Chamber Music Concerts / 1250 Siskiyou Blvd / Ashland, OR / 97520-5080 

Press Release - For immediate publication

Contact: Jody Schmidt, Executive Director - 541-552-6154; schmidtj@sou.edu

 
 

July 22, 2008 

Chamber Music Concerts Celebrates Its 25^th Anniversary Season

Chamber Music Concerts (CMC) is thrilled to announce its 25^th Anniversary Season, featuring some of the best artists from a quarter-century of world-class concerts. The 2008-2009 season includes the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, the Szymanowski String Quartet, the Aulos Ensemble with soprano Julianne Baird, Quartetto Gelato, the Debussy Quartet with pianist Katherine Chi, the Leipzig String Quartet, the Altenberg Piano Trio, and the Manasse-Nakamatsu Duo (Jon Manasse, clarinet and Jon Nakamatsu, piano). CMC celebrates its anniversary with thirteen concerts this season, from October through April, with all performances at the Southern Oregon University Music Recital Hall. Season tickets are available at a discount, with packages starting at only $100. Single tickets are available for $26/$30, or at $35/$40 for the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Youth tickets for students 22 and under are only $5 for all concerts. Please visit the CMC web site at www.sou.edu/cmc or call the office at 541-552-6154 for details on artists and repertoire and to order tickets. 

“CMC’s 25^th Anniversary is a significant milestone for a chamber music presenter, particularly in a small town,” explained CMC’s Executive Director, Jody Schmidt. “We’ve been planning this celebration for almost two years, and we have several special events and perks for our audience. Most importantly, we worked hard to bring the best roster of musicians we’ve ever had on our series. To have the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble perform two concerts in Ashland is a real coup—this group has an incredibly prestigious reputation.” In addition to top-flight groups, CMC has planned the organization’s first-ever week-long residency, to be presented by the wildly popular Quartetto Gelato. “Quartetto Gelato put on one of the best educational outreach programs we’ve ever seen when they were here a few years back,” Schmidt commented. “We’re thrilled to have them here longer this time so they can reach more people. They were simply amazing—the kids at Ashland High School got a treat that day. We’re planning to go farther afield with programs this time around, and make it to some schools that we normally can’t reach with our groups’ tight schedules. We also have events planned for adults, so everyone will get a chance to see Quartetto Gelato up close.” Also part of the celebration is the 25^th Anniversary CD, a selection of artists and music carefully selected by board member Ilana Rubenfeld. Sponsored by Harry & David, the full-length CD features some of CMC’s favorite chamber groups to appear on its series in the past 25 years. CDs are $20, and all proceeds are donated to the CMC Scholarship Fund for SOU music majors. 

In addition to the Academy of St Marin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, performing on CMC’s series as a string octet, the 2008-2009 line-up includes: the Szymanowski String Quartet, four young men from Poland who have performed together since 1995; the Aulos Ensemble, a Baroque quintet based in New York City that performs on period instruments and will be joined by soprano Julianne Baird; the Canadian Quartetto Gelato, a unique group with violin/operatic tenor, clarinet, cello, and accordion; the Debussy Quartet, chosen as "Best Chamber Music Ensemble" in 1996 by Victoires de la Musique, joined by pianist Katherine Chi; the ever-popular Leipzig Quartet, featuring former principal players from the famous Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig; the Altenberg Piano Trio, which has performed over 900 concerts throughout the world together; and the Manasse-Nakamatsu Duo, featuring two masters: Jon Manasse, clarinet, has served as principal with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; and Jon Nakamatsu, winner of the Gold Medal at the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. 

Jim Collier is the Season Sponsor of CMC’s 25^th Anniversary, and Exclusive Sponsor of the Quartetto Gelato residency. The Education Outreach Program is sponsored by The Darling Family, in memory of William G. Darling, and Lithia, America’s Car & Truck Store. CMC is also grateful to the following concert sponsors: Bob & Wendy Phillips, Ilana Rubenfeld, Peg & Barb Evans, Tom & Karen O'Rourke, Anne Decker, Bob & Jane Hall, Eldon & Barbara Johnson, Anita & Russy Summirawalla, Cynthia White, Jean Conger, People's Bank of Commerce, Ashland Springs Hotel, Thorndike Family Rogue Valley Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Billie Raye and Kurt Uerlings, Susan Ball & Marty & John Strong, and Joyce Epstein. CMC also thanks Bob & Wendy Phillips, Laurie Patterson, Larry Steiner of Edward Jones, People’s Bank of Commerce, Jim & Dale Hardt, and an anonymous sponsor for their support of the Teacher & Student Circle, a program that provides free tickets to area music teachers and their students for CMC’s matinee concerts. CMC is supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.