MV Chamber Music Society presents an impressive celebration

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All summer, festivities are abundant for the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society (MVCMS) as the organization celebrates its 40th anniversary with five distinctive festival concerts.

This Monday evening, July 26, the society will host its third concert by honoring composer Robert Schumann’s 200th birthday with a performance of his Piano Quintet in E-flat, opus 44. The program will also feature Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Trio in G, opus 9 #1, and Joaquin Turina’s Quator, opus 67.

Monday night’s concert will take place at the Old Whaling Church and will feature returning guest artists Stephanie Chase, Joanna Kurkowicz, and Lila Brown, all on the violin. Cellist Mattias Naegele and pianist Delores Stevens will join them. The musicians individually boast a long list of credits that will promise to make for an impressive and exciting evening of music.

Stephanie Chase is one of the most admired violinists playing today. The Boston Globe has acclaimed her performances’s “elegance, dexterity, rhythmic vitality and great imagination” in the event’s press release. Violinist Joanna Kurkowicz was born and raised in Poland. She currently serves as concertmistress of the Boston Philharmonic under Benjamin Zander and has played at Sanders Theatre, Jordan Hall, and Harvard University’s Paine Hall in Cambridge. Among several other credits, violinist Lila Brown is the co-founder and artistic director of Music from Salem, an up-state New York chamber group.

This is Matthias Naegele’s third appearance with the Island chamber group, and he is familiar with the role of guest artist, performing regularly with numerous esteemed musical ensembles.

Delores Stevens is the resident artistic director of the MVCMS. Ms. Stevens is recognized as a leading pianist and soloist throughout the U.S. and was recently awarded a prestigious award from the National Association of Composers for her influence in expanding contemporary music.

Monday night’s concert will be repeated Tuesday, July 27, at the Chilmark Community Center. All concerts start at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $30 at the door; students attend free of charge.

For more information on the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society visit mvcms.org.