Star-Studded Lineup, Iconic Repertoire to Highlight Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach 2024-2025 Season

STAR-STUDDED LINEUP, ICONIC REPERTOIRE TO HIGHLIGHT CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF PALM BEACH 2024-2025 SEASON

Chamber Music Society enters 24/25 fully emerged on the cultural scene and creating unprecedented impact through world-class performances and expanded community engagement

Highlights of the new season include: passionate opening night featuring romantic violin, piano, and string quartet; gala concert showcasing Vivaldi’s beloved “Four Seasons” with 8 top violin soloists, Schubert’s Trout Quintet, and more

PALM BEACH, FL – May 1, 2024 – The Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach (CMSPB) announces its concert programs for the 2024-2025 season – a star-studded lineup highlighted by violinists James Ehnes, Benjamin Beilman, Jennifer Frautschi, and Karen Gomyo, oboist James Austin Smith, clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester, pianist Gloria Chien and Michael Stephen Brown, Emerson Quartet cellist Paul Watkins, and the Escher Quartet.

The CMSPB has achieved unprecedented growth in the past two seasons, doubling audiences through its chamber music series, community outreach and educational programming, and is poised to continue a remarkable expansion into 2024/25 with its most adventurous season yet. With a goal to inspire audiences and build community around music, CMSPB’s upcoming season is a showcase of world-class performances, musical variety, and stirring artistry, shared in an intimate setting that places everyone close to the music.

At the height of CMSPB’s season is the 3rd Annual Gala Concert, January 22, 2025, which will feature a rare opportunity to hear each of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons'' violin concertos paired with Astor Piazzola’s latin-infused companion piece “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.” Bringing these masterpieces to life will be a lineup of eight standout violin soloists (one for each concerto), who come to Palm Beach from stages all over the world. CMSPB is joined by Benjamin Beilman, James Ehnes, Karen Gomyo, Chad Hoopes, Tessa Lark, Yura Lee, Amy Schwartz Moretti, and Arnaud Sussmann. Also on the program is Gran Turismo, a piece by Los Angeles-based composer Andrew Norman, which creates a soundscape reminiscent of a car race. 

“Our upcoming 24/25 season features a remarkable lineup of world-class musicians," shared Arnaud Sussmann, Artistic Director of CMSPB. "Their collective artistry creates an immersive musical experience that transcends words. Join us in our intimate setting for concerts that promise to inspire and deeply engage our audiences."

To accompany CMSPB’s stellar 24/25 lineup are the rollout and expansion of notable community and school facing initiatives. January 2025 will see the full launch of the Rising Artists program, which provides intensive performance, career, and education/community engagement development opportunities to exceptionally talented emerging professional and college-aged musicians. The season will also see a reprise of CMSPB’s new community residency, bringing twice as many free performances to community and social services organizations, such as the Palm Beach VA Medical Center and West Palm Beach Mandel Public Library, which reached 1,100 individuals in winter 2024.

Season highlights

The 2024/25 season highlights include an opening night homage to the great Belgian composer and violinist, Eugene Ysaÿe. One of the most important figures for violin performance of all time, Ysaÿe has inspired generations of violinists. Three masters of the violin–Arnaud Sussmann, Jennifer Frautschi, and Benjamin Beilman–will perform works composed by Ysaÿe and Chausson, whose works were written for and premiered by Ysaÿe. Beilman performs on Ysaÿe’s own 1740 Guarneri de Gesu violin.

An all-Baroque program in March features Bach violin concertos performed by Bella Hristova and 2024 Young Concert Artists winner Oliver Neubauer. Another favorite guest of CMSPB, oboist James Austin Smith, returns with violinist Cindy Wu to perform Bach’s Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C Minor. 

In a stunning April season finale, one of the most beloved chamber music works, Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet, pairs with a hidden gem quintet by a 19th century trailblazer for women composers, Louise Ferranc. The richness of piano and strings is showcased in two masterpieces of resounding brilliance. Pianist Gloria Chien and bassist Blake Hinson of the New York Philharmonic highlight the artist lineup for this grand finale.

Other features on the season include a concert with the globe-trotting Escher Quartet, a vocal recital of Schubert songs and more with tenor Nicholas Phan, and other guest performances by Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, Paul Neubauer, Clive Greensmith, Nick Canellakis, Edward Arron, Jose Franch Ballester, Michael Stephen Brown, and Wu Qian. See below for the full season listing. 

Blazing new trails for classical music in Palm Beach

The upcoming season, along with successes from the soon-to-conclude 2023/24 season, demonstrates that the CMSPB has shed its “hidden gem” persona and has fully emerged as a leader of classical music in the region. 

“We pride ourselves in presenting a level of artistry that you typically find in any of the world’s cultural capitals,” said CMSPB Executive Director Ahmad Mayes. “And while there are other places to see world class chamber music in the area, CMSPB is committed to providing an enriched and differentiated experience by creating unparalleled access to artists and placing the audience at the center of our work. To bring such great talent to Palm Beach, and do so in a way that fosters lasting cultural connections and growth in the region, is a testament to chamber music’s transformational power.”

The 2023/24 season saw continued growth with record ticket sales, donations, and attendance, reaching an audience of 5,800 through concerts, community performances, and educational programs. Six concerts were sold out, and the record-setting gala concert raised over $400,000 in gross revenue. 

The CMSPB remains committed to creating a chamber music experience for today’s audience that prioritizes the most inspiring and high-quality performances, providing relevant connections and accessibility to the music and artists, social experiences, and inclusion.

The CMSPB more than doubled its education and community engagement reach in 2023/24. In January, CMSPB tested its pilot version of its Rising Artists program, nurturing the next generation of chamber music artists and leaders. Also new in 2024 was the March launch of Community Residency Week, offering free performances in schools and other community locations including Mandel Public Library, the VA Medical Center, The Lord’s Place, and Palm Beach County Schools. This program is expected to double its impact in 2024/25. Committed to education, CMSPB doubled its educational program reach through deepened relationships with schools in the area, including partners such as Dreyfoos School of the Arts, Bak Middle School of the Arts, UB Kinsey Elementary, Conservatory School, and Palm Beach Public Elementary. 

Ticket Information

Supporting Memberships and Subscriptions are available now online and by phone. Season packages start at $475 and can be upgraded to a range of membership levels that receive benefits such as valet parking, pre concert receptions, artist dinner invitations and more. Single tickets for the 2024-2025 season go on sale October 1. Tickets range $35-$75 and are always free with a reservation for students and teachers. To purchase visit chambermusicpalmbeach.org or call (561)379-6773.

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 typically 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 11 seasons CMSPB has presented over 140 artists including the Emerson and Harlem string quartets, violinist James Ehnes, pianist Inon Barnatan, and members of the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles 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 1,650  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. 

 # # #