Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival Announces 40th Anniversary Summer Concert Season

Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival (CCCMF) announces the celebration of 40 years as Cape Cod's premiere presenter of summer chamber music with its 2019 summer season, presenting 12 compelling concerts from August 1 through 23, 7:30 pm, at locations throughout the region. The Festival is programmed under the leadership of Artistic Directors Jon Nakamatsu and Jon Manasse, and Executive Director Elaine Lipton.

"The Festival opened on July 30, 1980 with four concerts, five artists and three venues. Just imagine founder Samuel Sanders's delight if he could see the Festival's longevity and growth over the years," says Artistic Director Jon Nakamatsu.

CCCMF's four-decade celebration boasts a roster of music's virtuosos, highlighted with a return appearance by prominent and beloved Borromeo String Quartet, performing the North American premiere of "Icarus" for string quartet and clarinet by composer Elena Ruehr. RenownedEmerson String Quartet also returns performing Barber's haunting "Adagio for Strings." Hermitage Piano Trio makes its Festival debut, performing a program of exquisite Romantic music. Musicians from New York's radiant Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra perform with legendary pianists and artistic directors past and present - Brian Zeger and Jon Nakamatsu. A long-anticipated highlight is a concert program celebrating the 100th birthday of Composer/Conductor Leonard Bernstein, with a special guest appearance by his daughter Jamie. Musical works by Bernstein and Aaron Copland are featured in the performance, including "Appalachian Spring" in its original scoring for 13 instruments. The Festival's breathtaking, weeklong three concert residency showcases the award-winning Miró Quartet, performing concerts in Cotuit, Dennis and Wellfleet. The ensemble performs together with Manasse and Nakamatsu in its finale, guaranteed to captivate, inspire and thrill.

Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival was founded in 1979 by the late Samuel Sanders, a gifted pianist and accompanist to Itzhak Perlman for thirty years. Sanders' goal was to establish a continuous presence of first-rate chamber music concerts on Cape Cod. As the Festival celebrates four decades, it excels under the leadership of its Artistic Directors, the team of Jon Manasse (clarinetist) and Jon Nakamatsu (pianist), both acclaimed musicians who represent the top ranks of American chamber music, as a duo and as individual artists. "The Jons", as they are known, work closely with Executive Director Elaine Lipton, along with the help of an active Board and more than 60 local volunteers, to bring a stellar mosaic of talent to the Cape. In addition to its annual summer season of 12 concerts, community and school outreach programs and an annual benefit in New York, it partners with local cultural organizations for educational programs and fundraising.

The Festival continues Sam Sanders' tradition of showcasing emerging talent by presenting accomplished musicians early in their careers. Over the years this has included such famed musicians as Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, the Parker Quartet and Jupiter Quartet, among others. Programming spans the 17th to 21st centuries, with periodic commissions from such composers as John Corigliano, William Bolcom and Osvaldo Golijov. The Festival owns several quality grand pianos housed at its Cotuit, Chatham and Wellfleet venues, utilized year-round by community members and other arts organizations.

CCCMF presents the finest classical and contemporary music by both world-class ensembles and exceptional young, emerging artists to Cape Cod audiences, developing new and younger audiences for chamber music. It commissions new chamber works whenever possible; and provides educational activities and programs that encourage, broaden and deepen the appreciation of the chamber music art form. The Festival has become synonymous with great chamber music at the height of tourist season on the Cape. Outreach programs have served students in the Barnstable, Chatham and Nauset school districts, and at the May Center in Chatham, as well as the residents of Thirwood Place in Yarmouth and the Riverview School in Sandwich.

Concerts are held in six communities, ensuring maximum accessibility to Cape Cod audiences, at these venues:

Wellfleet: First Congregational Church, 200 Main Street

Orleans: Church of the Holy Spirit, 204 Monument Road

Chatham: First Congregational Church: 650 Main Street (at the Rotary)

Dennis: Dennis Union Church: 713 Main Street (Route 6A)

Cotuit: Cotuit Center for the Arts: 4404 Falmouth Road (Route 28)

Falmouth: Falmouth Academy's Simon Center for the Arts, 7 Highfield Drive, Falmouth

Ticket orders received on or before June 30: $36 general admission; $15 for college students with ID); FREE for attendees 18 and under. General admission to three or more concerts: $34 per ticket. Emerson String Quartet concert: $50 (whether individually purchased or as part of the three-concert package).

Ticket orders received on or after July 1: $40 general admission; $15 for college students (with ID); FREE for attendees 18 and under. General admission to three or more concerts: $38 per ticket. Emerson String Quartet concert: $55 (whether individually purchased or as part of the three-concert package).

Festival seating is limited to venue capacity, advance purchase is recommended. Tickets purchased online can be printed at home or picked up at will call at the performances. Tickets may also be purchased by calling or visiting the box office at 508-247-9400 or at 3 Main Street, Unit 6, North Eastham. Box office hours are 10 am to 3 pm, Monday through Friday. Phone orders are available until 12 noon on the day of each concert.

For more information about Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival's 2016 season, performers, mission and venues, visit capecodchambermusic.org, or follow Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival on Facebook and Twitter.

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