Family Friendly Celebrations Mark 10th Anniversary of ChamberPalooza!

Ohio River Brass Quintet. Drew Ziemba, trumpet.Emily Toth, horn.Photo by Susan Pace.

Introduce yourself and your family to chamber music late this summer and early fall.  The Chamber Music Network of Greater Cincinnati, a non-profit organization of local chamber music presenters, performers and supporters, offers its celebrations of chamber music on August 23 and September 5.

“Speaking for myself, I could never – even as a child – understand why everyone doesn’t just love chamber music!” said Sonya  Szabo-Reynolds, Xavier Trio pianist.  “What’s not to love?  The immediacy and directness in chamber music is so terrific – it’s easy to pick out the unique timbres of the individual instruments and how they combine to create this amazing piece of music,” said Szabo-Reynolds.

Cellist Benjamin Watras. Photo by Susan Pace.

Accomplished youth performers will give a concert entitled Palooza In The Park! on Sunday, August 23 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the gazebo in Washington Park.  On the program are the Bacchanal Steel Band, Riley School of Irish Music, Marion Peraza de Webb Studio, Ohio River Brass Quintet, My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus and Pones, Inc.   Enjoy a variety of music, dancing in the fountain, hoops and a Fast forward to Saturday, September 5 in The Great Hall of the Cincinnati Art Museum.  There, the tenth annual ChamberPalooza! takes place.  It is a longer program featuring ten different chamber music ensembles.  In addition, the event coincides with the museum’s Family Fun Saturday which includes a petting zoo, where children of all ages can handle a variety of instruments provided by Buddy Rogers.

Performers at this concert include Mary Pennycuff, Brickmeat, Music Under Construction, Ohio River Brass Quintet, Cantantes Camerae, Xavier Trio, Shakespeare Band, Classical Revolution, Riley School of Irish Music and Marion Peraza de Webb Studio.  Richard Arnest, flutist, organizer and composer, will perform his original piece Chiese Serenissime along with members of Music Under Construction.  An active Chamber Music Network volunteer, he wrote the score after a trip to Venice in 2005.

Szabo-Reynolds, 54, has taught piano at Xavier University since 1993 and lives in Miamisburg, Ohio.  She collaborated with Manami White, a violinist, nine years ago, and the two have continued the tradition every year where possible.  Tom Guth, a cello player on Xavier’s faculty, joined the trio recently. 

“Dwindling audiences for classical music and the general public’s lack of exposure to chamber music is evident from decreasing support across the country for orchestras and classical music performances,” said Susan Pace, president, Chamber Music Network.“Palooza! In the Park and ChamberPalooza! turn the usual marketing efforts on their head – bringing music to the people instead of trying to get them to come to events and concerts that are off their radar,” said Pace.  “With musicians ranging from 6 to 70, instruments ranging from steel drum to baroque guitar to Irish fiddle, there will be something for everyone.”

Both programs are free and open to the public.  Entry to the Art Museum is also free. 

Sponsoring organizations include The Chamber Music Network, Blue Ash Montgomery Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Cincinnati, Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, Linton Music, Matinee Musicale, Music on the Avenue, Music Under Construction, Taft Chamber Music Series and Xavier Trio.

In addition, the Ohio Arts Council helped fund these events with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. 

 http://chambermusicnetwork.org/