News

Congratulations go out to CMC ensembles for their participation and fantastic performances at the Chicago Chamber Music Competition this past weekend!

CMC groups participating were the Emerald Trio (Audrey Watkins, flute; Brendan Box, bassoon; Emily Sproule, piano), Spielen (Matthew Crickard, violin; Maggie Payne, viola; Celia Burke, cello; Jessica Stevanus, piano), and Quintet Con Brio (Logan Rifenburg, Alexander Locke, violins; Olivia Degitz, viola, Eric Magnuson, cello; Jacob Murray, piano).

35 ensembles participated in the day's competition, 16 in the "OPEN Division" in which our three groups competed.

Included in the panel of judges were From the Top's Tom Vignieri, music producer, and Tom Rosenburg, Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition Artistic Director. The other judges included Jeremy Black, Pittsburg Symphony, Walfrid Kujala, Prof. of flute at Northwestern, and Channing Philbrick, trumpet with Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Tom Vignieri and I spoke via phone after the competition was complete. He remarked on how much he Loved the Trio!, Spielen performed with spirit, The Quintet played with great enthusiasm! and how he enjoyed hearing all the levels and mixes of the ensembles throughout the day.

I couldn't have asked for more from each of our CMC ensembles. They rehearsed and warmed-up with great focus and compassion for one another and it paid off in their performance for not only the ensemble, but for the audience who were presented with delightful and moving readings of repertoire from Mozart, Beethoven, Poulenc (Tom V told me that this was one of his favorite performances for the day), Granados and Borodin (he remarked about how he thought these were great works for the group), and Prout.

Thank you to all the parents, family and friends who attended and supported our students. It was a great trip and we look forward to participating again next year!

Debbie

(Photo by Robert P. Burke)