Concert Notes
These concert notes are provided by Artists and Musicians
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Concert Notes
These concert notes are provided by Artists and Musicians
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Meeting the Moment: An Adventure across Eras and Cultures
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Orleans, MA, April 30. The Meeting House Chamber Music Festival has announced its 52nd summer season, continuing its remarkable tradition as Cape Cod’s most enduring and artistically vibrant summer music series. The Festival’s Artistic Director and Pianist Donald Enos has designed a season program that is exceptionally panoramic and fresh, with some of the world’s greatest composers across three centuries speaking with clear and stirring voices to audiences at this moment in time. Outstanding performers from the region and around the world will join Enos in presenting a seven-concert season from June 22 through July 27, 2026. All concerts take place at The Church of the Holy Spirit, Episcopal, 204 Monument Road, Orleans, MA, and begin at 7:30 PM. Seven-concert season subscriptions: $105 ($15/concert). Single tickets: $25 at the door. Free admission for those under 18.
Cornerstone works – such as Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in C minor, Brahms’s Trio in C Major, Mozart’s Trio in C Major, K. 548, and Saint-Saëns’s Piano Quartet in B-flat – anchor the season with repertoire representing the height of the chamber music tradition. Donald Enos has designed each summer evening of music to nevertheless feel unmistakably of the moment, as he invites audiences to hear chamber music past and present not as a museum art, but as an adventure. To accomplish this, he has moved even more boldly than ever into new musical territory.
The season line-up includes works spanning more than three centuries – from the Baroque brilliance of a Vivaldi concerto to vivid contemporary voices – and spotlighting music that is seldom heard in mainstream concert series. Early and Classical-era foundations appear in figures such as Alessandro Rolla, a pivotal transitional composer between Mozart and the Romantic generation, while the 19th century is represented by the virtuoso lyricism of Vieuxtemps and the richly crafted but underperformed Romanticism of Herzogenberg. The 20th century unfolds in remarkable stylistic variety: Françaix’s sparkling wit, Hindemith’s intellectual rigor, Martin’s refined modernism, Ginastera’s electrifying rhythmic drive, and the distinctive national voices of Tsintsadze and Tcherepnin, each blending folk elements with modern technique.
Equally compelling is the presence of recent and living composers, including Lynne Plowman, Jung Sun Kang, and Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, whose works expand the Festival’s sound world through new cultural perspectives, contemporary idioms, and imaginative instrumental writing. The virtuosic harp showpiece by Henriette Renié further broadens the palette, highlighting an instrument rarely featured at center stage.
The season opens on June 22 with a program spotlighting the expressive possibilities of the French horn, featuring Clark Matthews alongside Enos, and music by Schumann, Hindemith, Scriabin, Françaix, and Ewazen. Subsequent concerts bring together an exceptional roster of Festival favorites and distinguished guest artists, including violinists Joyce Hammann, Katie Lansdale, Irina Muresanu, Laura Manko Sahin, and Heather Goodchild Wade; cellists Sergey Antonov, Leland Ko, Megan Koch, and Matthias Naegele; harpist Elisabeth Remy Johnson; and violist Danielle Farina. Ensemble highlights range from intimate duo and trio works to expansive piano quartets by Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Saint-Saëns.
A centerpiece of the season arrives on Thursday, July 2, when internationally renowned cellist Amit Peled, one of the Festival’s most beloved long-time guest performers, returns for a special recital with Donald Enos. A tradition eagerly anticipated by Festival audiences, Peled’s program is always virtuosic and filled with deeply personal insight. This year he and Donald Enos will present compositions by Beethoven, Samuel Barber, and the four-time Emmy Award nominated and Grammy-winning composer, Sharon Farber.
For ticketing and detailed program information, please visit www.meetinghousemusic.org.
The season opens on June 22 with a program spotlighting the expressive possibilities of the French horn, featuring Clark Matthews alongside pianist and festival director Donald Enos, with music by Schumann, Hindemith, Scriabin, Françaix, and Ewazen.
An exhilarating premiere with the French horn front and center in all its richness, agility, and expressive power! Horn virtuoso Clark Matthews and pianist/artistic director extraordinaire Donald Enos will take us on a journey from the Romantic warmth of Schumann’s Adagio & Allegro to the sparkling wit and color of Jean Françaix’s Divertimento. Along the way, we'll find the evocative forest imagery of Bozza’s En forêt, the lyrical intimacy of Scriabin’s Romance, and the rhythmic vitality of contemporary master Eric Ewazen’s Horn Sonata.
The Artists: Clark Matthew, horn; Donald Enos, piano
On Monday, June 29, violinist Irina Muresanu and cellist Sergey Antonov will join Artistic Director and pianist Donald Enos in the second concert of the Meeting House Chamber Music Festival. The evening’s music will range from Classical elegance and sweeping Romantic drama to a contemporary work rooted in the Native American music tradition.
The program opens with Haydn’s sparkling Trio in E-flat Major and features solo showcases and rarely heard gems, including Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate’s Oshta (Four) and Rodion Shchedrin’s fiery Gypsy Melody. Antonov and Enos join forces for Joaquín Rodrigo’s lyrical Sonata a la breve, while Frank Martin’s spirited Irish-inspired Gigue adds rhythmic energy and charm. The concert culminates in Mendelssohn’s monumental Trio in C minor, Op. 66 – a passionate masterpiece of lyricism, intensity, and virtuosic power.
Tate’s Oshta (Four) was commissioned by violinist Irina Muresanu for her landmark project Four Strings Across the World. “Oshta” is the Chickasaw word for the number four, chosen in the spirit of Muresanu’s Four Strings project. Oshta (Four) is loosely based on a Choctaw church hymn composed in the 1800s, reflecting the hybrid music style that evolved from Europeans’ initial contacts with Native Americans. In 2025, Tate, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma, won the Wise-Hinrichsen Award in Music from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He is a three-time commissioned recipient from the American Composers Forum, a Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Program recipient, and an Emmy Award-winner for his work on the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority documentary The Science of Composing, among many other distinctions.
The Artists: Irina Muresanu, violin; Sergey Antonov, cello; Donald Enos, piano
On Thursday evening, July 2, internationally acclaimed cellist Amit Peled and Donald Enos – pianist and Artistic Director of the Meeting House Chamber Music Festival – will present an evening of extraordinary beauty, emotional depth, and technical brilliance.
Enjoy the signature warmth, virtuosity, and commanding presence of this internationally acclaimed cellist. Peled and Donald Enos will serve up the wit and elegance of Beethoven’s Seven Variations in E-flat and the sweeping contemporary sound of Sharon Farber’s Cello Concerto No.1, Bestemming. Febliks Rybicki's Romance in D offers a brilliant glimpse into Rybicki’s distinct compositional voice outside of his purely educational works. The program culminates in the passionate intensity of Samuel Barber’s Sonata, Op. 6, a work of youthful fire and haunting beauty.
The Artists: Amit Peled, cello; Donald Enos, piano
This concert will span continents and eras and showcase the extraordinary expressive range of the violin and harp through works both beloved and rarely heard. Highlights include Carlos Salzedo’s brilliant Variations, the haunting lyricism of Jung Sun Kang’s Star-Crossed, and Ravel’s masterful Sonata for violin and piano. The audience will be treated to the fiery excitement of John Williams’ Devil’s Dance, the magical brilliance of Henriette Renié’s Danses des lutins, Ginastera’s exciting Rhapsody Pampeana, and a striking piece commissioned by Remy Johnson.
The internationally acclaimed musician and native Cape Codder Elisabeth Remy Johnson – Principal Harp of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra – has worked with some of the world's greatest artists – from Yo-Yo Ma to Stevie Wonder. Now, in her latest collaboration, she has commissioned a solo harp piece from the award-winning composer Lynne Plowman. Plowman's music is described as "thrilling" and "highly original" and, in addition to Elizabeth Remy Johnson, her commissioners/collaborators include the Welsh National Opera, Glyndebourne, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. We will be treated to this new composition and much more when Elisabeth teams up with top violinist and educator Katie Lansdale and artistic director/pianist Donald Enos for the Festival's fourth concert on Monday, July 6!
The Artists: Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp; Katie Lansdale, violin; Donald Enos, piano
On Monday, July 13, violinist Heather Goodchild Wade and cellist Megan Koch will join Donald Enos, Meeting House Chamber Music Festival Artistic Director and pianist, for an exhilarating concert featuring masterpieces of the chamber music tradition.
The program opens with Mozart’s radiant Trio in C Major, K. 548 and includes the youthful passion of Shostakovich’s Trio No. 1, Op. 8, alongside the sparkling energy of Haydn’s Presto from Trio in A Major Hob. XV:18. The evening culminates in Brahms’ magnificent Trio in C Major, Op. 87 – a richly textured masterpiece filled with lyricism, drama, and soaring emotional power. Uniting beloved classics with profound musical storytelling, this concert promises an unforgettable evening of artistry, virtuosity, and chamber music at its most thrilling.
Heather Goodchild Wade is Principal 2nd Violin with the Cape Symphony. She lives in the Berkshires, serves on the faculty of the Berkshire Music School, composes for solo violin, and has contributed greatly to Cape Cod’s vibrant music community for many years. A resident of Rhode Island, Megan Koch is a member of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, and lead educator for several local youth organizations, including a string orchestra. From her New England base, she travels around the world, both literally and virtually, to teach with nonprofit organizations such as Musicians for the World, whose mission is to empower vulnerable communities worldwide through free music education.
The Artists: Heather Goodchild Wade, violin; Megan Koch, cello; Donald Enos, piano
We are thrilled to welcome cellist Leland Ko to the Festival on Thursday, July 23. Fresh from competing against some of the world's finest musicians, Ko has just won third place in the prestigious international Queen Elisabeth Competition. This brilliant young artist adds this latest triumph to a growing list of top accolades, including major prizes at the Concours Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and the Walter W. Naumburg International Cello Competition.
For the Festival’s sixth concert, Ko will engage in a captivating musical conversation with star violist, teacher, and recording artist Danielle Farina. Renowned for her extensive tours across North America and Europe, Ms. Farina has graced the world's most illustrious stages, including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, and the International Istanbul Music Festival.
Under the artistic direction of Festival founder and pianist Donald Enos, this program is designed to delight seasoned music lovers and newcomers alike with a mix of masterworks and rare discoveries.
Program Highlights:
The Classics: The Romantic sweep of Vieuxtemps’ Sonata, Op. 36, Beethoven’s spirited works for cello and viola, and Vivaldi’s dazzling Concerto for Viola and Cello, RV 531.
New Discoveries: Alessandro Rolla’s vibrant Duo, Alexander Tcherepnin’s evocative Solo Suite, and Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s colorful, energetic Five Pieces.
Filled with drama, lyricism, and extraordinary interplay, this performance promises an exciting evening showcasing the power, warmth, and brilliance of the cello and viola.
Cellist Leland Ko, who joins the Festival on Thursday, July 23, has just won third place – out of some 60 competitors from around the world – in the international QUEEN ELISABETH COMPETITION. This brilliant young artist has performed to international acclaim and garnered top prizes in the Concours Orchestra Symphonique de Montreal and the Walter W. Naumburg International Cello Competition, among other prestigious awards. In the Festival's sixth concert, Leland and his cello will engage in a captivating musical conversation with star violist, teacher, and recording artist Danielle Farina. Ms. Farina has toured extensively in North America and Europe, performing at some of the most prestigious venues and festivals including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the Schleswig Holstein Festival and the International Istanbul Music Festival.
Program highlights include the Romantic sweep of Vieuxtemps’ Sonata, Op. 36, Beethoven’s spirited works for cello and viola, and Vivaldi’s dazzling Concerto for Viola and Cello, RV 531. Under the artistic direction of Donald Enos, the Festival's founder and pianist, the concert is likely to delight even the most seasoned music lover with new discoveries – from Alessandro Rolla’s vibrant Duo composition or Alexander Tcherepnin’s evocative solo Suite, to Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s colorful and energetic Five Pieces. Filled with drama, lyricism, and extraordinary musical interplay, the program promises an exciting evening where cello and viola take center stage in all their power, warmth, and brilliance.
The Artists: Danielle Farina, viola; Leland Ko, cello; Donald Enos, piano
On Monday, July 27, 7:30 PM, the Meeting House Chamber Music Festival will present the final concert of its 52nd season. A stellar foursome will present a mix of beloved chamber music repertoire and remarkable works rarely heard in concert. Their collective musicianship and achievements – spanning major concert stages, international festivals, prestigious educational institutions, acclaimed recordings, and lifelong dedication to chamber music – make them an ideal ensemble to bring the Festival's season to a memorable and celebratory close.
The program includes Weber’s energetic Piano Quartet in B-flat, the lyrical beauty of Heinrich von Herzogenberg’s Notturno, and Frank Bridge’s richly expressive Phantasy Quartet. The concert culminates in Saint-Saëns’ magnificent Piano Quartet in B-flat, Op. 41, a work overflowing with elegance, color, and virtuosic excitement. Blending familiar masterpieces with exciting discoveries, the concert promises to deliver extraordinary musicianship and chamber music at its most vibrant and compelling.
The musicians gathered by artistic director Donald Enos are more than up to the task. Violinist Joyce Hammann brings extraordinary versatility and star power from a career that bridges classical music, jazz, Broadway, and collaborations with some of the most celebrated names in popular music. Her wide-ranging career has included performances and recordings with artists from Paul McCartney, Sting, Michael Jackson, and Bruce Springsteen to leading figures in contemporary classical and jazz music. A longtime Broadway concertmaster and sought-after chamber musician, she performs regularly with ensembles in New York, Vermont, and Cape Cod. She also continues to appear internationally, touring Europe as both a featured soloist and concertmaster in innovative jazz and cross-genre productions.
Violist Laura Manko Sahin contributes a deeply international perspective as both performer and educator, combining solo, orchestral, and chamber music experience across three continents with a longstanding commitment to mentoring the next generation of musicians. Since her concerto debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, she has performed with numerous orchestras and ensembles, including leadership roles with the Cape Symphony and extensive work in Ankara, Turkey, where she performed with leading chamber and orchestral groups and taught at Bilkent University. A dedicated advocate for youth music education, she has served on the faculties of major music programs and coached young musicians across the U.S. and abroad. Now based in New Jersey, she teaches at Skidmore College and Montclair State University and performs with a variety of professional ensembles on a 1963 Jago Peternella viola.
Matthias Naegele adds a globally acclaimed chamber music pedigree attained through appearances in the world's leading music festivals and concert series with his historic eighteenth-century Venetian cello. He enjoys an international career as a soloist and chamber musician, performing throughout Europe, the Americas, and Asia, and appearing at renowned festivals including Marlboro, Aspen, Prussia Cove, Edinburgh, and Jerusalem. His performances have been widely broadcast on NPR, PBS, and major European radio and television networks, including the BBC. An active collaborator, he has performed with numerous distinguished chamber ensembles and appeared in prestigious concert series such as Lincoln Center’s Great Performers and Amsterdam’s Grachtenfestival, while also recording for labels including Nonesuch, Koch International, and Centaur Records. He performs on a rare 1735 Mateo Gofriller cello from Venice, once owned by Hermann Busch of the famed Busch Quartet.
Completing the ensemble will be artistic director Donald Enos himself, also the Festival's founder and pianist, whose decades of leadership and musicianship have created one of Cape Cod's most cherished cultural institutions. After receiving extensive musical training at the New England Conservatory, Enos returned to his native Cape Cod, where he is known for his solo work and collaboration with the Chatham Chorale and the Cape Symphony, and presentations on the historically significant 1762 English chamber organ in South Dennis, Massachusetts.
The Artists: Joyce Hammann, violin; Laura Manko Sahin, viola; Matthias Naegele, cello; Donald Enos, piano