2023-2024
South Coast
Chamber Music Series
“Welcome to another season of spectacular chamber music performed by artists of the NBSO. This year The Brass join us for a brilliant blowout and throughout the season, masterworks traversing three centuries are leavened with a selection of delectable duos. Our precious heritage of American chamber music – startling, majestic, and unique – features on each program. With special gratitude to Patty Plum Wylde for her sponsorship of our February concert, we look forward to seeing all of our steadfast supporters for another exciting journey together.“
Janice Weber, Artistic Director
South Coast Chamber Music Series
2023-2024
Concert tickets are available by using the links below or by calling the NBSO office at 508-999-6276 ext 222.
Concert Tickets $25. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the door.
St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church
124 Front Street
Marion, MA
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
351 Elm Street
South Dartmouth, MA
2023-2024 South Coast Chamber Music Series Musicians
Jesse Holstein, violin
EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Leo Eguchi, cello
Janice Weber, piano
Plus other NBSO musicians
Peter Zay, cello
Christopher Nunn, viola
Zebediah Upton, trumpet
Geoffrey Shamu, trumpet
Seth Budahl, trombone
Michael Bellofatto, horn
James Monaghan, bass trombone
CORNUCOPIA
October 28 & 29, 2023
A feast of virtuoso duos, a brave classic, and spectral Beethoven
Paul Wiancko: American Haiku
Grażyna Bacewicz: Suite on Folk Tunes
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 1 in D Major, Op. 70, (“Ghost”)
Arthur Foote: Piano Quintet in A Minor, Op. 38
Jesse Holstein, violin
EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Leo Eguchi, cello
Janice Weber, piano
South Coast Chamber Music opens its season with a pair of virtuoso duos: Paul Wiancko’s American Haiku, a riveting fusion of Appalachian and Japanese folk idioms, and Grazyna Bacewicz’s timeless Suite on Folk Tunes. Beethoven makes an All Hallow’s Eve appearance with the remarkable “Ghost” Trio. Our program closes with an American gem that deserves serious reappraisal. Arthur Foote, born in Salem, a distinguished member of the “Boston Six”, was noted for many fine chamber works. His Piano Quintet, a feast of romantic Americana, rounds out a rich autumn cornucopia.
Tickets are not available at the door.
TOP BRASS
December 2 & 3, 2023
NBSO brass raises the roof!
George Frideric Handel: Water Music
Malcolm Arnold: Brass Quintet No. 1, Opus 73
Viktor Ewald: Brass Quintet No. 1
Charles Knox: Music for Brass Quintet and Piano
John Cheetham: Scherzo
Misha Grandel, trumpet
Geoffrey Shamu, trumpet
Seth Budahl, trombone
Michael Bellofatto, horn
James Monaghan, bass trombone
Janice Weber, piano
Illustrious members of the NBSO brass ring in the holiday season with a spectacular program of classic and contemporary works. Handel’s Water Music, commissioned by King George I in 1717, delights the listener three centuries later. Two popular quintets by Malcolm Arnold and Viktor Ewald display the amazing range of this infrequently heard genre. Keyboard joins the mix with Charles Knox’s buoyant Music for Brass Quintet and Piano. Finally, John Cheetham’s cheeky Scherzo calls the quintet back for a sassy, brassy encore.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Saturday’s Top Brass concert in Marion is very close to selling out. The Dartmouth concert on Sunday is sold out. Please note that tickets must be purchased in advance and are not available at the door. Thank you so much for your support of the South Coast Chamber Music Series!
Tickets are not available at the door.
VIVA VIOLA
February 3 & 4, 2024
Ravishing viola quintets and a magical piano
Felix Mendelssohn: String Quintet No. 2, Op. 87
Antonín Dvořák: String Quintet No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 97
John Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano
EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Christopher Nunn, viola
Leo Eguchi, cello
Janice Weber, piano
The addition of a second viola lifts the string quartet into a symphonic stratosphere, as we shall hear with Mendelssohn’s impassioned Second Quintet, Op. 87, and Dvorak’s sublime Third Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 97. Between these two blockbusters, the piano offers an amuse-bouche with selections from Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano by the arch-iconoclast John Cage. Bid midwinter doldrums adieu with this infusion of daring and delight.
If concerts sell out, you may email asmith@nbsymphony.org to be added to the waitlist.
TRIFECTA
March 9 & 10, 2024
Three perfect winners
T. Burleigh: Southland Sketches
Ernő Dohnányi: Piano Quintet No.1, Op.1
Benjamin Britten: String Quartet No. 2, Op. 36
Ethan Wood, violin
EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Jacob MacKay, cello
Janice Weber, piano
One of America’s most eminent black composers of the early twentieth century, H. T. Burleigh wrote hundreds of art songs and introduced Antonin Dvořák to the spiritual. Southland Sketches, his suite for violin and piano, illustrates the American style that Burleigh did much to promulgate. By contrast, Dohnányi’s C minor Piano Quintet radiates high drama from first note to last. Britten’s second String Quartet, commissioned in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Henry Purcell’s death, was coincidentally composed following Britten’s recital tour of the newly-liberated concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen. Britten’s admiration for Purcell’s “clarity, brilliance, tenderness, and strangeness” as well as his horror of war’s depravity find voice in this deeply emotional work.
Tickets are not available at the door.
If you click on the purchase tickets link and it states that tickets are not available and you do not see a blue “BUY” box, that means the concert is sold out.
If concerts sell out, you may request to be added to a waitlist by emailing asmith@nbsymphony.org by noon on the Friday prior to the concert.
Please note that our office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
BANQUET
April 27 & 28, 2024
Finn, Film, Fiery, Fabulous
Kaija Saariaho: Aure
Danny Elfman: Piano Quartet
Rebecca Clarke: Dumka
Bedřich Smetana: String Quartet No. 1 in E Minor (“From My Life”)
Jesse Holstein, violin
EmmaLee Holmes-Hicks, violin
Anna Griffis, viola
Sara Stalnaker, cello
Janice Weber, piano
The recent passing of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho ended a brilliant career in the highest echelons of the music world. Aure, a work for violin and viola, demonstrates her mastery and originality. Danny Elfman, prolific film composer (Spider-Man, Good Will Hunting), singer, and percussionist, turns his protean talents to the Piano Quartet, with amazing results. The ravishing renegade Rebecca Clarke explores both modern concepts and ancient styles with her duo-concertante Dumka. Lastly, the autobiographical String Quartet No. 1 (“From My Life”) of Bedřich Smetana, father of Czech nationalist music, closes our season with one of the most beloved works in the chamber repertoire.
Tickets are not available at the door.
If you click on the purchase tickets link and it states that tickets are not available and you do not see a blue “BUY” box, that means the concert is sold out.
If concerts sell out, you may request to be added to a waitlist by emailing asmith@nbsymphony.org by noon on the Friday prior to the concert.
Please note that our office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm.
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The South Coast Chamber Music Series (SCCMS) was formed to present superior chamber music for the communities of Southeastern Massachusetts. SCCMS held its first subscription series concert on October 20, 2001. Since then, we have performed composers from Bach, Brahms, and Ravel to present-day masters Takemitsu and Piston. Each program presents an engaging array of styles, timbres, and artists in lively acoustic environments in Marion and South Dartmouth. We joined forces with the NBSO in 2014, giving both organizations an opportunity to expand in all directions—more concerts, more musicians, and more music—and are thrilled to connect with our loyal and growing audience.
