Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach caps off record season

CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH TO CARRY UNPRECEDENTED MOMENTUM INTO 2023-2024 SEASON, FEATURING RENOWNED ARTISTS AND INSPIRING CONCERT EXPERIENCES

CMSPB primed for continued growth and innovation after highly successful 10th anniversary season

Highlights of the new season include recital debut of violinist Tessa Lark joined by pianist Peter Dugan, renowned mezzo Sasha Cooke, harpist Emmanuel Ceysson of the LA Philharmonic, programs featuring traditional and new repertoire

PALM BEACH, FL – For Immediate Release – The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach (CMSPB) announces its concert programs for the 2023-2024 season. After concluding a highly successful 10th anniversary season, the CMSPB is primed to carry the positive momentum forward to the upcoming season. The 2022-2023 season saw a doubling in single ticket sales, a sold-out anniversary gala celebration, sharply increased revenue, tripling of educational reach, and a broadening of key partnerships (more details below). The CMSPB will build on these successes to further its mission to provide extraordinary performances that connect, transform, and inspire audiences and musicians. 

“The kind of momentum that grew during our 10th anniversary season demonstrates our strategic plan in action,” said Executive Director Ahmad Mayes. “Our growing audience, 32% revenue increase, new partnerships, and other highlights have primed us for many seasons to come. The caliber of artists and thoughtful programming included in the upcoming season reflects that growth.”

Highlights of the 2023-2024 season include performances by such artists as mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, pianist Orion Weiss, pianist Tessa Lark, Jennifer Montone (Principal French Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra), violinist Jennifer Frautschi, harpist Emmanuel Ceysson (principal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic), and violinist and CMSPB Artistic Director Arnaud Sussmann. Peter Dugan returns following his role in the popular “Ravel to the Beatles” concert with the CMSPB in April. The repertoire presented throughout the season pairs traditional works with some less discovered and/or living composers. Works by such composers as Jesse Montgomery, Henry Burleigh, and Marcel Tournier are included, as well as those by Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and Beethoven. In keeping with the CMSPB’s mission and history, the concert season prioritizes the most inspiring and high-quality performances, accessibility to the artists, and inclusion.

“Our recent audience growth demonstrates that Palm Beach is hungry for CMSPB’s unique  experience,” said Artistic Director Arnaud Sussmann. “Our approach to chamber music–one which focuses on building connections between and among artists and audience members–represents a return to the origins of chamber music. Chamber music concerts often took place in homes; they were social gatherings amongst friends, rather informal, but always of the highest quality. I’m ecstatic that our upcoming season is full of the kind of music and artists that can inspire our audiences and be a springboard for meaningful connections.”

10th anniversary season successes (2022-2023)

Audience growth: CMSPB saw an audience growth of over 65% over the previous season, which included three sold-out performances. Single ticket sales doubled. The organization also established new partnerships to reach new audiences such as with Creative Mornings Palm Beach and the 1909 Foundation, Path to College, and Lynn University.

Revenue growth: CMSPB projects a revenue increase of 32% over last season, and is also crossing $1 million in revenue for the first time. This includes a sold out inaugural gala in January which earned over $100,000 in revenue. The CMSPB received increased grant funding from the state of Florida and Palm Beach County, as well as a 15% increase in overall contributed revenue.

Education and community engagement: As CMSPB unrolls its strategic plan, it has prioritized a deepening of relationships with schools in the area, as well as increasing performance and instructional opportunities for school partners such as Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Bak Middle School of the Arts, UB Kinsey Elementary, Conservatory School, and Palm Beach Public Elementary. Educational programming tripled its reach in the 2022-2023 season to 850 students.

Young Friends: The CMSPB launched its “Young Friends of CMSPB” group for audiences ages 45 and under.

Innovative concerts: CMSPB piloted a wildly popular cross-genre concert series with Charles Yang and Peter Dugan presenting “Ravel to the Beatles” concerts.

Expanding reach: CMSPB and Boscobel House and Gardens agreed to a three-year contract to co-present the Boscobel Chamber Music Festival in New York’s Hudson Valley after a successful launch in September 2022. The CMSPB also linked forces with Creative Mornings Palm Beach to present pianist Michael Stephen Brown on “Music and Movement” to young professionals and creatives, with great acclaim.  CMSPB also partnered with the Norton Museum of Art to produce a second edition of the well-received Jewish voices concert, celebrating composers affected by the Holocaust.

New Board members: CMSPB energized its board this season with additions that included Kenneth Wyse, Brian Brady, Judith Kaufman and Christine Ansbacher.

Ticket Information

Support and subscribe membership packages for the 2023-24 season are available now and include exclusive benefits. Season subscriptions go on sale June 16, priced at $475. Subscribers can upgrade to receive valet parking, pre concert receptions, artist dinner invitations and more by becoming a supporting member. Single tickets for the 2023-2024 season go on sale October 1. Tickets are $35-$75. To purchase subscriptions or single tickets, visit cmspb.org. 

All CMSPB audience members can expect an approachable and interactive experience at all concerts. The artists personally introduce the music from stage prior to the performances and are often available for casual meet and greets afterwards. This kind of engagement with artists is available for all audience members, and is a level of accessibility on which CMSPB prides itself.

ABOUT CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH

The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach (CMSPB) has brought extraordinary chamber music performances and educational programming to Palm Beach County and the wider South Florida region since 2013. 

Over nine seasons CMSPB has presented over 100 artists including the Emerson and Harlem string quartets, violinist James Ehnes, pianist Inon Barnatan, and members of the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra, among many others. In 2019 CMSPB introduced frequent guest artist and acclaimed violinist Arnaud Sussmann as its Artistic Director. In his first season Sussmann led CMSPB in launching virtual programming to make CMSPB available to audiences around the globe.

The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach reaches nearly 1,000  students and young musicians each season with hands on access to some of the finest artists and music educators in the world.  Through masterclasses, in-school performances, and open rehearsals, CMSPB aims to fuel the creativity and curiosity of young people and nurture the artists of tomorrow. With support from the Goldner Educational Initiative Fund and the Kovner Foundation, the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach frequently partners with area schools including the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, U. B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary School of the Arts, the Conservatory School, Bak Middle School of the Arts, the Lynn Conservatory, and the UM Frost School of Music to provide access to high quality coaching and performances by CMSPB artists.

In 2022 CMSPB launched the Boscobel Chamber Music Festival in partnership with the Boscobel House and Gardens, a historic house museum located at a scenic site on the Hudson River, just one hour north of New York City. The festival programming features school and community outreach, open rehearsals, and lectures in addition to main stage concerts. The inaugural event reached nearly 1,000 audience members over the nine days and a second festival will occur September 1-10, 2023.

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