Chamber Music Guild

If you are unable to come to our fundraising event this Sunday but would like to support our chamber music programs, consider making a gift through GiveBIG! https://www.wagives.org/organization/Chambermusicguild

Cheers to Chamber Music!

Get your tickets today for our May 7th fundraising event at Tinte Cellars Tasting Room in Georgetown!

Cheers to Chamber Music! Please join us at Tinte Cellars in Georgetown to celebrate and support inspirational chamber music experiences for youth and adults. Guests will enjoy intima...

Our first Solo and Ensemble Prep Workshop!

On we would like to encourage you to consider a gift in support of our chamber music programs: https://www.chambermusicguild.org/support

We just found out that our Artistic Director, Skyros Quartet will be playing on Northwest Focus Live tonight at 8pm on Classical KING FM 98.1 - tune in if you can!

Grieg for Four

CMG Artistic Director Skyros Quartet is performing Grieg at the National Nordic Museum tomorrow at 2pm. Looks like a great concert!

Grieg for Four The Northwest Grieg Society presents "Grieg for Four" as part of their 2022-23 season.

CMG Artistic Director Skyros Quartet will be performing with Philharmonia Northwest in its season opening concert, Reinvention. From the Philharmonia Northwest website:

“Our season opener explores how modern composers reinvented music of the past. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw was inspired by how music can “suddenly take you to the other side of Alice’s looking glass, in a kind of absurd, subtle, technicolor transition,” and wrote Entr’acte after hearing one of Haydn’s String Quartets. Based on Handel’s Concerto Grosso, Arnold Schoenberg‘s Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra is a rebellion against the Handelian style. Igor Stravinsky‘s charming Pulcinella is based on songs of the 18th-century composer Giovanni Pergolesi, with modern harmonies and orchestration.”

Julia Tai, Conductor
Town Hall Seattle
Sunday, October 9 @ 2:00PM

PROGRAM:
Caroline Shaw: Entr’acte
Arnold Schoenberg: Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra in B-flat major (after Handel’s Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 7)
Igor Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite

Discovery Workshop - Chamber Music Guild

Sign up now for the November 5th Discovery Workshop! This is the same type of workshop previously called Day of Madness.

Discovery Workshop - Chamber Music Guild Love to play chamber music? Never played chamber music but always wanted to? If you are an amateur adult musician or a student musician age 13 or older, come and join us for a fun-filled day meeting and playing with other musicians and exploring the wonderful world of chamber music.

How to Add a Little Sparkle to Your Stringed Instrument | Strings Magazine

We think string instruments are beautiful as they are, but here are some funny ideas.

How to Add a Little Sparkle to Your Stringed Instrument | Strings Magazine If you’re longing to personalize your musical style—add a little bling to your strings, as it were—here's where you might find just the right gear to make you cheer.

Chamber Music Guild updated their website address.

Chamber Music Guild updated their website address.

Support Chamber Music Madness on Washington Gives

Consider a gift of support during GiveBIG2022!

Support Chamber Music Madness on Washington Gives MissionChamber Music Madness provides educational and inspirational chamber music experiences for youth and adults, fostering life-long learning and an ever-expanding community of chamber music players. Our programs empower generations of musicians by providing access to...

Opus 4: Episode 5 – The Neverending Story – The Counterpoint Club

Listen to the 5th and final episode of the 4th season (Opus) of our podcast, hosted by Skyros Quartet!

Opus 4: Episode 5 – The Neverending Story – The Counterpoint Club Opus 4: Episode 5 – The Neverending Story Published December 21, 2021 by Editor The final episode of Opus 4 is all about the end. How do we know we’ve gotten there? For musicians of all levels, it can be extremely tricky to know when something is ready, when the practice and rehearsals are over,...

Opus 4: Episode 4 – I Know What You Did Last Summer: Chamber Music Edition – The Counterpoint Club

Check out the latest episode of The Counterpoint Club podcast, "I Know What You Did Last Summer: Chamber Music Edition."

Opus 4: Episode 4 – I Know What You Did Last Summer: Chamber Music Edition – The Counterpoint Club Opus 4: Episode 4 – I Know What You Did Last Summer: Chamber Music Edition Published December 14, 2021 by Editor In the fourth episode of Opus 4 of The Counterpoint Club, I Know What You Did Last Summer, the Skyros Quartet goes on a tour of music festivals! In the history segment, Justin discusses...

Today is ! Please consider a gift in support of our youth chamber music programs! http://www.chambermusicmadness.org/support/

Opus 4: Episode 3 – Rock ’n’ Roll Never Dies – The Counterpoint Club

"Rock ’n’ Roll Never Dies," Opus 4: Episode 3 of The Counterpoint Cub podcast is available now! Subscribe through your favorite podcast platform, or listen online on the TCC website.

Opus 4: Episode 3 – Rock ’n’ Roll Never Dies – The Counterpoint Club Opus 4: Episode 3 – Rock ’n’ Roll Never Dies Published November 23, 2021 by Editor In the third episode of Opus 4 of The Counterpoint Club, Rock ’n’ Roll Never Dies, the Skyros Quartet examines how the spirit of originality and pushing boundaries found in rock music has its roots in classi...

Ray Chen Breaks a String – Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

A string player's nightmare, but this shows some fast thinking under pressure!

Ray Chen Breaks a String – Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto Ray Chen breaks a string during a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, conducted by Ludovic Morlot.Seattle Symphony Live: https://live.seattlesympho...

The Counterpoint Club

An exciting milestone for our chamber music podcast!

The Counterpoint Club Join The Counterpoint Club with the Skyros Quartet as we explore chamber music history, rehearsal ideas, performance techniques, and conversations with special guests - all with a dash of frivolity! The Counterpoint Club is a program of the nonprofit organization Chamber Music Madness located in Sea...

Opus 4: Episode 1 – The Counterpoint Coven – The Counterpoint Club

The latest episode of our podcast is available now. Listen to "The Counterpoint Coven" on the website, or through your favorite podcast service.

Opus 4: Episode 1 – The Counterpoint Coven – The Counterpoint Club Opus 4: Episode 1 – The Counterpoint Coven Published October 23, 2021 by Editor Opus 4 of the Counterpoint Coven…Club (no witches here, this is a completely serious, no-fun-allowed production), begins with an enchanting episode about the spookiest and creepiest aspects of classical music. Sarah ...

Be on the lookout later this week for a spooky first episode of Opus 4 of The Counterpoint Club, our educational chamber music podcast!

Wayward Music Series | Skyros Quartet + arx duo: Bows & Mallets | October 12, 2021

You can listen to The Counterpoint Club-One Pulse to Rule Them All - to hear Skyros chat with the arx duo! http://www.thecounterpointclub.org/opus-1-episode-2/

Wayward Music Series | Skyros Quartet + arx duo: Bows & Mallets | October 12, 2021 A daring program by the arx duo and Skyros Quartet mixes rhythm and melody in an intricate and beautiful tapestry. New works commissioned by the ensembles are featured alongside other wonderful pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries. Featuring new works from Michael Laurello and Christopher James D...

Skyros Quartet is performing on Classical KING FM 98.1 NW Focus Live at 8 pm PDT this evening! Can be streamed from anywhere in the world.

Chamber Music MAGIC, a fundraiser for Chamber Music Madness

Did you know that May is ? How are you celebrating? Our Artistic Director, Skyros Quartet has been able to start safely rehearsing again—last month's virtual fundraiser featured their first performance together in over a YEAR! Celebrate the MAGIC of chamber music and enjoy this recording of our fundraiser!

Chamber Music MAGIC, a fundraiser for Chamber Music Madness The live event was presented April 24th, 2021, at 7pm PDT. To make a gift of support to our programs, visit chambermusicmadness.org and click on the Donate b...

The Counterpoint Classroom Companion Resource for Opus 3 Is Now Available! – The Counterpoint Club

We're very excited to announce the release of the Teacher Guide for Opus 3 of The Counterpoint Club podcast. It is FREE to download and use!

The Counterpoint Classroom Companion Resource for Opus 3 Is Now Available! – The Counterpoint Club The Counterpoint Classroom Companion Resource for Opus 3 Is Now Available! Published May 4, 2021 by Editor We are excited to announce our latest installment of The Counterpoint Classroom, a companion resource to The Counterpoint Club. The Counterpoint Classroom is a free resource designed to help or...

We have rolled GiveBIG into our Spring Fundraiser goals. Please consider a gift in support of our programs tomorrow or Wednesday! https://www.givebigwa.org/chambermusicmadness

GiveBIG is coming up next week! For your convenience, gifts can be pledged early online.

Thank you so much to everyone who attended our Chamber Music Magic fundraiser on Saturday, and to everyone who has made a gift to support our programs. It was great to hear from our student participants, and to see the first public performance by Skyros Quartet in more than a year! We hope you enjoyed the event as much as we did!

Join us Saturday evening for Chamber Music MAGIC, a fundraiser for Chamber Music Madness programs. The event will feature a performance by Skyros Quartet! The event is free to attend. Register online: http://www.chambermusicmadness.org/chamber-music-magic-registration/

Opus 3: Episode 4 – Let Them Eat Cake – The Counterpoint Club

Episode 4 of The Counterpoint Club podcast, "Let Them Eat Cake," is up now. Listen on your favorite podcast app, or on the website.

Opus 3: Episode 4 – Let Them Eat Cake – The Counterpoint Club Opus 3: Episode 4 – Let Them Eat Cake Published April 13, 2021 by admin In the fourth episode of Opus 3 of The Counterpoint Club, Let Them Eat Cake, we discuss balancing sound in a chamber ensemble (and there may be a few layer cake analogies involved!). In the history lesson, Willie explores the ...

Happy April fool’s day! Listen to the latest The Counterpoint Club episode, to learn more about Pencil Gnomes! And visit the blog post to see a collection of Sarah’s Pencil Gnome drawings!

http://www.thecounterpointclub.org/op3-special-episode/

In Tune Interview: Dr. Sarah Pizzichemi

Listen to this Marfa Public Radio "In Tune" interview with Sarah Pizzichemi, violinist with Skyros Quartet, CMM's Artistic Director.

In Tune Interview: Dr. Sarah Pizzichemi In Tune Interview is a segment of Marfa Public Radio’s Monday classical music program In Tune — in which host Nick Hurt interviews and records l

Opus 3: Episode 1 – The Plan – The Counterpoint Club

The first episode of Opus 3 of our podcast The Counterpoint Club is up now! Listen today on any of the major platforms where you get your podcasts, or on The Counterpoint Club website.

Opus 3: Episode 1 – The Plan – The Counterpoint Club Opus 3: Episode 1 – The Plan Published March 16, 2021 by Editor Opus 3 of The Counterpoint Club begins with The Plan. This episode is all about creating structure through organization in a chamber ensemble. Justin explores how a few well-known chamber groups got organized and started playing toget...

ACMP Virtual Worldwide Play-In: March 20 & 21, 2021

"Join Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP) in making joyous music together on JamKazam, Jamulus, Sonobus…or any other program you and your friends are exploring. If you’re not quite ready to embrace this new technology, consider a chamber music “Play Along” party on Zoom! Sure, you can’t really play together that way, but you can “screen share” a recording, mute yourselves and play along – and socialize in between."

ACMP Virtual Worldwide Play-In: March 20 & 21, 2021 The ACMP Worldwide Play-In Weekend is an annual celebration of chamber music for pleasure! Each March, this grassroots event unites people of all ages and abilities through their common love of chamber music and in honoring J.S. Bach in the month of his birth. Passionate chamber musicians will not b...

ACMP Virtual Worldwide Play-In: March 20 & 21, 2021

This year the ACMP - Associated Chamber Music Players Worldwide Play-In will be VIRTUAL:
March 20 and 21, somewhere in Cyberspace!

ACMP Virtual Worldwide Play-In: March 20 & 21, 2021 The ACMP Worldwide Play-In Weekend is an annual celebration of chamber music for pleasure! Each March, this grassroots event unites people of all ages and abilities through their common love of chamber music and in honoring J.S. Bach in the month of his birth. Passionate chamber musicians will not b...

Want Smarter Kids? Teach Music, Not Coding, According to MIT

"...what actually does increase other skills and brain power is teaching kids to play a musical instrument, according to a January 2021 study conducted at the University of Zürich and published in The Journal of Neuroscience."

Want Smarter Kids? Teach Music, Not Coding, According to MIT The latest neuroscience shows that learning a musical instrument increases brain power.

HOLIDAY RECIPES FROM CMM BOARD & STAFF

#6 CARROT, GINGER, AND GARLIC SOUP
Lexi Woodard

To me, holidays mean cozy and cozy means ginger! This soup is quick and delicious and can easily be made dairy-free. While I have no idea where this originally came from, I have it in my recipe box and it is a winter favorite.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (or coconut oil for dairy-free)
1 large white onion, chopped
3 cups vegetable broth
1 lb peeled carrots
1-2 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated (chef’s choice! I use closer to 2 tablespoons)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup sour cream (or vegan sour cream or coconut milk for dairy-free)
Kosher salt and white pepper to taste
Chives for garnish (optional)

Method
In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat; add onions and cook, stirring often, until onions are soft, about 5-6 minutes. Add broth, carrots, ginger, and garlic. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots are soft, about 30 minutes. Add sour cream. Using an immersion blender (or in batches in a regular blender), carefully blend until smooth. Bring soup back to a slow boil, adjust salt and pepper to your taste. Garnish with chives and/or sour cream; serve. Makes ~4 servings.

HOLIDAY RECIPES FROM CMM BOARD & STAFF

#5 SWEDISH TEA RING
Brandon Vance

This came from my Grammie Vance, who got it from the “Betty Crocker” Cookbook, first published in 1950 by General Mills (hers was a well-loved 1969 edition, which has been passed down to me). This copy is completely falling apart, stained with oil and caked with flour (especially the section on “muffins”).

Ingredients
sweet roll dough (see “sweet roll dough recipe”)
2 tblsp butter
½ cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
½ cup raisins

Preparation
Roll dough into rectangle, 15x9 inches. Spread with butter and sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and raisins. Roll up, beginning at the wide side. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal well. Stretch roll to make even.

With sealed edge down, shape into ring on lightly greased baking sheet. Pinch ends together. With scissors, make cuts ⅔ of the way through ring at 1-inch intervals. Turn each section on its side. Let rise until doubled in size.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes. If desired, frost while warm with sweet icing (see “sweet icing recipe”) and decorate with nuts and cherries (real marischino, not candied)

SWEET ROLL DOUGH
Ingredients
1 package active dry yeast
¼ cup warm water
¼ cup lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
¼ cup sugar
½ tsp salt
1 egg
¼ cup butter, margarine, or shortening (I always use butter)
2 ¼ to 2 ½ cups Gold Medal flour (any unbleached flour will do)

Preparation
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in milk, sugar, salt, egg, butter, and 1 ¼ cups of the flour to make the dough easy to handle. TUrn dough onto lightly floured board; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. (At this point, dough can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days). Cover; let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 ½ hours. (Dough is ready if impression remains when touched).

Punch down dough. Shape dough into desired rolls. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Heat oven to 375F and bake as directed.

SWEET ICING
Mix 1 cup confectioners’ sugar 1 tblsp milk and ½ tsp vanilla extract until smooth.

HOLIDAY RECIPES FROM CMM BOARD & STAFF

#4 LUSSEKATTER “LUCIA’S CATS” (SWEDISH SAFFRON BUNS)
Sarah Pizzichemi

My very favorite holiday of the year is Lucia Day celebrated in Scandinavia and Italy on December 13th. Prior to calendar reforms, Lucia Day coincided with the winter solstice on the shortest day of the year, and is celebrated as the festival of light. For me, this holiday was also a chance to celebrate a holiday unique to both sides of my family, as my mother had Swedish heritage, and my dad is Italian American. As the daughter in my family, I remember dressing up in a white dress with red sash and a lit candle wreath encircling my head to serve the desserts, and it was a truly magical part of my childhood. In Italy, the traditional food of the feast of Santa Lucia is called cuccia (KOO-cha), a dish of boiled wheat berries mixed with ricotta and honey. In Sweden, Lussekatter, also called Lussebullar, are served on a tray before sunrise by the eldest daughter of the family dressed as I described above. I have always loved Lussekatter, meant to resemble the curled tail of a cat, and am sharing my personal veganized recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup oat milk
⅓ cup neutral tasting oil
2 teaspoons cardamom seeds
1 pinch saffron
½ cup granulated sugar
⅔ oz dried active yeast
4 ¼ cups flour
1 pinch salt
Raisins (optional)
Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) and maple syrup (optional)

~Heat the oat milk and oil to 98 degrees in a large pan.
~Using a mortar and pestle, crush the cardamom and saffron with a little of the sugar.
~Crumble the yeast into the heated milk and oil, add the spices and sugar and stir until the yeast has dissolved.
~Add the flour and salt and work into a dough.
~Leave to rise for 1 hour in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size.
~Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 15 pieces.
~Roll out one piece of dough into a long, thin snake shape, then roll up one end to the middle.
~Turn over and roll up the other end to the middle to form an S-shape.
~Press a raisin into each curled end.
~Repeat to make 15.
~Place on a tray lined with baking parchment or a silpat.
~Cover the shaped buns with a tea towel and prove for another 30 minutes.
~Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
~(Optional) Brush the tops with a mixture of aquafaba and maple syrup for a shiny finished appearance.
~Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until risen and golden.
~Leave to cool on a wire rack covered with a tea towel.

HOLIDAY RECIPES FROM CMM BOARD & STAFF

#3 CAESAR SALAD
Pam McDonald

This family favorite is based on the recipe from the iconic cookbook “Joy of Cooking” by Irma Rombauer, originally published in 1931 and revised and reprinted many times since then. My note inside the cover of this treasured cookbook, written in 1972 to my soon-to-be-husband says, “If you don’t have to eat TV dinners, you may learn to like the kitchen!”

Ingredients
1/4 cup olive oil, plus 2 T
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 cup soft bread cubes, best if French bread
1 egg (use Pasteurized egg, or use process below to keep egg safe*)
2 heads Romaine lettuce, washed, dried, and cut or torn into bite-size pieces
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp dry mustard
Black pepper, generous grating
5 anchovy fillets, soaked in a little milk then rinsed and diced
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
3 tbls red wine vinegar
Juice of ½ lemon, or more to taste
2-3 tbls Parmesan cheese

Preparation
Add minced garlic to olive oil and let sit for at least 30-60 minutes. Saute bread cubes in 2 T of the garlic olive oil until browned on all sides and set aside. To prepare salad, place lettuce in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt, dry mustard, pepper, diced anchovies, egg, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, remaining ¼ cup garlic olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. Toss well and serve immediately. Serves 4-6.

*The original recipe calls for a raw egg, but for safety please use either a Pasteurized egg, or coddle the egg. One way is to place a room-temp egg (30 minutes out of frig) in a coffee mug and add boiling water to completely cover the egg. Let sit for 1-2 minutes, then rinse with cold water.