Chamber Music in Memphis
We Are Back for the 2025-2026 Season and Welcome You!
Dear Chamber Music Lovers,
It is a great pleasure to write my first ever message to you, our wonderful audience. I am aware of the incredibly huge shoes I have to fill as Marsha moves on to new adventures. To that end, I intend for my tenure here to reflect and honor what she has been able to build and grow over the past 36 years. When Marsha asked me to consider taking on the Memphis Chamber Music Society, I told her I would only do so with one condition: that she doesn’t go away. Thank goodness she said she won’t. She has been my rock for the past 22 years that I have known her. I will never forget John and Marsha attending my citizenship naturalization ceremony at practically the crack of dawn. I owe it to them to cement their legacy by accepting the leadership of the Memphis Chamber Music Society, hopefully for many years to come!
I am so excited to introduce our 2025 - 2026 Season! An important thing I have learned about the MCMS, and from running my other concert series, is that music lovers love to hear beautiful music. They come to have a wonderful time, be moved by the music, and be thrilled by world-class performances.
We are proud to open this season with award-winning violinist Joshua Brown, who will join me in César Franck’s epic sonata, then proceed to dazzle us with virtuosic gems. In October, acclaimed cellist John-Henry Crawford joins the Vega String Quartet in a Schubertiad, performing the great Cello Quintet and the beloved “Death and the Maiden” Quartet. In November, cellist Alex Hersh, fresh from his episode exploring Boccherini on the PBS Series “Now Hear This,” will prove once more why he is an MCMS favorite. February, the month of love, features romantic music by the Schumanns and Brahms, arguably the most famous love triangle of 19th-century classical music. Another MCMS favorite, violinist Basil Alter, travels “across the pond” in March to collaborate with pianist Evan Solomon. To end our season, we feature three of the most incredible musicians of their generation to play piano quartets, a genre not often heard but full of unforgettable, beautiful repertoire. Kevin Zhu, violin, Matthew Lipman, viola, Gabriel Martins, cello; and I will play music we all love.
I look forward to seeing each and every one of you at our concerts!
Cheers,
Victor Santiago Asunción
The Memphis Chamber Music Society presents chamber music concerts in the intimate environs of landmark homes and art galleries in Memphis and the surrounding area. Now in its 37th season, the MCMS features our many gifted local musicians in addition to internationally known artists.
There is truly nothing like a Sunday afternoon in a lovely home, enjoying a glass of wine, and listening to world class performances of masterpieces and gems from the chamber music repertoire. Beautifully presented refreshments are served immediately following each concert. Come feel the magic!
