The Montana Chamber Music Society (MCMS) announces the Montana Chamber Music Festival playing in Livingston at the Shane Lalani Center for the Arts on Friday, July 8 at 7:30 pm
MCMS was founded in 2009 from the beginnings of the chamber music festival begun by members of the Muir String Quartet in 1979. From its inception, the goal of MCMS was to organize, sponsor, and develop educational opportunities for classical musicians of every age, and extend performances to the public. The mission of Montana Chamber Music Society is to advance chamber music by delivering the highest quality performances in the Big Sky country, and to expand ongoing cultural relevance for all by engaging a diverse public.
The festival furthers this goal by presenting the chamber music festival in partnership with Montana communities for 34 years and building relationships between festival musicians and attendees. Tickets for the performances range from $25-30 and up to $10 for students. Thanks to a MCMS sponsor, the tickets in Helena are FREE!
The Festival Program and Artists
MOZART Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-Flat Major
Michele Levin, piano; Angella Ahn, violin; Karen Dreyfus, viola; Sara Stalnaker, cello
DARIUS MILHAUD La cheminée du roi René (1939)
The Bridger Winds: Kathleen Reynolds, bassoon; Bill Scharnberg, French horn; Sue Makeever, flute; Sandy Stimson, oboe; Greg Young, clarinet
BRAHMS Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor
Michele Levin, piano; Peter Zazofsky, violin; Karen Dreyfus, viola; Sara Stalnaker, cello
When Muir Quartet founder and artistic director, Mike Reynolds, retired from MCMS in 2021, he invited Angella Ahn to become the artistic director. Angella is Associate Professor of Music, MSU School of Music and continues her professional career as violinist with the Ahn Trio.
“We are so excited for this summer’s festival,” said artistic director Angella Ahn. “We have two delightful piano quartets, Mozart’s E-flat Major and Brahms’ G Minor, both featuring MCMS veteran pianist Michele Levin. I can’t think of a more beautiful pianist to play these masterpieces. The two quartets will be bookends to Darius Milhaud’s charming seven-movement work for woodwind quintet, La cheminée du roi René, featuring Bozeman’s own Bridger Winds.”