About Chamber Music Monterey Bay

Founded in 1966, Chamber Music Monterey Bay enriches the cultural life of the community by presenting world-renowned chamber ensembles, and outreach and educational programs. Past ensembles presented have included the Juilliard String Quartet, Emerson String Quartet, Berlin Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet, Early Music Consort of London, Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, and others. Concerts are performed at the Sunset Center in Carmel and broadcast over KUSP-FM. CMMB is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and administered by a small staff. It strives to preserve the live chamber music performance tradition and explore the evolution of this dynamic art form.

Chamber music, an intimate art, is defined as music performed by one person per part, with two or more players, and usually without a conductor. CMMB focuses on the European-based tradition of chamber music composed over the past four centuries and its contemporary international expression.

Besides presenting world-class concert events, Chamber Music Monterey Bay is deeply concerned with music participation and performance from childhood on. Many local schools lack music instruction, some children are never exposed to classical music, and many parents lack the funds for kids' private lessons or lessons at all.  Many youngsters who have become life-long chamber music lovers have experienced the formative value of summer music camps first hand. Such programs improve our children's education and quality of life, develop self-esteem, social and leadership skills, and provide an experience now all too rare in public education. These facts led CMMB to establish the Monterey County Summer Music Program (MCSMP) in 1998, a week-long summer day camp for music students from local Monterey County schools, grades 4 - 12. It offers experienced coaching for strings, including instruction for complete beginners, beginning and intermediate string ensembles, advanced string ensemble, chamber music for advanced students, and music theory classes. The program began with 37 string players its first season, and has blossomed to accommodate up to 90 enthusiastic kids. The MCSMP, currently held on the campus of York School in Monterey,  provides individual coaching, daily ensemble rehearsal, and performances by all participants at week's end. It also allows children unable to afford lessons the experience of quality musical instruction. The MCSMP is the only local program that targets local music students. It also feeds students into the Orchestra in the Schools program, Youth Music Monterey (YMM) program, and chamber music classes at Monterey Peninsula College.

The Visiting Artist Outreach (VAO) Program, now in its 11th season, brings visiting professional chamber groups into schools and other community facilities, providing free education/outreach performances for local middle and high school students and outreach performance for assisted-living residents.

Many financially disadvantaged students who lack the opportunity to attend classical chamber music concerts, or speak to professional musicians, are provided this opportunity through the VAO. Students meet world-class artists as people like themselves, rather than distant icons on a stage. This fosters chamber music as an important life-long activity and perhaps even a viable professional goal.

In addition to the VAO, CMMB sponsors free tickets for Monterey County school children from 3rd to 12th grade as part of the "Kids Up Front & Free!" program. These tickets can be reserved, starting one month before the performance date. Students under 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult.  Free tickets are also provided for local music teachers who accompany their students!

Chamber Music Monterey Bay recently began plans to expand its programs and impact in the community. Future plans include additional concerts, expansion of education programs, commissioning of new chamber works, and establishment of a chamber ensemble-in-residence program.

Board of Directors
Amy Anderson, President
Bob Holtrop, Vice President
Lisa Hoivik, 2nd Vice President
Dick Dalsemer, Secretary
Janet Brennan, Treasurer
David Beech
Leon Garden
Ann Jory
Harriette Schofield
Gary Stotz

Staff
Marilyn Kirby, Administrative Assistant
John Newkirk, Managing Director

Additional Staff, Volunteers, and Key Contractors
Judy Anderson, Graphic Designer
David Dally, Music Director, Summer Music Program
Fran Fisher, CPA
Keith Horner, Program Notes
Francis Lloyd, Attorney
Jeff Mallory, Computer & Radio Ads
Kevin Smith, Booking & Marketing