and dynamism of chamber music. They are expanding the boundaries of chamber music and are a guiding light for the next generation. ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR

Camerata Pacifica

Presentation of the Award by Jeffrey Zeigler INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Bel Canto Duo’s Taking Flight

Presentation of the Award by Jeffrey Zeigler COMMISSION OF THE YEAR

Andy Milne’s Chimeric Reveries Presentation of the Award by Susan Dadian COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD/PRESENTER OF THE YEAR

Music at Kohl Mansion, accepted by Patricia Kristof Moy Presentation of the Award by Pat Zagelow ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Telegraph Quartet’s Edge of the Storm Presentation of the Award by Pat Zagelow ARTS ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

Howard Mandel

Presentation of the Award by Larry Blumenfeld

Concluding the awards presentation will be a special moment of recognition of the Executive Award, Cleveland Quartet Award, Michael Jaffee Visionary Award, and Richard J. Bogomolny Award recipients.

AWARDS LUNCHEON

ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR

CAMERATA PACIFICA

INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

BEL CANTO DUO Taking Flight “Combining film, music, and narrative takes a lot of work, thought, and care; I so admire that you did all this in a spirit of healing and to cultivate well-being. The sandhill crane migration is a deeply inspiring and moving subject, rich in resonance. Thank you for bringing this project into being!” —JOHN STEINMETZ

Through its innovative collaborations Bel Canto Duo—David Downing and Darci Gamerl— is recognized for Taking Flight: The Eighth Wonder of the World, a documentary film and original musical composition about the migration of sandhill cranes along Nebraska’s Platte River. As the sole creators behind the project, Downing and Gamerl created a work in which image, sound, and environment are fundamentally linked. Bel Canto Duo’s members are rooted in the practice of NeuroArts, the emerging field of study on how the experience of the arts makes measurable impacts on the brain, directly impacting both mental and physical health. “Congratulations to Bel Canto Duo on their visionary project uniting music composition, film, environmental science, and storytelling.” —JEFFREY ZEIGLER

Camerata Pacifica, led by artistic director Adrian Spence, is an international chamber ensemble that combines world-class musicianship with a dynamic and innovative approach to programming. Presenting classics of the repertoire alongside new commissions at venues throughout Southern California, each season includes at least one world premiere along time-honored masterpieces. Away from the concert stage, in collaboration with UCLA Health, Camerata Pacifica has also developed the Nightingale Channel, a 24/7 channel of chamber music performances accessible to hospitals and retirement communities, drawing on the growing body of research about the beneficent effects of music for the ill and aging.

“Our shared love for Camerata was boundless. And imbued with Stuart’s spirit, is ongoing.” —JUDITH VIDA-SPENCE, IN MEMORY OF STUART SPENCE

COMMISSION OF THE YEAR

ANDY MILNE Chimeric Reveries for Isidore String Quartet with Andy Milne, piano Pianist and composer Andy Milne is known for music that fuses classical and jazz traditions, rich with both harmonic and emotional complexity. He works in many contexts, from jazz ensembles to orchestras and chamber groups, and including film scores. His Chimeric Reveries was commissioned by The Banff International String Quartet Competition, as a piano quintet for The Isidore String Quartet. In 2024, Milne joined the Isidore quartet for its premiere, which was met with a rousing ovation.

“I have known Andy since 2006. Having seen his incredible creativity, which includes a particular gift for not acknowledging any artistic silos, I had always dreamed of him writing a work for string quartet and jazz pianist. I was truly moved by the beauty of Andy’s Chimeric Reveries. Congrats, my friend. Looking forward to what you cook up next.” —BARRY SHIFFMAN

CELEBRATING THE COLLECTIVE ARTISTRY OF OUR MEMBERS ALEX MINCEK

JASMINE CHOI

NICK ZOULEK

ALLISON LOGGINS-HULL

JEFF SCOTT

NICOLE MITCHELL

AMY WURTZ

JESSIE MONTGOMERY

OSNAT NETZER

ANDY AKIHO

JOHN YAO

PAMELA Z

AUGUSTA READ THOMAS

JONATHAN BAILEY HOLLAND

PATRICE MICHAELS

AYANNA WOODS

JONATHAN HANNAU

PAUL NOVAK

CARLOS SIMON

JOSH RODRIGUEZ

PETER MARTIN

CHRISTOPHER THEOFANIDIS

KEN VANDERMARK

PHILIP GLASS

CLARICE ASSAD

KOTOKA SUZUKI

R. CARLOS NAKAI

COLE REYES

KYONG MEE CHOI

REGINA HARRIS BAIOCCHI

DAVID PLYLAR

LESTER BOWIE

ROBERT DILLON

DAVID SKIDMORE

LITA GRIER

ROSCOE MITCHELL

EASLEY BLACKWOOD

MAKAYA McCRAVEN

SEAN CONNORS

EPHRAIM CHAMPION

MARGARET BONDS

SETH BOUSTEAD

ERIC MALMQUIST

MARTHA HORST

SHAWN OKPEBHOLO

ERNEST KHABEER DAWKINS

MARQUIS HILL

SHULAMIT RAN

FLORENCE BEATRICE PRICE

MARTA PTASZYŃSKA

STACY GARROP

GABRIELA LENA FRANK

MATT A. MASON

TOMEKA REID

JAHARI STAMPLEY

MISCHA ZUPKO

VALERIE COLEMAN

JAMES STEPHENSON

NATASHA BOGOJEVIC

WILL LIVERMAN

JARON BROWN

NATHALIE JOACHIM

WINSTON CHOI

What's a little music between friends?

Bayberry String Quartet

www.bayberrystringquartet.com

COMMUNITY IMPACT / PRESENTER OF THE YEAR

PATRICIA KRISTOF MOY, Music at Kohl Mansion For more than four decades, Music at Kohl Mansion has presented exceptional chamber music concerts within a historic venue in the Bay Area. In addition to its concert presenting, the organization also provides first-rate music education programming for public-school students, which has reached over 120,000 K-12 students since its inception in 1992. Music at Kohl Mansion also partners with local organizations, including schools,

“Thank you for the stellar concerts, the youth arts education programs, and for maintaining a level of excellence. The Bay Area is culturally rich because of your organization.” —JEANETTE COOL

“In recognition of Patricia’s wise and insightful leadership” —ELIZABETH DOSSA

“Mazel tov on building a community institution with a growing constituency and world-class commitment to excellence.” —LENORE NAXON “I am so thrilled for you to receive this award! Congratulations and thank you for your vision and leadership!” —KATHERINE BUKSTEIN

senior homes, and libraries, to provide affordable access to concerts and other vital cultural experiences. The organization is led by Executive Director Patricia Kristof Moy, who has expanded both its concert programming and community outreach, presenting people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses with the gift of chamber music. “On behalf of Young Chamber Musicians, I am delighted to congratulate Music at Kohl Mansion. As a close collaborator for the past 16 years, Young Chamber Musicians has enjoyed a truly beneficial partnership dedicated to bringing chamber music education and performance experiences to young people throughout Northern California. One of chamber music’s great beauties is its mobility, and for 43 years MAKM has excelled not only in the concert hall, but in sharing artists with local communities. We have been a grateful beneficiary of Music at Kohl Mansion’s mission. We deeply value our longstanding partnership and extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honor.” —SUSAN BATES

HOWARD MANDEL

“SUNY Press congratulates Howard on this honor. In addition to his work as an author and journalist, Howard has been a tireless promoter of contemporary jazz artists and movements, helping to increase public awareness of this American art form. We are pleased to be partnering with him and wish him continued success for years to come.” —JIM CARLIN, SUNY PRESS

Born in Chicago, Howard Mandel began his career as a journalist, jazz critic, and arts advocate in his hometown. Though he spent 30 years in New York City, he returned to Chicago a decade ago. Mandel has contributed to a wide range of newspapers, magazines, and websites, and has authored numerous books on jazz. Off the page, his advocacy has been felt as an educator and NPR commentator. His most lasting contribution is perhaps his 32 years as president of the Jazz Journalists Association, a post he retired from at the end of 2025. Under his leadership, the organization expanded its reach across disciplines, including photographers and bloggers, and across borders, coalescing an international consortium. Most notably, it has established the annual JJA Awards, which have honored musicians, writers, and others in the jazz community. “Thanks for good words, good vision, good years, and good music throughout it all.” —KITTY BRAZELTON

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

TELEGRAPH QUARTET Edge of the Storm For this release—the second in the Telegraph Quartet’s series of albums focused on the first half of the 20th Century—violinists Eric Chin and Joseph Maile, violist Pei-Ling Lin, and cellist Jeremiah Shaw examine the turbulent years of a world war and its aftermath, from 1941–1951, through string quartets by Grażyna Bacewicz, Benjamin Britten, and Mieczysław Weinberg. Together, these quartets form a powerful triptych of wartime experience, and each composer’s

unique response to this defining historical moment creates a cohesive artistic statement about creativity’s persistence through one of humanity’s darkest periods.

“Congratulations on this marvelous achievement. This was one of the best recordings of 2025, and we are thrilled for this well-deserved recognition.” —CHRISTINA JENSEN, JENSEN ARTISTS

AWARDS LUNCHEON

ARTS ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

HEAR THE FORMOSA QUARTET! Friday Festival Marathon 3:30 PM Performing music of Beethoven and a Formosa “Set”

STRING QUARTETS

Argus Quartet Argus Quartet Formosa Quartet Formosa Quartet Ivalas Quartet NEW! PIANO Quartet TRIO Ivalas Horszowski Trio PIANO TRIO PIANO / CLARINET Horszowski Trio / CELLO Polonsky-Shifrin-Wiley PIANO / CLARINET / CELLO Trio WOODWINDS Polonsky-Shifrin-Wiley Trio David Shifrin in Recital* WOODWINDS New Century Quartet David Shifrin inSaxophone Recital* NEW! GUITAR New Century Saxophone Quartet William Kanengiser GUITAR SPECIAL PROJECTS William Kanengiser Viva Tango! SPECIAL PROJECTS British Invasion Viva Tango! Pierrot Re-Imagined British Invasion In Triplicate Pierrot Re-Imagined NEW! *InInTriplicate cooperation NEW! STRING QUARTETS

with CM Artists

* In cooperation with CM Artists

WE CAN DO IT! WE CAN DO IT!

BesenArts.com BesenArts.com

G RAND BALLROOM, THE DRAKE HOTEL This contemporary instrument and bow exhibition showcases outstanding contemporary instruments and bows. Visit the Grand Ballroom on Thursday and Friday to experience the artistry, craftsmanship, and evolution of modern lutherie today. Below, please find a list of makers whose wares will be on display. Admission is included with Conference passes. INSTRUMENT MAKERS Robin Aitchison Pablo Alfaro and Jaime González Daniel Arlig Peter Bingen Terry Borman Roberto Brode Andrew Carruthers Antoine Cauche Yanbing Chen Carlo & Tommaso Chiesa Carlo Chiesa Tommaso Chiesa Douglas Cox Michael Daddona Michael Doran Simon Eberl Filippo Fasser Kathryn Flanders Andranik Gaybaryan Nicolas Gilles Philippe Girardin Jaime Gonzalez Peter Goodfellow Louis Gord Peter Greiner Andrea Grisales Joseph Grubaugh & Sigrun Seifert Boris Haug

Ragnar Hayn In Kyu Hwang Philip Ihle Julia Jostes Julia Jostes and Simon Eberl Baptise Juguera Kevin Kelly Adam Kology Pawel Kubacka Philippe Mahu 16 1/2” Philippe Mahu James McKean Peter & Wendela Moes Jacob Mueller Anqi Ni Ji Hwan Park Jeffrey Scott Phillips Guy Rabut Benjamin Ruth Andrew Ryan Klemens Siatkowski Anton Somers Ray Spitz-Beckler Stefano Trabucchi Léa Trombert Andrea Varazzani Paolo Vettori Jason Viseltear Arie Werbrouck William Whedbee Kurt Widenhouse

BOW MAKERS Morgan Andersen Emmanuel Bégin Victor Bernard Sylvain Bigot Doriane Bodart Noel Burke Emmanuel Carlier Marie Chastagnol Jon Crumrine Aaron Fini Ron Forrester Pierre-Yves Fuchs Éric Gagné Thomas Goering Paul Goh Ronald Ji Ulf Johansson Eric Lane Lucie Martinie Rodney Mohr Alex Moro Julien Mortier Gilles Nehr Andrea Proietti Benoit Rolland Paul Sadka David Samuels Florian Schneidt Georges Tepho Stephane Thomachot

INSTRUMENT SHOWCASE

AUGUST 20 & 21, 2026

AGENDA

THURSDAY

All activities take place at The Drake Hotel unless otherwise noted.

8:30am – 5:30pm Grand Ballroom

Registration Open

9:30am – 11:30am The Walton Room

Special: Presenter Pre-Conference Convening Legacy and Reinvention: Sustaining Presenter Organizations for the Next Era How do presenter organizations honor their legacies while adapting to an ever-changing arts landscape? Hosted by the Chicago Chamber Music Society (CCMS), this session pairs artistic inspiration with practical insight through a live performance, a conversation on CCMS’s history and evolution, a discussion of today’s opportunities and challenges for presenters, and actionable strategies for revenue diversification and financial sustainability. Join fellow presenters to explore what it takes to thrive in the next era of chamber music presenting. Sponsored by Chicago Chamber Music Society and YPTC.

12:00pm – 12:30pm Grand Ballroom

Welcome Address CMA Conference Committee Chair Jennie Oh Brown kicks things off with a conversation with CEO Kevin Kwan Loucks.

12:30pm – 6:00pm Camellia Exhibit Hall

Exhibit Hall Connect with representatives from artist agencies, universities, institutions, ensembles, recording labels, and publishers in the Camelia Exhibit Hall. Discover new opportunities, explore resources, and build new connections.

12:30pm – 5:30pm Erie Room

SONOS Listening Lounge, Featuring ASCAP Need a quiet oasis away from the Conference hustle? Relax in the Listening Lounge and hear a curated playlist by ASCAP. Speakers generously provided by SONOS.

12:45pm – 5:30pm Grand Ballroom

Resonance 2026: Carriage House Violins Instrument Showcase This contemporary instrument and bow exhibition offers musicians the opportunity to play, experience, and explore outstanding contemporary instruments and bows. Showcasing the artistry, craftsmanship, and evolution of modern lutherie today, the exhibition includes singular contemporary creations from makers including Benoit Rolland, Filippo Fasser, Philip Ihle, Grubaugh & Seifert, David Samuels, and Emmanuel Carlier.

Chamber Music as a Catalyst: Designing Pre-College Programs for Today’s Students Explore how thoughtfully designed programs can meet the needs of young musicians, reflect the communities they serve, and prepare students for higher education. Panelists will share strategies for balancing individual and ensemble instruction, fostering technical and collaborative skills, and creating curricula that support multiple pathways. Leave with practical ideas for building pre-college programs that develop college-ready students while strengthening community engagement.

THURSDAY

12:45pm – 1:45pm Michigan Room

Margaret Batjer, The Colburn Music Academy Jennifer Elowitch, Walnut Hill School for the Arts Iryna Krechkovsky, Chamber Music | OC Deborah Barrett Price, Chamber Music Connection, Inc. This session is made possible by The Wallace Foundation. 12:45pm – 1:45pm Huron Room

New Trends in Historically-Informed Chamber Music The Newberry Consort has presented historically-informed chamber music in Chicago for 40 years, yet trombonist and scholar Liza Malamut—now at the organization’s helm— has ushered in a new era of engaging programs. Hear how Malamut is drawing new audiences to ancient music through multi-disciplinary programming, new music written for old instruments, and explorations of early American music. David McCormick, Early Music America Liza Malamut, The Newberry Consort

12:45pm – 1:45pm The Parkside Room

The Chicago Arts Ecosystem This conversation unites leaders from across Chicago’s cultural sector to explore how strategic investment, cross-sector collaboration, and collective leadership strengthen the arts, expand community impact, and build long-term resilience. Seth Boustead, Access Contemporary Music Nora Daley, Illinois Arts Council Agency Kate Dumbleton, Hyde Park Jazz Festival Miriam Owens The People’s Music School Augusta Read Thomas, Composer; University of Chicago

1:45pm – 2:45pm The Walton Room

Making It Happen How do artists capture media attention and grow audiences? Hear from those who have built visibility by creating bold projects and generating buzz through compelling storytelling, strategic messaging, and creative, out-of-the-box thinking. Rachel Barton Pine, Violinist Jasmine Choi, Flutist Monica Ellis, Imani Winds Geoffrey John Davies, The Violin Channel Linda Petrikova, IMG Artists 29

2:00pm – 3:00pm Michigan Room

Pierrot Ensembles: Exploring the Pocket Orchestra Just as the string quartet and piano trio are performed widely, the Pierrot ensemble is part of chamber music’s fabric. In this session, hear from Eighth Blackbird and renowned composer Jonathan Bailey Holland about this fascinating ensemble makeup and how it has paved the way for ensembles of unique instrumentation. Jonathan Bailey Holland, Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University Matthew Duvall, Eighth Blackbird Lisa Kaplan, Eighth Blackbird Susan Dadian, Chamber Music America

2:00pm – 3:00pm Parkside Room

Keeping the Funding Alive: Succession Planning Leadership transitions are inevitable—but sustaining relationships and support requires intentional planning. This session explores best practices for administrative and fundraising succession, including stewarding longtime board members and donors, navigating funder transitions, and building legacy giving and estate planning programs. Peter Bilotta, Chamber Music Northwest Carlton Ford, Management Consultants for the Arts Benjamin Sosland, Kovner Foundation Kate Sheeran, Eastman School of Music at Rochester University

3:15pm – 4:00pm Superior Room

Creative Engagement in Chicago: Sound Journeys & Echoes of the City With the generous support of The Volgenau Foundation and The Wallace Foundation, CMA led two education initiatives in Chicago this spring. Discover how these programs were developed, the impact they had, and how their approaches can be adapted and replicated in communities across the country. Joining this session is Dr. Kylie Peppler, author of The Connected Arts Learning Framework for The Wallace Foundation, whose research informed the design and evaluation of CMA’s initiatives. Olivia Cosío, Sounds That Carry Miriam Owens, The People’s Music School Kylie Peppler, University of California Irvine Renate Rohlfing, Sounds That Carry This session is made possible by The Wallace Foundation.

3:30pm – 4:30pm Parkside Room

The Voice in Chamber Music In this session led by Grammy-winning vocalist Nicholas Phan, esteemed presenters offer strategies for boosting audience engagement and attendance for chamber music programs with song. Peter Bilotta, Chamber Music Northwest Shannon McGinnis, Art Song Chicago Nicholas Phan, Art Song Chicago Melanie Smith, San Francisco Performances

Curating Connection: How Cultural Crossroads: Dvořák in America Came to Life This session reveals how a project illuminating the intertwined histories of Black, Native, and European traditions was curated through shaping a cohesive narrative, selecting repertoire, and engaging artists whose lived experiences bring authenticity and depth. Discover how collaboration transformed the program into an experience that extends beyond the traditional concert format, creating deeper artistic and cultural resonance. Leave with practical strategies for developing creative ideas from spark to stage and designing projects that are both artistically compelling and socially meaningful.

THURSDAY

4:00pm – 5:00pm Michigan Room

Pamela Freund-Striplen, Cultural Crossroads R. Carlos Nakai, Flutist Robert Sims, Lyric baritone 4:15pm – 5:15pm The Walton Room

Beyond the Prize: Reimagining the Future of Chamber Music Competitions Competitions have long served as important launching pads for emerging chamber ensembles, but their role is evolving alongside the field itself. How can competitions better support artistic development, career sustainability, equity, and long-term impact? Leaders from influential chamber music competitions explore how competitions are adapting to meet the needs of today’s musicians, from new approaches to mentorship, professional development, audience engagement, and artistic recognition. This conversation examines how competitions can continue to inspire excellence while supporting lasting careers. Josh Aerie, Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Kevin Kwan Loucks, Chamber Music America Brian Shepard, Music Teachers National Association Sandy Yamamoto, Coltman Competition

5:00pm –6:30pm Camelia Exhibit Hall

Happy Hour Join Carriage House Violins in the Camelia Exhibit Hall for drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Mingle with exhibitors and attendees and enjoy a short performance by the Galvin Cello Quartet. Sponsored by Carriage House Violins.

8:00pm –10:00pm Constellation 3111 N Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60618

A Night of Jazz This performance features three visionary ensembles in one of Chicago’s premier jazz and contemporary music venues. Admission is included with Conference registration. Program details can be found on p. 34. This concert is made possible with generous support of the Doris Duke Foundation.

AUGUST 20, 2026 THE JAZZ INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO 410 S. MICHIGAN AVE. SUITE 500 CHICAGO, IL 60605

In its third iteration, Chamber Music America’s Jazz Summit unites practicing jazz artists, composers, bandleaders, presenters, and educators from across the country to share insights and discuss the future of jazz. This collaborative forum is a container for generating, challenging, and catalyzing ideas. While attendance as this year’s Summit is by invitation only, CMA will host at least three additional virtual and in-person sessions throughout the year for continuing conversations surrounding technology, advocacy, and sustainability. The Jazz Summit is made possible by generous support of the Doris Duke Foundation and the partnership of the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

Welcome & Kickoff The Jazz Institute of Chicago 410 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 500

12:30pm – 1:40pm

Jazz Evolutions & Digital Trends As one of America’s most original art forms, jazz (and the professionals and economies within the field) has long demonstrated remarkable adaptability, innovation, and resilience. How is the field responding to a rapidly evolving social and technological landscape, and what opportunities lie ahead for artists and the broader jazz ecosystem? Howard Mandel, The Jazz Journalists Association Don Lucoff, DL Records Paul Abella, Notes from the Jazz Underground, WDCB Jazz

1:50pm – 3:00pm

JAZZ SUMMIT

12:00pm – 12:30pm

Futures for Jazz & Technology As artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape the creative landscape, jazz continues to evolve in new and unexpected ways. From immersive performances and virtual collaboration to AI-powered creative tools, this session explores how artists are embracing innovation while preserving the improvisation, collaboration, and human connections that define jazz. Ryan Cohan, Pianist and composer Andrew Worden, University of Oregon Ken Schaphorst, New England Conservatory

3:15pm – 4:00pm

Musicians Today & Tomorrow: Teaching Jazz Music & Performance Explore how innovative approaches to jazz education are equipping students with the artistic, creative, and collaborative skills to advance the art form and inspire new generations. Roosevelt Griffin III, Illinois Music Educatoin Association Monica Herzig, JAM Music Lab Pirvate University Brian Lynch, Frost School of Music, University of Miami

4:00pm – 4:30pm

Where Do We Go from Here? This closing conversation reflects on key themes, identifies opportunities for impact and advocacy, and highlights resources for continuing the dialogue throughout the year.

4:30pm & 8:00pm

Happy Hour and Evening at Constellation Board the bus to The Drake Hotel for a happy hour sponsored by Carriage House Violins. Then, take the shuttle to Constellation for a special evening of jazz performance (details on p. 34). 33

AN EVENING OF JAZZ AT CONSTELLATION AUGUST 20, 2026 • 8:00 PM CONSTELLATION 3111 N WESTERN AVE., CHICAGO, IL

Huu Bac Quintet

Nicole Mitchell

Andy Milne and Unison

This special concert at Constellation features three visionary ensembles: Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble, Ensemble, whose genre-defying music blends jazz, African diasporic traditions, and fearless improvisation; the Huu Bac Quintet, Quintet which fuses jazz with Vietnamese and Chinese musical traditions to create a richly global sound; and Andy Milne & Unison, Unison, celebrated for lyrical compositions and dynamic interplay rooted in contemporary jazz. Together, these acclaimed artists embody the creativity, innovation, and collaborative spirit at the heart of CMA’s Conference. This concert is made possible with generous support of the Doris Duke Foundation.

Nicole Mitchell, flutes, composition Ugochi Nwaogwugwu, vocals, spoken word Edwin Daugherty, alto saxophone Kevin King, tenor saxophone Julius Tucker, piano Carmani Edwards, bass Dushun Mosley, drum set

Portraits of Sonic Freedom Nicole Mitchell Nicole Mitchell is an award-winning creative flautist, conceptualist, and composer. Having emerged from Chicago’s creative music community, she is the former first woman president of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), a Guggenheim Fellow, Doris Duke Artist, Chamber Music America grantee, and United States Artist. For almost 30 years, she has utilized her art to build worlds that “bridge the familiar with the unknown,” with her Black Earth Ensemble—a creative music group celebrating Mama Earth, African American culture, Afrofuturism, and the legacy of the AACM. Mitchell is a professor of music at University of Virginia. Portraits of Sonic Freedom celebrates creative music’s contributions to jazz, the Black intellectual tradition, Afrofuturism, and the expansion of human consciousness.

HUU BAC QUINTET Huu Bac Quach, composer/leader/ instrumentalist, dan bau, erhu, quena, guitar Omree Gal-Oz, piano Sébastien Pellerin, upright bass Geneviève Morasse, violin Patrick Simard, drums All compositions by Huu Bac Quach

Whistling of the Trees Noon on the Sea A Night on the Ghaats Mekong Waters

PROGRAM JAZZ SUMMIT

NICOLE MITCHELL’S BLACK EARTH ENSEMBLE

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Huu Bac Quach founded his quintet in Montréal, blending his Vietnamese and Chinese heritage with contemporary jazz. Supported by some of Montréal’s leading jazz musicians, he performs original compositions inspired by his travels throughout Asia, Europe, and South America. The Huu Bac Quintet creates a vibrant and authentic musical dialogue between Asian, North American, and South American cultures.

ANDY MILNE & UNISON Andy Milne, piano Yoko Reikano Kimura, koto Ingrid Laubrock, tenor saxophone John Hébert, bass Clarence Penn, drums All compositions by Andy Milne

Purity of Heart Beyond the Porcelain Door Kumoi Joshi For more than 30 years, two-time Juno Award winning pianist/composer Andy Milne has demonstrated boundless versatility, collaborating with dancers, filmmakers, authors, visual artists, poets, and musicians spanning multiple genres. With Unison, Milne returns to his first love, exploring the intimacy of the piano trio. The synchronistic relationship Milne enjoys with his bandmates represents the complimentary threads within the fabric of Milne’s piano trio philosophy— the intersection of texture and groove. Unison’s 2024 Sunnyside Records release Time Will Tell was nominated for a 2025 Juno Award and was included on numerous “Best of 2024” lists.

INTRODUCING

TERRI & JERRY KOHL HALL COMING TO COLBURN IN FALL 2027 Designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics, the 1,000-seat Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall will offer exceptional flexibility and breathtaking intimacy. Equally suited for chamber music, orchestra, opera, dance, and amplified performances, the hall offers immersive in-the-round seating, creating an unforgettable live experience.

LEARN MORE

AGENDA

FRIDAY

All activities take place at The Drake Hotel unless otherwise noted.

8:30am – 5:30pm Grand Ballroom

Registration Open

8:30am – 10:00am Grand Ballroom

Breakfast

10:00am – 12:30pm, 2:45pm – 5:45pm, Grand Ballroom

10:00am – 11:00am The Walton Room

Keynote: The Art of Presence, from The Second City Works The business solutions division of Chicago’s iconic Second City theater—home of alumni like Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Julia LouisDreyfus—leads a signature, interactive seminar that empowers participants to show up bolder, more confident, and more authentic in any setting, whether on stage or in the board room. Meagan O’Brien, The Second City Works

. 11:30am – 5:30pm The Walton Room

The Second City Works (SCW) is the business solutions division of the world-renowned improvisational theater company, The Second City. Drawing on The Second City’s 50-year legacy of bucking modern convention through powerful content, SCW works with hundreds of Fortune-1000 clients each year, giving individuals the skills and practices to break down barriers, foster collaboration, and co-create with both internal and external audiences so that change can occur and business can thrive. Through events and workshops, SCW brings the principles of improvisation to the world of work.

CelloBello by CMA Masterclass Series See great coaches at work. Four classes throughout the day feature master teachers including Paul Katz, Harumi Rhodes (Takács Quartet); and Daniel McDonough (Jupiter String Quartet). Find a schedule on p. 45.

In Tune We Trust—Mostly: Intonation Secrets, Laughs, and Problem Solving In this workshop, esteemed cellist, educator, and founder of CelloBello Paul Katz shares the secrets to intonation issues. Paul Katz, Cleveland Quartet Jupiter String Quartet

11:30am – 1:00pm, 2:45pm – 7:00pm Camelia Exhibit Hall

11:30am – 1:00pm, 2:45pm – 5:45pm Erie Room

SONOS Listening Lounge, featuring Cedille Records Need a quiet oasis away from the Conference hustle? Relax in the Listening Lounge and hear a curated playlist from Cedille Records.

FRIDAY

11:30am – 1:00pm The Walton Room

Speakers generously provided by SONOS. 11:30am – 12:30pm Michigan Room

Identity in Chamber Music This session explores how identity shapes chamber music today, examining how culture, race, gender identity, and economic status intersect. Panelists will explore how those dynamics influence belonging, visibility, and responsibility within the field. Matt Albert, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance Kori Coleman, D-Composed Juliana Han, Piedmont Chamber Music Festival Sarah Ma, Poiesis Quartet

11:30am – 12:30pm Parkside Room

Convening Voices: Grants & Chamber Music in Times of Change This session explores how national, regional, and local grantmaking intersect to support chamber music. Hear directly from program officers at major foundations as they discuss evolving funding priorities, emerging opportunities, and the changing needs of the field from multiple philanthropic perspectives. José Feliciano, Chamber Music America Crystal Pascucci-Clifford, InterMusic SF Cat Tager, 3Arts Benjamin Sosland, Kovner Foundation

11:30am – 12:30pm Superior Room

From School to Sustainability: Bridging the Early- to Mid-Career Divide How can higher education better prepare musicians for sustainable careers? Faculty and administrative leaders from top collegiate music programs discuss how their institutions equip graduates with the artistic, entrepreneurial, and professional skills needed to navigate the transition from school to a life in chamber music. Seunghee Lee (Sunny) Kang, Concert Artists Guild Amy I-Lin Cheng, University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance

Esme Quartet

Quatuor Agate

Zemlinsky Quartet

40 40

Van Kuijk Quartet

Morgenstern Trio

Email: ChristinaDaysog@aol.com | Tel: +1 (510) 769-1640 www.daysogconcertartists.com

FRIDAY

Jonathan Bailey Holland, Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University Hank Mou, New England Conservatory David Samuel, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University David Ying, Eastman School of Music at Rochester School of Music Alejandra Valarino Boyer, Ravinia Steans Institute 1:00pm – 2:30pm Grand Ballroom

CMA Awards Luncheon Celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of our CMA Awardees (details on p. 17). This Luncheon is open to those who have a Friday Conference pass.

2:45pm – 4:00pm Parkside Room

Concept Lab Composers Reading What does the creative process sound like? This interactive session from Access Contemporary Music’s Concept Lab—an exploratory music series featuring works-in-progress in all stages of completion—showcases composers who will test ideas and hear their not-yet-finished pieces workshopped live. Listen as musicians work with creators in real time, offering feedback and new directions. Natasha Bogojevic, Composer Seth Boustead, Access Contemporary Music Civitas Ensemble Francesca Neibel-Spruill, Composer

2:45pm – 3:45pm Michigan Room

The Role of Mentorship: Breaking Barriers & Engaging Next Generations in Jazz Mentorship has long been central to jazz, helping artists build sustainable careers and inspire future generations. Hear how mentorship creates career opportunities for women- and gender minority-led ensembles and other underrepresented artists breaking systemic and geographic barriers. Artists and mentors share how these relationships spark innovation, strengthen community, and shape the future of jazz. Alyssa Allgood, Vocalist Dr. Rahsaan Barber, Saxophonist José Feliciano, Chamber Music America Emma Gonzalez, Pianist Oscar Perez, Cali School of Music at Montclair State University

30 Years of Thinking Small: Big Community Impact in the Midwest Can small markets sustain thriving chamber music organizations? Learn how Iowa’s Red Cedar Chamber Music has built a vibrant 30-year legacy through performances, education, commissioning, and rural outreach. Discover practical strategies for artistic and organizational sustainability—and how a small organization can make an outsized community impact.

FRIDAY

4:00pm – 5:00pm Huron Room

Corey Bostian, Red Cedar Chamber Music John Dowdall, Red Cedar Chamber Music Miera Kim, Red Cedar Chamber Music 4:30pm – 5:30pm Superior Room

From Ensemble to Organization How does an ensemble become an institution? Leaders from Imani Winds and Third Coast Percussion share how they built administration infrastructure, expanded their organizations, and navigated the opportunities and challenges of sustainable growth. Gain practical insights for ensembles looking to strengthen their operations and increase impact. Reba Cafarelli, Third Coast Percussion Susan Dadian, Chamber Music America Monica Ellis, Imani Winds David Skidmore, Third Coast Percussion

4:45pm – 5:45pm Parkside Room

Composers and Their Money: A Case for Financial Competence While inflation ruined Beethoven, ingenuity led Handel to be rich, and frugality aided Brahms’s ability to support future generations. This session touches on personal finance, market health, and the stories from our past that can guide us—monetarily—today. Nicholas Csicsko, Trinity Church Wall Street

4:45pm – 5:45pm Michigan Room

Commissioning the Contemporary Woodwind Quintet: Repertoire Creation and Performance in Practice Since 2023, Camerata Nova has commissioned seven works for its contemporary woodwind quintet, exploring how performerdriven commissioning can build repertoire. This session examines ensemble identity, composer collaboration, and repertoire sustainability while offering practical strategies for creating lasting works and expanding the chamber music canon. Andrea Baker, Western Illinois University Charlie Chadwell, Western Illinois University Julianna Eidle, Western Illinois University Matt Mason, Roosevelt University

5:30pm – 7:00pm Camellia Exhibit Hall

Happy Hour Join BMI in the Camelia Exhibit Hall for drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Mingle with exhibitors and attendees and enjoy a short performance from students of the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory. Sponsored by BMI. 43

Chamber Music at Eastman

This must be the place. For more information, scan the QR code or visit esm.rochester.edu

WALTON ROOM

CELLOBELLO x CMA

THE DRAKE HOTEL

Last fall, CMA acquired CelloBello, an organization dedicated to nurturing the cello and chamber music community through free and accessible music education resources. Founded by cellist Paul Katz in 2008, CelloBello has been a cornerstone in classical music education, offering student, amateur, and professional musicians access to the highest level of musical instruction, inspiration, and interaction. Through the acquisition, CMA is building upon CelloBello’s rich foundation of digital pedagogical resources, and, through its own infrastructure and education models, expanding its mission beyond the virtual space. During the 2026 National Conference, CMA presents a series of workshops and masterclasses that will also be filmed for universal viewing long after the Conference ends.

MASTERCLASS

AUGUST 21, 2026

11:30am – 1:00pm

In Tune We Trust—Mostly: Intonation Secrets, Laughs, and Problem-Solving In this workshop, the Jupiter String Quartet along with esteemed cellist, educator, and founder of CelloBello Paul Katz share the secrets to intonation.

2:30pm – 3:15pm

Masterclass led by Harumi Rhodes Harumi Rhodes is the second violinist of the internationally renowned Takács Quartet. She has helped shape the Graduate String Quartet Residency at the University of Colorado. At the Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara, Rhodes leads an intensive summer string quartet seminar with the Takács Quartet.

3:30pm – 4:15pm

Masterclass led by Daniel McDonough Grand Ballroom Cellist Daniel McDonough is a founding member of the award-winning Jupiter String Quartet. A passionate teacher, McDonough has given masterclasses at many of the leading institutions including The Peabody Institute, The Eastman School of Music, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and The Boston Conservatory. Jupiter String Quartet is on faculty of the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

4:30pm – 5:15pm

Masterclass led by New England Conservatory Faculty Member Teaching artist (and participants) to be announced on site.

The Conference is dark on Friday evening, allowing Conferencegoers to explore Chicago and experience its vibrant arts and culture scene. Below is a tiny snapshot of what’s going on across the city.

E X P LO R E C Open Studio: Third Coast Percussion 4045 North Rockwell Street 6:30pm Visit CMA’s Collaborator in Residence at their rehearsal studio on Chicago’s Northside for snacks, an intimate performance, and a tour of one of the most musically creative buildings in Chicago— home to not only Third Coast Percussion, but also Eighth Blackbird, Ensemble Dal Niente, and Beyond This Point. Experience their digs, then head to nearby Burning Bush Brewery for a casual gathering.

Esperanza Spalding City Winery Chicago, Main Stage 1200 W. Randolph St. 7:30pm

Space is very limited: RVSP by emailing Reba@thirdcoastpercussion.com.

Green Mill Jam Session with Marquis Hill Green Mill Jazz Club 4802 N. Broadway Ave. 1:00am

Arman Sangalang Quartet Constellation 3111 N. Western Ave. 8:30pm Clark Sommers CD Release Party Green Mill Jazz Club 4802 N. Broadway Ave. 8:00pm

CHICAGO! Tim Warfield Quartet Jazz Showcase 806 S. Plymouth Ct. 8:00pm & 10:00pm

Meaza Joy – Blues Rising — Album Release Party Rosa’s Lounge 3420 W. Armitage Ave. 9:30pm & 11:00pm Omar Coleman Buddy Guy’s Legends 700 S. Wabash 9:30pm Deep Sea Diver (solo) & Hand Habits Old Town School of Folk Music 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. 8:00pm

Alabama Shakes at Ravinia Hunter Pavilion 201 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park 7:30pm

Claire Lochmueller: CRACKS Steppenwolf 1700 Theater 1650 N. Halstead St. 7:30pm

Chris White Quartet Le Piano 6970 N. Glenwood Ave. 6:30pm

Bosman Twins Quintet Elegance in Motion: Tribute to Duke Ellington and Count Basie Winter’s Jazz Club 465 N. McClurg Ct. 7:30pm

Champions of Magic Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building 410 S. Michigan Ave 7:30pm

Frank Salomon Associates Your partner for the most exceptional musical experiences

INSTRUMENTALISTS Alon Goldstein, Piano Richard Goode, Piano Sharon Isbin, Guitar Jaime Laredo, Violin/Viola/Conductor Richard Stoltzman, Clarinet Itamar Zorman, Violin

ENSEMBLES & GLOBAL MUSIC

Espressivo! Piano Quartet Goldstein-Peled-Fiterstein Trio Los Angeles Guitar Quartet Musicians from Marlboro Strings for Peace Sarod, Tabla, Guitar Windscape VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS, COMMISSIONS & COLLABORATIONS

BOOKING Barrie Steinberg, President barrie@franksalomon.com North America

(212) 581-5197 franksalomon.com

AGENDA

SATURDAY

All activities take place at The Drake Hotel unless otherwise noted.

8:30am – 9:30am Grand Ballroom

Breakfast

9:30am –5:00pm Camelia Exhibit Hall

10:00am – 4:00pm Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Chamber Music Festival

10:00am – 11:00am The Walton Room

The AACM: Its Impact & Legacy Moderated by jazz scholar and editorial director of Chamber Music magazine Larry Blumenfeld, this discussion highlights the legacy and lasting impact of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM)—a true Chicago institution. Joining the panel are members and past and present leaders of the storied collective.

A schedule and program can be found on p. 52.

Renee Baker, Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians Larry Blumenfeld, Editorial director, Chamber Music magazine Ernest Dawkins, Saxophonist Nicole Mitchell, Composer 11:30am – 12:30pm The Walton Room

El Sistema and Chamber Music Frameworks in Education Explore how the collaborative principles of El Sistema and chamber music intersect to foster artistic excellence, creativity, and meaningful social connection in educational settings. This session will highlight practical frameworks, successful program models, and strategies educators can adapt to build inclusive, student-centered music learning experiences. Garrett Mendez, Culver Academies Dinorah Marquez, Latino Arts Strings Program Scott Tegge, Chicago Symphony Youth Orchestra This session is made possible by The Wallace Foundation.

IMG Artists North America Chamber Music Artists & Projects 2027-28 VIOLIN PIANO Leif Ove Andsnes* Jan Bartoš Arielle Beck Alim Beisembayev Federico Colli Ingrid Fliter Kirill Gerstein* Isata Kanneh-Mason* Jeneba Kanneh-Mason* Kunal Lahiry Yunchan Lim Gabriela Montero Murray Perahia Louis Schwizgebel Lukáš Vondráček Yeol Eum Son Zee Zee

Chloe Chua Johan Dalene* Julia Fischer Karen Gomyo Michael Guttman Braimah Kanneh-Mason Tessa Lark Christian Li Julian Rhee Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider*

VIOLA Amihai Grosz Nils Mönkemeyer

CELLO Bryan Cheng Sheku Kanneh-Mason* Daniel Müller-Schott Paul Watkins Jing Zhao

CHAMBER MUSIC & SPECIAL ENSEMBLE Calidore String Quartet CelloGayageum “Cotton” Danielle Mack mezzo-soprano, piano and bandoneon Edgar Meyer / Mike Marshall / George Meyer Erin Morley / Lawrence Brownlee J’Nai Bridges: La Belle Époque Julia Fischer Quartet The King’s Singers Rachel Fenlon soprano and piano tenThing Brass Ensemble Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman & Edgar Meyer

For a complete list of our artists and projects, as well as our Vocal, Dance, Attractions and Film with Orchestra rosters, please visit: www.imgartists.com

DOUBLE BASS Edgar Meyer

TRUMPET Tine Thing Helseth

PERCUSSION Fabian Ziegler

*Managed in association with Enticott Music Management

Chamber Jazz or Third Stream? Three award-winning jazz pianists who have written successfully for performance with classical ensembles and orchestras share how they have explored and created new ways of presenting and expanding their own artistry. This conversation is moderated by violinist and composer Jessie Montgomery.

SATURDAY

1:00pm – 2:00pm The Walton Room

Ryan Cohan, Pianist, composer Andy Milne, Pianist, composer Jessie Montgomery, Composer, violinist Deanna Witkowski, Pianist, composer 2:30pm – 3:30pm The Walton Room

Recording & Technology This session examines the full arc of today’s recording ecosystem— from innovative production techniques to the most pressing fieldwide challenges and opportunities. James Ginsburg, Cedille Records Judith Sherman, Judith Sherman Productions Jeremy VanSlyke, Leaf Music Roger Wight, WFMT

5:30pm – 7:45pm Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

The 2026 CMA Gala: Where Chamber Music Meets the Moment

8:00pm – 10:30pm Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

Gala Performance: Honoring Tradition, Shaping the Future This star-studded concert features Art Song Chicago, Imani Winds, Ryan Cohan, Third Coast Percussion, Eighth Blackbird, and Civitas Ensemble. All are welcome to attend. Program details can be found on p. 56.

Advance tickets are required to attend.

A CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL AUGUST 22, 2026 • 10:00 AM THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO 220 E CHICAGO AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60611

11:00am

SYNCHRONY QUARTET

A Coltman Competition and Music Teachers National Association Presentation Philip Kleutgens, soprano saxophone Hudson O’Reilly, alto saxophone Matthew Johnson, tenor saxophone Haven Kahn, baritone saxophone Suite Bergamasque Claude Debussy, arr. Haven Kahn I. Prelude

10:00am Welcome remarks

Entr’acte Caroline Shaw, arr. Philip Kleutgens

10:30am

Shine You No More Rude Tonsgaard Sorenson, arr. Hudson O’Reilly

YANG AND OLIVIA Yang Liu, violin Olivia I-Hsuan Tsai, piano

Scherzo in C minor from the F-A-E Sonata, WoO 2 Johannes Brahms Diversities Chihchun Chi-sun Lee No. 2 Ginger No. 4 Koa Suite for Violin and Piano William Grant Still I. African Dancer Yang and Olivia are a storytelling-driven violin–piano duo known for refined musicianship, multicultural programming, and warm rapport with audiences. Their 2025 feature program, Music & Mental Health, explores how composers such as Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Bartók, Price, and Korngold transformed psychological struggles into powerful music. Highly praised by presenters, the duo is valued for professionalism, clear communication, and the ability to create close, engaging interactions with listeners of all ages. Their performances for concert series, libraries, senior communities, and educational settings combine artistic depth with accessible, human-centered narratives. 52

Chicago-based Synchrony Quartet is an award-winning saxophone ensemble dedicated to contemporary music and collaboration. Prize winners of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Chesapeake, North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA), and Coltman competitions, they champion new works by composers like Stacy Garrop while presenting inventive programs with original arrangements. Their performances expand the saxophone quartet repertoire and engage diverse audiences. 11:30am

KATARINA STRING QUARTET

A Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Presentation Jeanel Liang, violin Jérôme Chiasson, violin Celia Morin, viola Maya Enstad, cello String Quartet op. 50, no. 2 in C major Franz Joseph Haydn I. Vivace Quartettsatz Franz Schubert

Toward the Sea Tōru Takemitsu I. The Night

The tightly knit Katarina String Quartet is the Grand Prize winner of the 2025 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and 2025 winner of the Concert Artists Guild Louis and Susan Meisel Prize. Additional honors include Gold and BIPOC Composer Prizes at the 2024 St. Paul Competition and two prizes at the 2025 Wigmore Hall International Competition.

Dream Street David Sanford Selected movements

12:00pm

VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY BLAIR SCHOOL OF MUSIC Mariam Adam, clarinet, faculty Madalyn Bloomberg, clarinet Claire Lee, violin David Samuel, viola, faculty Trevor Hyun, piano

8 Pieces for Clarinet, Viola, and Piano, op. 83 Max Bruch Selected movements The Vanderbilt University Blair School of Music offers world-class music training at a top academic institution. One of the few exclusively undergraduate music schools in the country, the Blair School is committed to the collaborative chamber music experience and seeks students with high standards of musicianship, scholarship, and personal character, whose ambition is to reach their greatest musical and intellectual potential. 12:30pm

SOLIDAIRE

Jennifer Grim, flute Svet Stoyanov, percussion Histoire du Tango Astor Piazzolla III. Nightclub 1960

Solidaire unites flutist Jennifer Grim and percussionist Svet Stoyanov in a genre-defying duo celebrated for fearless expression, technical brilliance, and immersive storytelling. Born from the upheaval of 2020, Solidaire creates transformative musical experiences that captivate audiences and spark meaningful connection. Recent highlights include performances at National Sawdust and Festival Napa Valley, featuring premieres and reimagined works by Paola Prestini and Philip Glass. As ensemble-in-residence at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and frequent visiting artists at university programs including Eastern Illinois University, they offer dynamic residencies—masterclasses, lectures, and performances that inspire communities and emerging artists.

SATURDAY FESTIVAL

L’Acadien d’Acadie Québec Traditional, arr. Katarina String Quartet

1:00pm

VALENCIA BARYTON PROJECT Matthew Baker, baryton Brett Walfish, viola Ismar Gomes, cello

Baryton Trio in D major, no. 72 Franz Joseph Haydn II. Allegro Assai The River * Steve Zink Baryton Trio in C major, K. 19 Luigi Tomasini II. Menuet Dragonslayer’s Lament * John Pickup

Baryton Trio in G major, no. 80 Franz Joseph Haydn III. Presto * Commissioned by and written for the Valencia Baryton Project The Valencia Baryton Project was founded in Valencia, Spain with the vision of performing the nearly 160 works written by Franz Joseph Haydn for the baryton as well as compositions by other composers, both modern and classical. At the heart of the ensemble is the traditional baryton trio—baryton, viola, and violoncello— for which Haydn wrote 123 works of outstanding beauty during his time as the court composer for the Prince Esterhazy of Austria. 1:30pm

PICOSA + PETER FERRY Jennie Oh Brown, flutes Andrea R. DiOrio, clarinets Elizabeth Brausa Brathwaite, violin Russell Rolen, cello Daniel Schlosberg, piano Peter Ferry, percussion Redlin[ing] Shawn E. Okpebholo Redlin[ing] by Shawn E. Okpebholo has been made possible by the Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Program, with generous funding provided by The Mellon Foundation. Chicago-based Picosa holds ongoing concert series in Allen Recital Hall at DePaul University’s Holtschneider Performance Center, at the Driehaus Museum amd at The Epiphany Center for the Arts. The ensemble also holds residenies at Elmhurst University and North Central Colleges. Founded in 2014, the ensemble performs regularly throughout the city, including concert series Live from WFMT, Frequency Series at Constellaion Chicago, and the International Music Foundation’s Rush Hour Concert Series. 54

Peter Ferry is a percussion soloist and collaborative artist whose work spans concerto performance, interdisciplinary projects, and contemporary chamber music. He has appeared with orchestras across the United States and internationally. He is a member of the Grammy-winning ensemble Alarm Will Sound, where he serves as Assistant Director of Artistic Planning. His projects explore new relationships between percussion, theatrical space, and audience participation. 2:00pm

BANANA ACID

A New England Conservatory of Music Presentation Banana Acid is an ensemble of NEC alumni and former students of Ken Schaphorst, Chair of NEC Jazz Studies Aaron Kaufman-Levine, saxophone Caroline Jesalva, violin Erez Dessel, piano Garrett Frees, saxophone Tyler Wagner, bass Methodologies Banana Acid Banana Acid is aa Chicago-based ensemble committed to the practice of improvisation and composition shaped by their studies at New England Conservatory of Music. Their unique sonic language synthesizes deep individual studies of various music traditions, including early jazz, free jazz, classical, electro-acoustic, and folk music. New England Conservatory is a leader in classical music, jazz, and contemporary musical arts. Founded in 1867, NEC reimagines what a conservatory education can be. Its Integrative Curriculum connects the practice studio, classroom, and concert hall, nurturing the whole musician through experiential learning. Students explore musical languages, deepen their artistry, and graduate prepared to make an impact in music and beyond.

Tahhiyya li ossoulina Sérgio Assad

equal passion for standard and modern chamber music. Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “powerfully adept… with a combination of brilliance and subtlety,” the Quartet was awarded the 2016 Naumburg Chamber Music Award and Grand Prize at the 2014 Fischoff Competition. The group is currently Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Michigan.

*Commissioned by Duo Chinoiserie

3:30pm

DUO CHINOISERIE Xia Jing, guzheng Hu Bin, guitar

Zhong Kui’s Regrets * Zhong Kui’s Journey * Mathias Duplessy

Duo Chinoiserie is an award-winning ensemble that bridges Eastern and Western musical traditions through the combination of guzheng and classical guitar. Praised by Grammy-winning guitarist David Russell as “a moving and impressive combination,” the duo has performed for major presenters nationwide and made its Carnegie Hall debut with a world-premiere double concerto. Their acclaimed debut album, “Chinoiserie: Building New Musical Bridges,” reflects their commitment to expanding the possibilities of contemporary chamber music. 3:00pm

TELEGRAPH QUARTET Eric Chin, violin Joseph Maile, violin Pei-Ling Lin, viola Jeremiah Shaw, cello

String Quartet in C major, op. 54, no. 2 (“Tost”), Hob. III:57 Franz Joseph Haydn I. Vivace String Quartet no. 3 Kenji Bunch II. Rigaudon IV. Musette

SATURDAY FESTIVAL

2:30pm

JUPITER STRING QUARTET Mélanie Clapiès, violin Meg Freivogel, violin Liz Freivogel, viola Daniel McDonough, cello Canções da America Clarice Assad I. Dança III. Tango Quartet in A minor, op. 51/2 Johannes Brahms IV. Finale. Allegro non assai Five Folk Songs in Counterpoint Florence Price II. Clementine Founded in 2001, the Jupiter String Quartet is firmly established as an important voice in the world of chamber music. The quartet has dedicated their career to the sharing of music new and old: on the world’s stages and in recording; through commissioning, collaboration, teaching and community engagement. They were appointed faculty and artists-in-residence at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2012.

String Quartet No. 6 in E minor, op. 35 Mieczysław Weinberg VI. Andante maestoso The Telegraph Quartet has been performing for 13 seasons with an

HONORING TRADITION, SHAPING THE FUTURE A GALA CONCERT AUGUST 22, 2026 • 8:00 PM THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART CHICAGO 220 EAST CHICAGO AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60611 F E AT U R I N G :

EIGHTH BLACKBIRD, CIVITAS ENSEMBLE, ART SONG CHICAGO, IMANI WINDS, THIRD COAST PERCUSSION, AND RYAN COHAN TWO QUARTETS

EIGHTH BLACKBIRD Lina Andonvoska, flutes Zachary Good, clarinets Maiani da Silva, violin Aaron Wolff, cello Matthew Duvall, percussion Lisa Kaplan, piano Doublespeak Nico Muhly learn to fly David Lang

CIVITAS ENSEMBLE Yuan-Qing Yu, violin Kenneth Olsen, cello Winston Choi, piano

Piano Trio Leonard Bernstein I. Adagio non troppo - Più mosso Allegro vivace II. Tempo di marcia III. Largo - Allegro vivo et molto ritmico

ART SONG CHICAGO Raquel González, soprano Nicholas Phan, tenor Eric Ferring, tenor Shannon McGinnis, piano

Dirge for Fidele Ralph Vaughan Williams Ferring, Phan, McGinnis The Cherry Blossom Wand Rebecca Clarke Phan, McGinnis Nix Binsefuss Pauline Viardot González, McGinnis Zefiro torna Claudio Monteverdi Ferring, Phan, McGinnis

2026 Michael Jaffee Visionary Award Recipient Brandon Patrick George, flute Mekhi Gladden, oboe Mark Dover, clarinet Kevin Newton, French horn Monica Ellis, bassoon Rise Shawn Okpebholo III. Spark! I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free Billy Taylor, arr. Mark Dover

THIRD COAST PERCUSSION Sean Connors Robert Dillon Peter Martin David Skidmore

Please Be Still Jlin/arr. Third Coast Percussion Sonata for Percussion Tigran Hamasyan III. 23 for TCP

RYAN COHAN TWO QUARTETS

Ryan Cohan, piano, composer John Wojciechowski, woodwinds Lorin Cohen, bass George Fludas, drums KAIA String Quartet Victoria Moreira, violin Janis Sakai, violin James Kang, viola Hope DeCelle, cello Prism Ryan Cohan Prism has been made possible with support from Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works program, funded through the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.

ARTISTS

Eighth Blackbird moves music forward through innovative performance, advocacy for the creation of art by living creatives, and its growing legacy of guiding an emerging generation of artists. The sextet is Eighth Blackbird’s flagship and longest-running initiative. After more than two decades of Moving Music Forward, the sextet continues to define the cutting edge of modern classical. Their accolades include four Grammy Awards, MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, Concert Artists Guild Grand Prize, Musical America Ensemble of the Year, and Chamber Music America Visionary Award. Their creative output spans commissions with theatrical productions, concertos, and recordings. Eighth Blackbird’s initiatives include Blackbird Creative Lab, Chicago Artists Workshop, and Blackbird Productions.

GALA CONCERT

IMANI WINDS

Founded in 2011, Civitas Ensemble is a leading Chicago chamber music group known for adventurous programming, new commissions, and meaningful community engagement. Its repertoire spans four centuries, while close partnerships with living composers have produced multiple world premieres. Civitas regularly brings live music to hospitals, retirement communities, and nonprofit partners serving people with limited access to the arts. The ensemble also collaborates with dancers, visual artists, poets, and international musicians, including Yo-Yo Ma and Prague’s Gipsy Way Ensemble. Praised by major Chicago publications, Civitas continues to develop new projects, recordings, and crossdisciplinary artistic partnerships throughout Chicago and beyond. Since 2010, Art Song Chicago has championed the art of song through a vibrant mix of performance and 57

educational initiatives—including an annual song festival, public concerts, master classes, workshops, and a fellowship program for emerging artists. The organization has earned acclaim from Chicago Classical Review for “art song performances of the highest order” and has become a cornerstone of the city’s musical life, showcasing leading performers from around the globe. Founded as the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago (CAIC) in 2010 by pianists Nicholas Hutchinson and Shannon McGinnis alongside tenor Nicholas Phan, the organization has continually evolved to champion the art song and vocal chamber music repertoire. Celebrating nearly three decades of transformative music-making, the Grammy-winning and four-time nominated Imani Winds has led both a revolution and an evolution of the wind quintet. Known for their dynamic playing, adventurous programming, imaginative collaborations, and impactful outreach, they have inspired audiences of all ages around the globe. Imani Winds’ repertoire bridges the traditional and the contemporary, featuring core chamber works, reimagined arrangements, and newly commissioned pieces by both renowned and rising composers. Their programming reflects the urgency and diversity of our times, amplifying stories and voices too often left unheard. Since forming in 1997, Imani Winds has regularly appeared on major chamber music series and at leading performing arts centers and summer festivals, including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Chamber Music Northwest, Banff Centre, and Chautauqua Institution. Internationally, their reach extends across Asia, Europe, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. With two decades of spellbinding performances to its name, Chicago-based quartet Third Coast Percussion is the first percussion ensemble to win a Grammy Award in the classical genre. Also nominated for a Grammy Awards a composer collective, TCP crafts music to “push percussion in new 58

directions, blurring musical boundaries and beguiling new listeners” (NPR). It has commissioned and premiered new works from such artists as Zakir Hussain, Jessie Montgomery, Augusta Read Thomas, Philip Glass, Missy Mazzoli, Clarice Assad, Danny Elfman, Tigran Hamasyan, and Jlin – whose TCP commission Perspective was a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Two Quartets is a newly formed ensemble created by composer, pianist and Guggenheim Fellow Ryan Cohan. Bringing together jazz improvisation, chamber music, and global musical influences, the ensemble explores the rich possibilities that emerge when two distinct quartets unite as one. Prism builds upon longstanding musical relationships while creating a dynamic new sonic world that blurs the boundaries between composition and spontaneity. Throughout his critically acclaimed recordings as a leader and collaborator with numerous leading jazz figures and world-class ensembles, Ryan Cohan has masterfully walked the line of writer and player, proving himself time and again to be a composer of rare vision as well as a versatile, powerfully expressive pianist.

www.jensenartists.com 646.536.7864

Lisa Bielawa, composer & vocalist

American Contemporary Music Ensemble

Clarice Jensen, composer & cellist

Jupiter String Quartet

Anna Thorvaldsdottir, composer

Invoke

Benjamin Appl, baritone

Telegraph Quartet

Julien Labro, bandoneón & accordion

Brandon Patrick George, flutist

Charlotte Hu, pianist

Sarah Cahill, pianist

Robert Sirota, composer

A Far Cry

Emily Levin

Ember

Kristin Lee, violinist

Carion Winds

SPEAKERS

Paul Abella is Music Director at Chicago’s WDCB, where he has played a key role in shaping the station’s acclaimed jazz programming since 1995. A broadcaster, drummer, and writer, he hosts and produces jazz programs, performs with ensembles including the X-Large Duo, and contributes regularly to Chicago Jazz Magazine and beyond.

Dr. Andrea C. Baker serves as Assistant Professor of Bassoon at Western Illinois University and is a founding member of Camerata Nova. She works with composers to expand the contemporary woodwind quintet repertoire and has helped secure grant support for Camerata Nova’s commissioning projects, including an IDRS 50 for 50 grant.

Josh Aerie is a cellist, conductor, and Executive Director of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association. He is cellist in the Sylvan Trio, founded the Woodland Chamber Music Workshop, and has served in leadership roles with arts advocacy organizations, symphonies, and music faculties. He attended Oberlin and CUBoulder with the Tacáks Quartet.

Renée Baker is founding music director and conductor of the Chicago Modern Orchestra Project. A visual artist, film artist, composer, and recontextualist, Baker is a true engineer of multidisciplinary art. Layering movement and film projections of real and imagined things, she creates exquisite film arenas of surrealistic activity within a sonic theatre. Baker is the executive director of Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM).

Alyssa Allgood is a Chicago-based jazz vocalist, bandleader, and three-time DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star. Winner of the inaugural Ella Fitzgerald Competition, she is celebrated for her expressive artistry and improvisation. A prolific recording artist and educator, Allgood has earned acclaim for original music, mentorship, and performance. Matt Albert is the Chair of Chamber Music at the University of Michigan. A founding member of Eighth Blackbird, he received three GRAMMYs and first prizes at the Naumburg, Concert Artists Guild, and Fischoff Competitions. He serves as the concertmaster for Nu Deco Ensemble and principal second violin for the Cabrillo Festival. Jonathan Bailey Holland, a distinguished composer and Guggenheim Fellow, currently serves as dean of the Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, as well as the Kay Davis Professor of Music. He has served on the faculty of Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, Curtis Institute of Music, and Vermont College of Fine Arts, and he has been a guest at numerous schools and festivals.

Dr. Rahsaan Barber is a saxophonist, composer, educator, and entrepreneur whose career spans jazz, blues, Latin, soul, and world music. A professor at the University of North Carolina, he has performed with leading artists on renowned stages worldwide, leads multiple ensembles, and is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of musicians. Deborah Barrett Price is a nationally recognized violist, pedagogue, and founder of the Chamber Music Connection, Inc., a leading program for chamber music education and performance. She is a recipient of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Award for Extraordinary Service to Chamber Music and multiple major arts education honors. Violinist Rachel Barton Pine performs with top symphonies worldwide including the Chicago Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the LA Phil. In fall 2025, she released her 41st album French Impressions, featuring works of Chausson and Tailleferre. She plays the 1742 “ex-Soldat” Guarnerius del Gesu. 61

Margaret Batjer, renowned violinist and Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, is Director of the Colburn School’s Music Academy and a member of its Conservatory faculty. A leading soloist, chamber musician, and educator, she shapes the Academy’s artistic vision and prepares exceptional pre-college musicians for top conservatory training. Peter Bilotta has led Chamber Music Northwest since 2013 through significant artistic, program, and financial growth. A Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with 30 years of experience in non-profit leadership and development, he currently serves in leadership roles with the Classical Music Festivals of the West, the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon, and Oya No Kai, the support organization for Portland Public Schools Japanese Language Immersion and exchange programs. Larry Blumenfeld, Chamber Music’s editorial director, is an award-winning journalist. He programs and hosts the National Jazz Museum in Harlem’s Jazz and Social Justice series, and has lectured and presented at Harvard University, Yale University, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Lincoln Center, among others. He curates the jazz series of Spoleto Festival USA and the Deer Isle Jazz Festival. Natasha Bogojevich is an award-winning composer and pianist renowned for her imaginative, expressive music. Her works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, voice, theater, ballet, and film are performed worldwide. A Fulbright Scholar and DePaul University faculty member, she has received numerous prestigious awards for her distinctive artistic voice and creative achievements. Jasmine Choi is an internationally acclaimed flutist based in Austria, known for virtuosity, recordings, and a social media audience exceeding one million. She serves as professor at Indiana University and is principal flute of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center. A Curtis and Juilliard graduate, she previously 62

held principal posts with the Cincinnati Symphony and the Vienna Symphony Carey Bostian has been the Artistic Director and core cellist of Red Cedar Chamber Music since 2016. As a conductor and cellist, he has commissioned and/or premiered over 200 works. He is also on the conducting faculty of the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City. Seth Boustead is a composer, broadcaster, and visionary arts leader redefining how classical music is perceived and produced. His chamber music is frequently performed worldwide. As founder of Access Contemporary Music, he created The CheckOut, the PBS series Songs About Buildings and Moods, Thirsty Ears Festival, Sound of Silent Film Festival, and the award-winning podcast Relevant Tones. Dr. Charlie Chadwell is a saxophonist, educator, and advocate for new music, serving as Assistant Professor at Western Illinois University and Director of Professional Activities for The College Music Society. A Camerata Nova founding member, he frequently premieres new works and presents nationwide. Kori Coleman is a Chicago-based arts executive, creative strategist, and entrepreneur who has built a career by leveraging the power of storytelling to encourage Black people to take up space in any place. She is the Founder, Executive, and Artistic Director of D-Composed, a Black chamber music collective and nonprofit organization committed to uplifting and empowering society by providing a platform for the music of Black composers. Olivia Cosío is an educator, vocalist, and co-founder of Sounds That Carry: Creative Impact Consultants. She serves on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she teaches teaching artistry and oversees the Summer Arts Leadership Institute. Her work has been featured by The Wallace Foundation Podcast, Psychology Today, and Opera Canada.

Nora Daley is Chair of the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Co-Chair of the Chicago Architecture Biennial. A cross-sector leaders and systems innovator, she advances bold cultural strategies that strengthen communities and institutions alike. With more than 25 years of experience, she champions collaborative models that expand the reach and impact of the arts. Geoffrey John Davies founded The Violin Channel in 2009, which has since grown to become one of the most influential classical music media providers in the world with a combined reach in excess of two million viewers per month. The platform is an official global media partner of many of the top competitions, conservatories, and symphonies worldwide. Ernest Dawkins is one of the world’s leading saxophonists and composers, known for music that embodies the evolving cultural memory of the African American experience. His recent major works include Great Black Music (2025) dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the AACM. Dawkins serves as Executive Director of Live the Spirit Residency, is a former Chairman of the AACM, performs globally, and hosts a longstanding weekly jam session at Norman’s Bistro in Chicago. John Dowdall the founding guitarist and Artistic Director of Red Cedar Chamber Music along with his partner, flutist Jan Boland, performed throughout the USA and in England, Europe and Japan. Dowdall and Boland recorded 13 compact discs, and were frequently featured on NPR, PBS and Iowa Public Radio and Television.

Kate Dumbleton is the Executive and Artistic Director of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival and a Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Dumbleton’s work in jazz, improvised music, and performance spans nearly three decades.

SPEAKERS

Nicholas Csicsko is fascinated by the connection between music, economics, and the world. Since receiving a DM in composition from The Juilliard School, Csicsko currently serves an institutional investor, managing the endowments for multi-billion-dollar organizations. He continues to lecture and write about the intersection between music and finance. He is the Chair of Chamber Music America’s Board of Directors.

Julianna Eidle is a flutist, educator, and organizer based in Illinois. She teaches at Western Illinois University, performs with Opera in the Ozarks and Midwest ensembles, and collaborates with Linton Chamber Music and Concert:Nova. She directs Cincinnati New Music, supports community-centered projects, and regularly premieres new works. Jennifer Elowitch is Director of Music at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, a three-time E.E. Ford Faculty Award recipient, and Founder and Artistic Director Emerita of the Portland Chamber Music Festival. She teaches and presents widely and performs as Assistant Principal Second Violin with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Carlton Ford has raised over $30 million for leading arts, culture, and social impact institutions. A Chicago native and retired international operatic baritone, he has performed at leading venues worldwide.. He is a Founding Member of Victory Hall Opera, YoungArts alumnus, and a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Rice University, and The Juilliard School. Carlton is ChairElect of Chamber Music America’s Board of Directors. Pamela Freund-Striplen is a visionary curator and violist known for innovative programming and community impact. As founder and Artistic Director of the Gold Coast Chamber Players for 35 years, she created over 150 original programs and pioneering educational initiatives, earning major regional arts awards and a mayoral proclamation in her honor. James Ginsburg founded Cedille Records in 1989 to promote the work of Chicago’s finest classical musicians. He has produced more than 150 recordings for Cedille, working closely with artists and engineers to maintain 63

Commission of the Year "...an amalgam of melodic classical influences, ...framed in fearless jazz improvisational explorations all his own." —NotesonJazz

August 20th

SHOWCASING ARTIST

ANDY MILNE

Trio Garibaldi featuring Jose Franch-Ballester (clarinet) Marina Thibeault (viola) David Fung (piano) CC Duo Infusion Baroque Profeti della Quinta Stick&Bow Tambuco

Brian Current Bongani Ndodana Jeffrey Mumford The opera MISSING and many more...

Emma Gonzalez is an emerging jazz vocalist and CMA Empowerment for Impact and Growth grant recipient whose forthcoming debut album honors the rich traditions of classic jazz and blues. At 23, she is passionate about preserving and sharing the musical roots with a new generation of listeners. As a first-time recording artist, she is grateful for the mentorship that has shaped her artistic journey and is excited to share the mentee perspective on this panel. Dr. Roosevelt Griffin III, Director of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University, is a nationally recognized jazz educator with more than 20 years of middle school teaching experience. He serves as ILMEA Jazz Division President and a Jazz Education Network Board Member and leads clinics and workshops for high school jazz programs nationwide. Juliana Han is a pianist, presenter, and educator. She has performed in venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the National Taichung Theater, and codirects the Piedmont Chamber Music Festival. Juliana has served on the faculties of The Juilliard School and Augustana College. She is currently in-house counsel at Amazon. Monika Herzig is a jazz pianist, composer, author, and scholar who serves as ViceRector for Diversity and Internationalization and Professor of Artistic Research at JAM Music Lab Private University in Vienna. An award-winning performer and recording artist, she has toured internationally, published influential jazz scholarship, leads the acclaimed group Sheroes, and advances research and education globally. John Holloway is CEO of Seattle Chamber Music Society, where he advances strategic innovation, community engagement, and

national reach. He founded Vivace Music Foundation and previously led the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival. A 2025 PSBJ 40 Under 40 honoree and Musical America 2025 Top 30 Professional, he champions accessible, sustainable arts leadership.

SPEAKERS

the label’s reputation for sonic excellence. He has overseen the release of Cedille’s more than 240 albums, garnering eight Grammy Awards and 38 nominations.

Clarinetist Seunghee Lee (Sunny) Kang is Board Chair of Concert Artists Guild and a Grammy-nominated artist. She is the founder of Musica Solis and holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Yale School of Music. She serves on the Recording Academy’s Board of Governors (NY Chapter), the Global Council of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the Yale School of Music Board of Advisors.

Paul Katz is known to concertgoers the world over as cellist of the Cleveland Quartet. Katz served for six years as President of Chamber Music America. He founded CelloBello in 2011, which CMA acquired in 2025. A leading professor and coach, Katz has mentored many of today’s top string quartets. He is a distinguished faculty member of New England Conservatory and has taught at many of the world’s most major summer music programs, including 20 years at Ravinia, the Bowdoin, and Aspen Festivals. Miera Kim has been the Executive Director and core violinist of Red Cedar Chamber Music since 2016. Prior to that, she was a private teacher and titled player in Orchestra Iowa and the Quad Cities Symphony. Iryna Krechkovsky is an award-winning violinist, educator, and arts executive. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Chamber Music | OC, where she leads the nationally recognized Pre-College Program. A founding member of Trio Céleste, she has appeared on major broadcast platforms and serves on the summer faculty at the Montecito International Music Festival. Don Lucoff is founder of DL Media and a leading jazz publicist with over four decades of experience promoting artists, labels, and 65

I S A S AP I N KO PF AR T IST S

Valencia Baryton Project You’ve never heard anything like it!

Showcasing!

“Delightfully inventive.” —THE STRAD

What Jurassic Park did for the dinosaurs, VBP is doing for a nearly extinct instrument that once roamed the earth (or at least the concert halls of Europe in Haydn’s day)! Remarkably, Haydn wrote over 160 works for the baryton—a greater number than his string quartets or symphonies. The vast majority were written for VBP’s instrumental combination of baryton, viola, and cello. Founded and directed by Matthew Baker, one of only a handful of baryton players in the world, VBP is dedicated to performing the baryton works of Haydn and his contemporaries, as well as breathing new life into the repertoire by commissioning pieces by some of today’s brightest composers. l

GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE’S CLASSICAL CHARTS, TOP 20 l

BEST CLASSICAL ALBUMS LIST, ALLMUSIC.COM

Recent performances include University of Chicago, the Coleman Chamber Music Series (Los Angeles), Lincoln Friends of Chamber Music, and over 100 other venues in N. America, Europe and Asia in just four years. Educational outreach, a vital part of VBP’s mission, has brought them to rural farm schools, UCLA, London’s Royal Academy of Music, and just about everything in-between.

“You simply can’t get enough of it.”

“Breathtakingly beautiful!”

I S A SAP I N KO PF AR T IST S Camerata Nordica Octet

Thunder Egg Consort

Beo String Quartet

From Sweden

Piano Quartet

Making their New York Début at Carnegie/ Weill Hall on Sept.30, 2026. A limited number of comp tickets available on request.

“A superb concert . . . invigorating and deeply satisfying.” —NEW YORK CLASSICAL REVIEW “Their searing performance . . . by turns deeply felt and virtuosic, caught all this music’s heady rapture.” —TELEGRAPH (UK) “A warm, sweeping and well-appointed reading.” —WASHINGTON POST Repertoire highlights: The Mendelssohn Octet, performed by heart l “The Nordic Seasons” by Camerata member Hanna Helgegren, accompanied by stunning drone video of Scandinavian landscapes l Scandinavian folk music

The Amelia Piano Trio

“The thunder egg is our state rock here in Oregon. It’s a round, lava covered rock which, when split open, reveals a breath-taking opal, jasper or agate—no two are the same, just like a Thunder Egg concert!”

Repertoire highlights of this innovative, half-Mexican quartet include works by triple GRAMMY-winning Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz, and Beo member Sean Neukom l collaborations with Ilya Yakushev, piano and with double bass players in Dvořák’s rarely-programmed Double Bass Quintet.

With members trained at Juilliard and Curtis, their violist is the renowned composer Kenji Bunch.

Extraordinary at outreach, they just completed a 3-week residency at the Bravo!Vail Festival

“Superstars . . . they play brilliantly . . . [and] communicate their love of music more effectively than just about any other group.” —ALICE HARDESTY

Fandango!

Spanish Brass

Flute l Guitar l Violin l Cello

Returning to the concert stage after a 10-year hiatus!

New to Roster!

“Exuded a real sense of command.” —NEW YORK TIMES “Big, bold, direct and unselfconscious.” —WASHINGTON POST “Balance, tonal beauty, and teamwork.” —THE STRAD “Daring, lively, and completely engrossing.” —SEATTLE TIMES

Based right here in Chicago, Fandango! is four award-winning, globe-trotting virtuosi who perform a spicy mix of classical, Spanish, Sephardic and Balkan music.

“Everyone who heard them was completely blown away and elated . . . They have transformed not only the brass quintet, but indeed the idea of chamber music itself. Over 30 years of playing together they have become one instrument with five players.” —MERRIE KLAZEK, Professor of Trumpet, University of Victoria, BC

“Exciting and refreshing . . . nearly sold-out . . . gorgeous sounds . . . brilliant execution . . . a captivating performance . . . colors and panache.” —SOUTH FLORIDA CLASSICAL REVIEW

They play over 100 concerts a year and have given masterclasses at such prestigious institutions as Juilliard, Yale School of Music, The Colburn School, Univ. Chicago and El Sistema Venezuela.

AZNAVOORIAN SISTERS—Cello & Piano l CLARICE ASSAD & JOÃO LUIZ—Brazilian Vocals, Guitar, & Jazz Piano DUO BEAUX ARTS—Piano Duo & 4-Hands l CAVATINA DUO—Flute & Guitar l DUO MAHIDHARA-FORT—Violin/Viola & Piano PAUL GALBRAITH—Classical Guitar l POULENC TRIO—Oboe, Bassoon, Piano THE QUEEN’S SIX—Vocal Ensemble from Windsor Castle l ITALIAN SAXOPHONE QUARTET l KOUZOV DUO—Cello & Piano LOW DOWN DUO—Double Bass & Cello l STEFAN MILENKOVICH, Violin l VIDA GUITAR QUARTET VIRTUOSI OF ASIA—World Music from India and China l ILYA YAKUSHEV—Piano

800-923-1973, 510-428-1533

lsapinkopf@aol.com

www.chambermuse.com

Brian Lynch is a three-time Grammywinning trumpeter, composer, and producer. After apprenticeship with Art Blakey and Horace Silver, he’s collaborated with Eddie Palmieri, Phil Woods, Benny Golson, and Prince, among others. With 25 acclaimed albums and seven Grammy nominations, he’s Professor of Jazz and Studio Music at Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Dinorah Márquez Abadiano established the Latino Arts Strings Program at the United Community Center in 2002. In recognition for her work, she has been invited to the White House for a presidential event under the Obama administration. She was named “Milwaukee Artist and Milwaukee Music Teacher of the Year,” received the National Afterschool Innovator Award and Wisconsin’s Martin Luther King Heritage Award. Liza Malamut is Artistic Director of The Newberry Consort and a founding member of Incantare. A specialist in historical trombones, she has performed with premier period ensembles all over the world. She currently teaches historical trombone at Indiana University and is Director of the University of Chicago Early Music Ensemble. Matt A. Mason is a composer, pianist, and educator whose work spans contemporary classical, electroacoustic, and music theater. An Assistant Professor of Musicianship at Roosevelt University, he teaches music theory, composition, and performance, with interests in post-tonal theory, electroacoustic music, hip hop musicology, and advanced composition. David McCormick is a bowed string specialist, arts administrator, and scholar recognized for curating imaginative performances and guiding prominent arts organizations through the challenges of our time. McCormick is

SPEAKERS

cultural institutions. Since 1989, he has represented major figures in jazz, world, and Latin music while continuing to support prominent international festivals, industry organizations, and educational initiatives worldwide.

executive director of Early Music America, artistic director of Virginia-based Early Music Access Project, and a founding member of medieval ensemble Alkemie.

Shannon McGinnis, pianist, has been recognized for her partnerships with some of the brightest stars in the classical vocal music world. McGinnis holds an administrative appointment as Associate Dean of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she oversees curricular activities and student affairs across the College’s Music, Interdisciplinary, and Theatre Conservatories. Garrett Mendez is a dynamic performer, educator, and arts leader with over 20 years of experience. He is the founding Artistic Director of Project Music, The Archipelago Project, and was the former Music Department Chair at King School in Connecticut. A Bass Trombonist, Garrett has led workshops and residencies around the world. Currently, he serves as Director of Bands at Culver Academies. Jessie Montgomery is a GRAMMY Award– winning composer, violinist, and educator whose work interweaves classical music with vernacular music, improvisation, poetry, and social consciousness. A founding member of PUBLIQuartet and former member of the Catalyst Quartet, she was named Performance Today’s 2025 Classical Woman of the Year and Musical America’s 2023 Composer of the Year.

Hank Mou is Dean and Chief Artistic Officer at New England Conservatory, where he advances institutional strategy, artistic innovation, and student success. Previously Associate Vice President of Artistic Operations at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he developed transformative artistic partnerships, performances, and educational initiatives that prepare musicians for impactful, sustainable professional careers. R. Carlos Nakai is the world’s leading performer of the Native American flute. 69

Congratulations,

Red Cedar Chamber Music on 30 years of outreach to underserved communities, providing unique and intimate concerts featuring innovative collaborations and new works.

website

YouTube

Francesca Neibel-Spruill is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from Chicago. Her musical interests and influences include ideas of individual and collective memory, transformation, and the minutia of nature. She is currently pursuing a B.A. in Studio Art and a B.M. in Composition at Oberlin College and Conservatory. Meagan O’Brien began her career as a mechanical engineer designing airplane cockpit controls. She took improv classes in the evenings, and after seven years of living a double life, she quit engineering to tour with The Second City National Touring Company. From there she began working for Second City Works and now brings improv skills to companies big and small. Jennie Oh Brown serves as Executive Director of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras. Brown is also Artist in Residence at the Epiphany Center for the Arts (Chicago) and serves as flutist, and Executive and Artistic Director of Picosa. Brown is an active performer throughout Chicago, including performances with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera Orchestra. Miriam Owens is the President and CEO of The People’s Music School, Chicago’s largest, 100-percent tuition-free after-school music program. Her career has spanned education, business, and arts. Miriam holds an AB from Harvard University, an MS in Education from Hunter College, and an MBA from the University of Chicago. Crystal Pascucci-Clifford joined InterMusic SF in August 2022, serves as the Executive Director, and is dedicated to nourishing the Bay Area creative environment. As a conservatory-trained cellist and composer,

Crystal has defined a career in arts administration alongside curation, composing, teaching music, performing, and learning.

SPEAKERS

With more than 50 recordings, he has earned 11 Grammy nominations and 10 NAMA awards. Of Navajo-Ute heritage, Nakai tours widely, performing instrumental music that blends Native traditions with contemporary influences.

Dr. Kylie Peppler is a Professor at the University of California, Irvine, where she explores creativity, the arts, and learning. Dr. Peppler’s Wallace Foundation-funded work includes the Connect Arts Learning Framework and Creative Expression, Caring Relationships and Career Pathways: A Guide to Youth Outcomes in Community Arts Programs, introducing a new taxonomy of youth learning outcomes. Oscar Perez has performed, traveled and recorded in the musical groups of Lakecia Benjamin, Wycliffe Gordon, Christian McBride, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and others. His critically-acclaimed Afropean Affair, is the result of a New Works Grant by Chamber Music America. Perez earned a Doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music. He is the Jazz Studies Coordinator at the Cali School of Music at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Linda Petrikova is an Artist Manager and SVP at IMG Artist. For over a decade, she has overseen the global careers of conductors, soloists and chamber musicians. Her roster includes Evgeny Kissin, Murray Perahia, Julia Fischer, the Julia Fischer Quartet, the Calidore String Quartets, Jan Bartoš, Juanjo Mena and Renée Fleming. She has also worked with the late André Previn and the now retired Emerson String Quartet. Nicholas Phan is a Grammy Awardwinning lyric tenor, curator, and educator, celebrated for his expressive artistry and versatility across a repertoire spanning nearly 500 years. In 2010 he co-founded Art Song Chicago to promote art song and vocal chamber music, where he serves as artistic director. Phan is Chamber Music America’s President of the Board of Directors. Dr. David Plylar, Concert Producer at the Library of Congress, develops and produces

programs that celebrate the Library’s historic collections. He is an active writer, pianist, and composer, and is known for his large array of transcriptions for varied forces. Augusta Read Thomas, devoted teacher and generous citizen in the profession, is one of the most critically acclaimed and frequently performed composers working today. According to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she “has become one of the most recognizable and widely loved figures in American Music.” The New Yorker Magazine called Thomas “a true virtuoso composer.” Renate 艶子 Rohlfing is a pianist, music therapist and co-founder of Sounds That Carry: Creative Impact Consultants. As an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, she teaches aboutt the intersection of music, psychology, and public health, and co-directs the Community Health Musician Certificate program. She also serves on the faculty at The Juilliard School and given workshops and presentations worldwide. David Samuel is Assistant Professor of Viola at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, where he champions the intersection of chamber music and education. A founding member of the Afiara String Quartet and former member of the Alexander String Quartet, Ensemble MidtVest, and the Auckland Philharmonia, he has lived and worked in five countries on three continents. Ken Schaphorst is a composer, performer, educator, and Chair of Jazz Studies at New England Conservatory. A founding member of the Jazz Composers Alliance, he is recognized for his innovative large-ensemble writing, award-winning contributions to jazz education, and acclaimed recordings as a bandleader, composer, and director of the NEC Jazz Orchestra. Kate Sheeran is the Joan and Martin Messinger Dean of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. Since her appointment in 2024, she has advanced innovation and interdisciplinary 72

collaboration. Previously, she served as Executive Director of Kaufman Music Center, where she led significant organizational growth, and as Provost and Dean of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Brian Shepard is CEO for Music Teachers National Association. A graduate of Miami University of Ohio, he holds degrees in marketing and music education. In addition to his work at MTNA, Shepard serves on the boards of the National Music Council and the American Classical Music Hall of Fame. Robert Sims, a lyric baritone and Gold Medal winner of the American Traditions Competition, is acclaimed for his masterful interpretation of African American spirituals. His performances span Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and collaborations with leading artists. A dedicated advocate, he created the Lincoln Center production Majesty of the Spiritual. Judith Sherman is an American audio engineer and producer. She has received 15 Grammy Awards for her achievements. She has worked with countless contemporary composers and notable ensembles, including Calidore String Quartet, Kronos Quartet, Cleveland Quartet, and Pacifica Quartet. She is a former CMA Board Member and received CMA’s Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award, in 2009. Melissa Smey is Associate Dean and Executive Director at Columbia University School of the Arts, where she leads Miller Theatre, an acclaimed music venue and producer. Co-creator and host of the podcast Mission: Commission, she is passionate about chamber music, fostering audience development, and nurturing collaborative relationships with creative artists. Melanie Smith is the President of San Francisco Performances, where she serves as both executive and artistic director. Smith has more than 35 years of experience in management and administration both in San Francisco and New York. Her work in

Benjamin Sosland leads the Kovner Foundation’s philanthropic efforts in classical music. Previously Provost and Dean of the Faculty at the New England Conservatory, he also founded the Historical Performance program Kovner Fellowship at Juilliard. A sought-after moderator and speaker, he explores issues at the intersection of music, education, and philanthropy. Cat Tager, Executive Director of 3Arts, is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, recording artist, and lifelong arts advocate. With more than two decades of experience in arts education, programming, and nonprofit leadership, she has championed equity and artist support throughout her career, including eight years as Chair of the 3Arts Board. Scott Tegge, Executive Director of 3Arts, is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, recording artist, and lifelong arts advocate. With more than two decades of experience in arts education, programming, and nonprofit leadership, she has championed equity and artist support throughout her career, including eight years as Chair of the 3Arts Board. Alejandra Valarino Boyer directs Ravinia’s Steans Institute, an artist development program for emerging professional jazz and classical musicians. She previously built fellowship and civic engagement programs at Seattle Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, bridging artists and communities. Valarino Boyer has also championed new works through commissions and artistic initiatives. Jeremy VanSlyke is founder of Leaf Music, an international classical label based in Nashville and Nova Scotia. Trained as a classical musician and recording producer at McGill University and the Banff Centre, he has produced over 100 chamber music recordings, guiding artists from concept through release.

Deanna Witkowski is a pianist, composer, and scholar known for blending jazz, Brazilian, classical, and sacred music. Her book Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul won the 2022 Jazz Journalists Association Award for Biography of the Year. She holds a PhD in jazz studies from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently writing her second book, Jazz in the Pews: Experiments in Sunday Worship in the 1960s.

SPEAKERS

program development, change management, strategic planning, fundraising, and marketing has benefitted organizations across the country.

Andrew Worden is a composer, percussionist, and Interim Associate Director of Commercialization at the University of Oregon. His music has been performed at venues including Carnegie Hall and Chicago Symphony Center. A commissioned artist and mentor, he bridges creative practice, innovation, and entrepreneurship, empowering musicians and arts organizations. Sandy Yamamoto, violinist, is associate professor of practice in violin performance at the University of Texas at Austin. She was a long-time member of the Miró String Quartet from 1996-2011, having won many awards including being one of the first chamber musicians to receive an Avery Fisher Career Grant. David Ying is cellist of the Grammy Awardwinning Ying Quartet and on faculty of the Eastman School of Music where the quartet is ensemble-in-residence. The quartet performs widely and has engaged in significant community building activity since their earliest years in Jesup, Iowa, as recipients of an NEA grant. Ying is also co-artistic director of the Bowdoin International Music Festival. Sarah Ying Ma is a founding member of the Poiesis Quartet, the First Prize and Canadian Commission Prize winners of the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition.. As lovers of new music, Poiesis is currently working on numerous commissions, and recent projects include the release of their debut album. Poiesis Quartet is the 2026 Cleveland Quartet Award recipient through Chamber Music America. 73

THIRD COAST PERCUSSION

CHICAGO’S OWN GRAMMY ® AWARD-WINNING PERCUSSION QUARTET! For more than twenty years, Third Coast Percussion has performed over a thousand concerts around the world and at home in Chicago. In the 2027/28 season, the ensemble collaborates on new programs with pianist Conrad Tao, composer Julia Wolfe, author/illustrator Mo Willems, choreographer Ephrat Asherie, and more.

2026/27 SEASON SCHEDULE

NOW BOOKING 2027/28!

To learn more, contact reba@thirdcoastpercussion.com

STAY IN THE KNOW: @THIRD-COAST-PERCUSSION

@THIRDCOASTPERCUSSION

ALBUM RELEASE ALERT!

TCP + Jlin: Vernacular Available everywhere October 23, 2026

smtd.umich.edu/chamber-music

2026 SUSAN WADSWORTH INTERNATIONAL AUDITIONS

FINAL ROUND

NOVEMBER 8, 2026 BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM (EST)

Who will be the next YCA Ensemble-in-Residence?

WATCH LIVE ON THE VIOLIN CHANNEL Streamed live from New York City TRIO AZURA YCA 2025 Ensemble-in-Residence

EXHIBITORS

Agence Station Bleue Alliance Artist Management` Ariel Artists Arts 28 Bayberry String Quartet Besen Arts, LLC Blair School of Music Boosey & Hawkes The Cliburn Concert Artists Guild (CAG) Curtis Institute of Music David Rowe Artists Delirium Musicum The Dickinson Ensemble Dinin Arts Management & Consulting, LLC Dworkin Company Eastman School of Music Fischoff National Chamber Music Association Frank Salomon Associates, Inc. General Arts Touring, Inc. Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates Heartland Marimba Jensen Artists Latitude 45 Arts Leaf Music Lisa Sapinkopf Artists Mannes School of Music MKI Artists Opus 3 Artists Shupp Artists Management, Inc. Subito Music Corp. UNCSA Chamber Music Festival University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Young Concert Artists YPTC

& PARTNERS

EXHIBITORS

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS & SPONSORS Beinen School of Music at Northwestern University Constellation Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago New England Conservatory Ravinia Steans Music Institute University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance The Violin Channel

CH A M B E R MU S I C A M E R I CA E X T E N D S I T S S I N CE R E A P P R E CI AT I O N TO T H E FO L L OW I N G O RG A N I Z AT I O N S FO R T H E I R G E N E RO U S S U P P O RT: PREMIER PARTNER

GOLD SPONSORS

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

BRONZE SPONSORS

ADDITIONAL SPONSORS & PARTNERS

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Doris Duke Foundation Springer-Lu Family Foundation The Wallace Foundation The New York Community Trust The National Endowment for the Arts The Aaron Copland Fund of Music The Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University

The Amphion Foundation Atherton Family Foundation Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Howard Gilman Foundation Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation Sewell Family Foundation Sonos Foundation The Volgenau Foundation