ECMSA Announces Emerson, Noontime & Family Concert Series

The Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta (ECMSA) celebrates twenty-one years of bringing internationally renowned musicians to the Atlanta community.

The season kicks off with a special event, "Musical Stars at the Emory Planetarium," Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Physicist Richard Williamon, director of the Emory Planetarium, traces the history of Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, accompanied by performances from the Vega String Quartet.

The season features the best of Atlanta's musical talent along with special guests Eugene Skovorodnikov, piano, Philip Thompson, piano, and others.

"The world's greatest music, the finest musicians in Atlanta, and imaginative programming for audiences of all ages will once again be a signature of the ECMSA as we celebrate our 21st season of 'Chamber Music at its Best,' " says William Ransom, ECMSA Artistic Director.

Emory's extraordinary $1 million matching challenge grant from the Abraham J. and Phyllis Katz Foundation continues this year, with ECMSA already halfway to meeting the goal. As part of this effort, ECMSA presents a second season of free concerts, directing all donations to the fund that will keep the Vega String Quartet in residence at Emory forever.

ECMSA offers three distinct concert series, all of them free and open to the public. Highlights include:

Emerson Series (Schwartz Center for Performing Arts)

Oct. 5, 2013 - "Schubertiad," a celebration of one of music's most inspired composers. The program includes "Arpeggione Sonata" (Yinzi Kong, viola, William Ransom, piano) and the "Death and the Maiden" String Quartet (Vega String Quartet).
Mar. 1, 2014 - Vega String Quartet gives the world premiere of a new string quartet by Emory faculty member and composer Richard Prior.

Noontime Series (Michael C. Carlos Museum)

Sept. 27, 2013 - "Twentieth-Century String Quartet Masterpieces," Ravel, Bartok, Shostakovich, and Philip Glass's Quartet No. 5 performed by Vega String Quartet.
Mar. 21, 2014 - Pianist Philip Thomson joins William Ransom for a twenty-fingered rendition of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

Family Series (Michael C. Carlos Museum)

Dec. 15, 2013 - Seasonal favorite "Santa's Favorite Chamber Music" brings Old Saint Nick himself to introduce some of his favorite classical works.
Apr. 27, 2014 - "Musical Animals," featuring Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Carnival of the Animals" by Camille Saint-Saens complete with narration.

All performances are free and on the Emory University campus. The complete season and event details can be found online at arts.emory.edu/ecmsa

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