Arts at Emory

August 6, 2007
Emory Chamber Music Society celebrates 15th season

By Jessica Moore

In celebration of its 15th anniversary, the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta, Atlanta’s largest and most active chamber music organization, presents its 2007–08 season featuring a variety of renowned guest artists and the Vega String Quartet’s new first violinist, Blanka Bednarz. Vega, Emory’s 2007–08 quartet-in-residence, opens the Emerson Concert Series on Saturday, Sept. 29, in a program dedicated to the late Cherry Emerson, including works by Beethoven, Dvorak and Smetana. In October, Emory Coca-Cola Artist-in-Residence Richard Stoltzman, clarinet, joins the Vega String Quartet and others for a program featuring Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” and Mozart’s “Clarinet Quintet.”

The ECMSA kicks off its free Noontime Series in the Carlos Museum with the first performance of the Vega String Quartet with their newest member, the Polish violinist, Bednarz, and another performance featuring Stoltzman with members of the chamber group in a program of music by Beethoven, Bartók and Poulenc. Also scheduled to perform this season are pianist Victor Asuncion, cellist Benjamin Karp and renowned baritone, John Hornor.

ECMSA’s Family Series, also in the Carlos Museum, offers programs for children including seasonal Halloween, Christmas, Chinese New Year and Easter concerts. Children are often invited to collect various treats after the performances and can even come in costume to the Halloween Concert and meet the English Santa Claus at “Father Christmas’ Favorite Music!”

Under the leadership of artistic director and pianist William Ransom, the ECMSA was named “Best Chamber Music Group in Atlanta” by Atlanta Magazine. Ransom is currently the Mary L. Emerson Professor of Piano and head of the piano faculty at Emory.

For more informaiton, visit www.arts.emory.edu.

SEASON CALENDAR

NOONTIME SERIES
Carlos Museum, Reception Hall, 12–1 p.m.; free

Sept. 21, The Vega String Quartet debuts new first violinist, Blanka Bednarz.

Oct. 19, Richard Stoltzman, clarinet, and ECMSA members, perform Beethoven, Bartok and Poulenc.

Nov. 9, Victor Asuncion, piano, and the Vega Quartet perform Dohnanyi’s Piano Quintet.

Dec. 7, Violinist Eun Sun Lee, a graduate of Juilliard, performs music of Strauss and Mendelssohn.

Jan. 18, The Vega String Quartet performs Shostakovich and Beethoven.

Feb. 15, Cellist Benjamin Karp performs Beethoven and Brahms.

March 7, “Chamber Music with Voice” features John Hornor, baritone, Christina Howell, soprano, and Kate Murray, alto, performing music of Golijov, Brahms and Barber.

April 11, Karen Bentley, violin, performs Grieg’s “Sonata in C Minor.”

May 2, The winner of the Kamisaibara Pianists Festival “Emory Prize” makes their Emory debut.

EMERSON SERIES
Emerson Hall, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Tickets: $20; Emory employees $15; students free;
Arts at Emory Box Office, 404-727-5050

Sept. 29, 8 p.m., The Vega String Quartet with Blanka Bednarz, first violin. Program: Beethoven’s “Op. 95,” Dvorak and Smetana. This concert is dedicated to the late Cherry Emerson.

Oct. 21, 4 p.m., Vega String Quartet with Richard Stoltzman, clarinet, Cecylia Arzewski, violin,
Christopher Rex, cello, and Laura Gordy, piano. Program: Messiaen’s “Quartet for the End of Time” and Mozart’s “Clarinet Quintet.” Cosponsored by the Emory Coca-Cola Artist-in-Residence Program.

Jan. 25, 8 p.m., ECMSA members and Mika Yoshida, marimba, perform music by Steve Reich and string quartets by Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.

March 21, 8 p.m., The Serafin String Quartet and the Vega String Quartet. Program: Haydn Quartet, Gade’s Octet for Strings and new quartet by Emory faculty Richard Prior.

FAMILY SERIES
Carlos Museum, Reception Hall, Sundays, 4 p.m. $4; Museum members (Family level or above)
receive four free tickets.

Oct. 28, Halloween Concert; come in costume and collect treats.

Dec. 9, “Father Christmas’ Favorite Music”; England’s Santa Claus will hand out holiday treats and hear his favorite music played by the Vega Quartet.

Feb. 10, Chinese New Year’s celebration featuring the Vega Quartet and traditional Chinese instruments.

March 23, Easter concert of music by Mozart and Beethoven. Collect Easter eggs afterward.

April 13, Atlanta’s Young Artists: showcase of Atlanta’s talented precollege musicians.

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