43rd Annual
Rockport Chamber Music Festival

Barry Shiffman, artistic director

June 7-July 7, 2024
July 16 | August 11 | August 25

The 2024 Rockport Chamber Music Festival opens on June 7, 2024 and this year Artistic Director Barry Shiffman has assembled an intriguing blend of some of the most exciting artists of this new generation along with established, world-renowned chamber musicians at the peak of their careers. From Artistic Director Barry Shiffman:

What a joy to be able to share the details of our beloved Rockport Chamber Music Festival. The artists span generations—from the brilliant concert artists of the new generation to legendary soloists including pianist Garrick Ohlsson, cellist Steven Isserlis and The King’s Singers.  I want listeners to have experiences that are transformative. Music should be visceral, immediate, and real. It tugs at your emotions—it provokes, it comforts and it transforms. Join us.

Friday, June 7 :: 7:30 PM
Opening Night
GARRICK OHLSSON, piano

Winner of the 1970 Chopin International Piano Competition, pianist Garrick Ohlsson is world-renowned for his magisterial interpretive and technical prowess. Although long regarded as one of the world’s leading exponents of the music of Chopin, Mr. Ohlsson’s enormous repertoire ranges over the entire piano literahttps://rockportmusic.org/chooi-brothers/ture. His Opening Night recital will include works of Beethoven, Schubert and Chopin.

Saturday, June 8 :: 5 PM*
CHOOI BROTHERS, violins
Clayton Stephenson, piano

Internationally acclaimed violinists Nikki and Timothy Chooi bring a thrilling program of works by Corigliano, Shostakovich and Sarasate.  Both artists bring dynamic stage personas and established careers–Nikki is concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Timothy is the First Prize winner of the Joachim International Violin Competition.

Sunday, June 9 :: 5 PM
DOVER QUARTET

Joel Link, violin | Bryan Lee, violin | Julianne Lee, viola | Camden Shaw, cello
Named one of the greatest string quartets of the last 100 years by BBC Music Magazine, the two-time GRAMMY-nominated Dover Quartet’s successes include a stunning sweep of all prizes at the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, grand and first prizes at the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, and the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant. The Dover performs a program of Mozart, Janáček and Shostakovich.

Thursday, June 13 :: 7:30 PM
THIRD COAST PERCUSSION
& BLAKE POULIOT, violin

Grammy® Award-winning quartet Third Coast Percussion has been praised for “commandingly elegant” (New York Times) performances and the “rare power” (Washington Post) of their recordings. They join classical phenom Blake Pouliot, who has established himself as “one of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime” (Toronto Star), to perform Lou Harrisons Concerto for violin with percussion orchestra, as well as a work by Jessie Montgomery.

Friday, June 14 :: 7:30 PM
CHRISTINA AND MICHELLE NAUGHTON, piano duo

Back by popular demand, the incredibly talented Naughton sisters (the first piano duo to win the coveted Avery Fisher Grant) bring a spectacular program of pieces by Mozart, Ravel, Debussy, Rachmaninoff and more.

Saturday, June 15 :: 11 AM
FILM: THE LAST REPAIR SHOP

Winner of the 2024 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short, The Last Repair Shop tells the story of four unassuming heroes who ensure no student is deprived of the joy of music. It is also a reminder of how music can be the best medicine, stress reliever and even an escape from poverty. Free, reservations are encouraged.

Saturday, June 15 :: 5 PM*
BACH TO PIAZZOLLA
BLAKE POULIOT, violin solo

Ensemble: Terra Quartet | Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola  | Barry Shiffman, viola | Mihail Jojatu, cello | Arlen Hlusko, cello | Jeremy McCoy, double bass
As “one of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime” (Toronto Star), violinist Blake Pouliot has anchored himself among the ranks of classical phenoms. The tenacious young artist, with an all-star ensemble, performs a spectacular program including Bach’s Brandenburg No. 6, Golijov’s Last Round and Piazzolla’s dynamic Four Season of Buenos Aires.

Sunday, June 16 :: 5 PM
THE WESTERLIES

The Westerlies, “an arty quartet…mixing ideas from jazz, new classical, and Appalachian folk” (New York Times), navigate jazz, classical and folk with the precision of a string quartet, the audacity of a rock band, and the charm of a family sing-along.

Thursday, June 20 :: 7:30 PM
INON BARNATAN, piano

A renowned pianist who was the first Artist-in-Association with the New York Philharmonic and is now the Music Director of the La Jolla Summerfest. He regularly performs with BBC Symphony and the LA Philharmonic when he is not performing with his regular musical partner Renee Fleming. Barnaton performs a program of works by Rameau, Ravel, Stravinsky and Rachmaninoff.

Friday, June 21 :: 7:30 PM
SIRENA HUANG, violin
DREW PETERSON, piano

Sirena Huang, Gold Medalist of the 11th Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis, has been praised by The Baltimore Sun for her “impeccable technique…deeply expressive phrasing…and poetic weight.” She is joined by pianist Drew Petersen, recipient of the 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant and winner of the 2017 American Pianists Awards, in a performance of works by Beethoven, Debussy, Paganini and much more.

Friday, June 21 :: 9:45 PM
CABARET: PORTER TO PUCCINI
Sydney Baedke, soprano | Terra Quartet | More to come

Led by the dynamic soprano Sydney Baedke and the Terra Quartet, Festival artists let their hair down with an irreverent program of American Songbook, opera and more.

Saturday, June 22 :: 5 PM*
ALL-CHOPIN
Eric Guo, piano | Colin Carr, cello | Terra Quartet

An evening of Chopin chamber music brought by acclaimed cellist Colin Carr, pianist Eric Guo (winner of 2023 Chopin Competition on Period Instruments), and the Terra Quartet (Silver Medalist in the 2023 Melbourne Chamber Competition), among others. The concert culminates with Chopin’s spectacularly grand Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11, arranged for piano and string quartet.

Sunday, June 23 :: 12:30 PM
Family Concert: SONGS BY THE SEA

A 45-minute family-friendly concert that shares songs inspired by the sea. Featuring vocal sensation Sydney Baedke and the celebrated Terra String Quartet, join us for songs of love and friendship. 

Sunday, June 23 :: 5 PM
TERRA QUARTET & GUESTS
Terra Quartet | Colin Carr, cello | Barry Shiffman, viola | Sydney Baedke, soprano

A chamber concert of 19^th and early 20^th century composers that ranges from Mendelssohn’s melancholy String Quartet Op, 80 to Zemlinsky’s Maiblumen Blühten überall for voice and ensemble. The all-star ensemble is led by the Terra Quartet, Silver medalist of the Melbourne Chamber Competition.

Thursday, June 27 :: 7:30 PM
BRIDGET KIBBEY, harp
& VIANO QUARTET

Chris Elchico, clarinet | DeMarre McGill, flute | Jeremy McCoy, double bass
Internationally acclaimed harpist Bridget Kibbey is known for diving deep into baroque music, French Belle Époque, Nuevo Latino traditions and beyond. She is joined by the Viano Quartet, which won First Prize at the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition, and ensemble to perform works of Debussy and Ravel.Preview Changes (opens in a new tab)

Friday, June 28 :: 7:30 PM
STEVEN ISSERLIS, cello
CONNIE SHIH, piano

World renowned British cellist Steven Isserlis enjoys a distinguished career as soloist, chamber musician, educator, author and broadcaster. He and pianist Connie Shih, join together to perform works by Beethoven, Fauré, Boulanger and Adès.

Saturday, June 29 :: 5 PM*
MAHAN ESFAHANI, harpsichord
& VIANO QUARTET

Demarre McGill, flute | Barry Shiffman, violin/viola | Jeremy McCoy, double bass
Renowned harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and the Viano Quartet, First Prize winner at the 2019 Banff Competition, along with guest artists, join together for a performance featuring J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto, No. 5, as well as the East Coast premiere of a new work by Gavin Bryars (co-commissioned by Rockport Music) and works by CPE Bach.

Sunday, June 30 :: 5 PM
MOZART & FAURÉ

Stella Chen, violin | Matthew Lipman, viola | Brannon Cho, cello | Evren Ozel, piano
Violinist Stella Chen, winner of Gramophone’s 2023 Young Artist of the Year and First Prize of 2019 Queen Elizabeth Violin Competition, returns to the Festival with a star-studded quartet of artists to perform Mozart’s Divertimento and Fauré’s Piano Quartet, Op. 45.

Friday, July 5 :: 7:30 PM
A FAR CRY
with Kinan Azmeh, clarinet & Dinuk Wijeratne, piano

Grammy-nominated “world-wide phenomenon” (WBUR) A Far Cry, named Boston’s best classical ensemble by The Improper Bostonian, will be joined by clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh, hailed by The Times for his “brilliant liquidity and meltingly beautiful tone,” and pianist/composer Dinuk Wijeratne to perform Wijeratne’s new Clarinet Concerto (co-commissioned by Rockport Music) as well as Janáček’s beautiful work Idyll, among other works.

Saturday, July 6 :: 7:30 PM*
THE KING’S SINGERS

A cappella group The King’s Singers’ extensive discography has led to numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and a place in Gramophone magazine’s inaugural Hall of Fame.

Saturday, July 6 :: 9:45 PM
CABARET: CHOPIN TO GERSHWIN

Mackenzie Melemed, piano | Radovan Vlatković, French horn | Luri Lee, violin | Graeme Steele Johnson, clarinet | Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Our star-studded Festival artists come together for a rip-roaring night of fun! Get ready for some Americana “classics” that will send your heart soaring with Ravel’s Violin Sonata to the bluesy sounds of Gershwin’s An American in Paris and the toe-tapping fun of Gould’s Boogie Woogie!

Sunday, July 7 :: 5 PM
FESTIVAL CLOSING NIGHT

Radovan Vlatković, French horn | Mackenzie Melemed, piano | Ryan Roberts, oboe | Yoobin Son, flute | Graeme Steele Johnson, clarinet | Bee Ungar, bassoon | Luri Lee, violin | Barry Shiffman, viola | Nicholas Canellakis, cello
The Festival closes with a bit of drama and poetry, featuring French hornist Radovan Vlatković, who served as principal horn of the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester. This concert highlights Poulenc’s dramatic, yet with a jovial flair, Sextet for piano and winds, Schubert’s “Notturno” Trio and Dohnanyi’s Sextet, Op. 37, which is described as having the whimsey of Gershwin with the grandness of Brahms and Mahler.

FESTIVAL ANNEX

Tuesday, July 16 :: 7:30 PM
CANADIAN BRASS

With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group.”

Sunday, August 11 :: 5 PM
CHARLES RICHARD-HAMELIN, piano

Internationally-acclaimed pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin, brings a program of works highlighting the dramatic range of  their “waltzes” (valses) from Granados to Chopin. Since his 2014 Silver Medal win in the Chopin International Competition, he has performed through North America and Europe in recital and soloed with major orchestras.

Sunday, August 25 :: 5 PM
BORROMEO QUARTET
with David Deveau, piano & Barry Shiffman, viola

The Borromeo Quartet, dubbed “simply the best” by the Boston Globe, is joined by pianist David Deveau, artistic director emeritus of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, and current Artistic Director Barry Shiffman on viola to perform works of J.S. Bach, Mozart and Brahms.

Thank you to our Festival Corporate Partner!

*Please note that Saturday concerts during the Festival are at 5 p.m. in June and 7:30 p.m. in July.

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