Chamber Music on the Fox announces ninth season
Chamber Music on the Fox recently announced a diverse and colorful array of concerts to celebrate its ninth season.
Entitled "Kaleidoscope," the 2022-23 season features an ambitious lineup that predominantly highlights female artists and ensembles. Appearing this season are internationally renowned piano virtuoso Anne-Marie McDermott and the highly acclaimed early-music ensemble The Newberry Consort, among others.
Chamber Music on the Fox also will be expanding its offerings this season, presenting two concerts in Aurora in addition to its Elgin/Dundee concerts. The season will also be available online for virtual viewing.
"Experiencing live music is like looking at our own humanity through a unique and beautiful lens, giving us a chance to see a palette of colors and feel a range of emotions that transcends our own lived experiences, all while basking in the creative spontaneity of the artists on stage," said Executive Director Sara Sitzer. "There is nothing else like live performance, and we are so grateful for its return!"
The season opens on Sept. 18, with a second annual collaboration with the City of Elgin and Seigle Foundation. "Inspired Elgin: An Immersive Arts and Cultural Experience includes a free concert at the Hemmens Cultural Center featuring the internationally acclaimed pianist Anne-Marie McDermott performing alongside the Chamber Music on the Fox chamber players in a program of Haydn, Beethoven, and Schumann.
The performance will be accompanied by food trucks, pop-up performances, and family-friendly arts activities on the Civic Plaza from 1 to 5 p.m.
Immediately following Inspired Elgin on Sept. 18, Chamber Music on the Fox hosts a gala fundraiser on the Hemmens stage. Guests at Backstage Pass will enjoy hors d'oeuvres, custom cocktails, a silent auction, and a chance to mingle with internationally acclaimed concert pianist, Anne-Marie McDermott, all while supporting Chamber Music on the Fox.
On Oct. 17, Chamber Music on the Fox presents "A Viennese Rivalry: String Quintets of Brahms and Bruckner." This will be an evening of string quintets by Bruckner and Brahms, taking place at Elgin's newest venue, the charming, intimate Ashbury.
Chamber Music on the Fox kicks off the holiday season on Nov. 28 with a concert featuring the Alloy Horn Quartet at the Ashbury in Elgin. The ensemble of four French horns will perform traditional holiday favorites as well as works by Gina Gillie, Emma Gregan, and Johannes Brahms. This performance will also take place at New England Congregational Church in Aurora on Nov. 27.
The acclaimed early-music ensemble The Newberry Consort appears on the series on Jan. 30, 2023, at the First Congregational Church of Dundee. The program, "In Stile Moderno: Virtuoso Music from the Seicento and Beyond," explores music for Baroque violin, soprano, sackbut, and historical keyboards through a journey to the weird and wonderful world of 17th-century Italy and beyond.
In a world where white, male, European composers tend to dominate classical programs, the Chamber Music on the Fox celebrates Women's History Month by highlighting the works of Amy Beach and Florence Price, performed by an all-female ensemble. Featuring the Kaia String Quartet and pianist Liang-yu Wang, the program entitled "Rediscovered: Piano Quintets of Florence Price and Amy Beach" will take place on March 13, 2023, at the First Congregational Church of Dundee.
To round out the ninth season, Chamber Music on the Fox welcomes Seraph Brass, a well-traveled and all-female brass ensemble, presenting "Colors of Brass."
Finishing the "Kaleidoscope" season with a colorful flair, the ensemble will perform works that paint a picture from across the full musical spectrum. The program will take place at New England Congregational Church in Aurora on April 30, 2023, and at the Ashbury in Elgin on May 1, 2023.
Citing accessibility as a key tenant of the Chamber Music on the Fox's mission, all concerts are priced between $20-30, with $10-15 student tickets.
Additionally, this year, it has partnered with the Gail Borden Public Library to offer tickets to each of the subscription concerts for free. Library card holders may register on the Gail Borden website to attend a concert.
Founded by Elgin Symphony Orchestra musicians Mark Fry and Sara Sitzer, Chamber Music on the Fox is a world-class classical chamber music series serving Elgin, Aurora, and the greater Fox Valley region, whose mission is to present engaging, enriching, and immersive performances and cultural experiences that enhance and enrich the cultural offerings of the area. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information, see ChamberMusicontheFox.org and follow www.facebook.com/ChamberMusicOnTheFox/ and instagram.com/chambermusiconthefox/.