Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta launches 33rd season featuring free, community-centered programming | EarRelevant

EarRelevant Staff | 11 AUG 2025

ATLANTA, Georgia— Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta (ECMSA) has unveiled its 33rd season, offering a rich and varied program that spans four distinct concert series and a series of masterclasses. Under the artistic direction of William Ransom, the Society continues its mission to enrich the community’s cultural life by presenting chamber music across multiple venues and formats, accessible to audiences from all walks of life.

The 2025–26 season runs from early September through May 10, 2026, concluding with a special Alumni Memorial Concert. Highlights include the core Emerson Evening Series of full-length concerts at Emory’s Schwartz Center, the Cooke Noontime Series offering accessible lunchtime recitals at the Carlos Museum and Emerson Concert Hall, the Bach’s Lunch Series at First Presbyterian Church and the family-friendly Lawless Family Series at the Carlos Museum and partner venues.

In addition, the internationally acclaimed Vega Quartet—Emory’s quartet-in-residence—plays a central role throughout the season, performing in every series and offering innovative educational outreach, including masterclasses and community healing programs. The Society’s commitment to free admission for all concerts once again ensures broad accessibility to this world-class music experience. ■

Below is the complete, chronologically ordered calendar of ECMSA’s 2025–26 concert season, including series designation and locations:

ECMSA 2025-26 CONCERT CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

Friday, September 5, 2025 @ noon
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, 1328 Peachtree St. NE
Bach’s Lunch Series: Zuill Bailey, cello; Helen Kim, violin — Solo Bach and Kodály Duo
Saturday, September 6, 2025 @ 10am
Emory University, Schwartz Center, Tharp Rehearsal Hall
Masterclass Series: Zuill Bailey, cello
Saturday, September 6, 2025 @ 8pm
Emory University, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, Emerson Concert Hall
Emerson Evening Series: The 4 Bs — Boccherini, Beethoven, Brahms & Zuill Bailey
Sunday, September 7, 2025 @ 1pm
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Lawless Family Series: A Musical Trip Through Time with Zuill Bailey and his 320-year-old cello
Friday, September 12, 2025 @ noon
Emory University, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall
Cooke Noontime Series: Vega Quartet 20th Anniversary Celebration: Schumann Quartet & Piano Quintet

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OCTOBER

Friday, October 3, 2025 @ noon
Emory University, Michael C. Carlos Museum
Cooke Noontime Series: Marina Lomazov, piano
Saturday, October 4, 2025 @ 10am
Schwartz Center, Tharp Rehearsal Hall
Masterclass Series: Marina Lomazov, piano
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 @ noon
Emory University, Carlos Museum — Concert on the Quad
Cooke Noontime Series: All-Star Brass Quintet
Saturday, October 18, 2025 @ 8 PM
Cannon Chapel, Emory University
Emerson Evening Series: Waits Chamber Music Concert: Vega Quartet Solo Performances
Friday, October 31, 2025 @ noon
Emory University, Emerson Concert Hall
Cooke Noontime Series: Halloween Concert: Danse Macabre & Death and the Maiden Quartet

NOVEMBER

Friday, November 7, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Oxford College, Emory University
Emerson Evening Series: Edward Arron, cello; Vega Quartet
Saturday, November 8, 2025 @ 10am
Performing Arts Studio
Masterclass Series: Edward Arron, cello
Sunday, November 9, 2025 @ 4pm
Emory University, Schwartz Center
Emerson Evening Series: Edward Arron, cello; Vega Quartet
Friday, November 21, 2025 @ noon
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
Bach’s Lunch Series: The Enchanted Harp: Elisabeth Remy Johnson, harp; Christina Smith, flute; Vega Quartet

DECEMBER

Friday, December 5, 2025 @ noon
Emory University, Carlos Museum
Cooke Noontime Series: Joy Cline Phinney, piano; Francesca Anderegg, violin (Atlanta debut)
Sunday, December 14, 2025 @ 4pm
Emory University, Carlos Museum, Ackerman Hall
Lawless Family Series: Santa’s Favorite Chamber Music — Holiday Singalong with pianists, violin, and cello

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JANUARY

Friday, January 23, 2026 @ noon
Emory University, Emerson Concert Hall
Cooke Noontime Series: Winter Winds: David Shifrin, clarinet; Ransom Wilson, flute
Saturday, January 24, 2026 @ 10 AM & 1 PM
Performing Arts Studio
Masterclass Series: Ransom Wilson, flute (10 AM); David Shifrin, clarinet (1 PM)
Friday, January 30, 2026 @ 8 PM
Oxford College, Emory University
Emerson Evening Series: Gloria Chien, piano; Vega Quartet
Saturday, January 31, 2026 @ noon
Schwartz Center, Tharp Rehearsal Hall
Masterclass Series: Gloria Chien, piano
Saturday, January 31, 2026 @ 8 PM
Emory University, Schwartz Center
Emerson Evening Series: Gloria Chien, piano; Vega Quartet

FEBRUARY

Friday, February 6, 2026 @ 7pm
Emory University, Carlos Museum
Lawless Family Series: Pajama Concert: Musical Bedtime Stories with Vega Quartet & William Ransom
Sunday, February 8, 2026 @ 4pm
Emory University, Schwartz Center
Emerson Evening Series: “Bach Bowl”: Music of Bach & Sons with Jaeckel Organ
Friday, February 20, 2026 @ noon
Michael C. Carlos Museum
Cooke Noontime Series: Mozart @ The Museum: Elizabeth Pridgen, piano; James Zellers, flute; Vega Quartet
Friday, February 27, 2026 @ noon
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
Bach’s Lunch Series: Mozart Duo & Brahms Horn Trio: Bruce Heim, horn; Vega Quartet; William Ransom, piano
Saturday, February 28, 2026 @ noon
Schwartz Center, Tharp Rehearsal Hall
Masterclass Series: Bruce Heim, French horn

MARCH

Saturday, March 8, 2026 @ 4pm
Emory University, Carlos Museum
Lawless Family Series: Musical Animals: Trumpet, English Horn, Violin, Piano
Friday, March 20, 2026 @ noon
Michael C. Carlos Museum
Cooke Noontime Series: Jason Kwak, piano
Saturday, March 21, 2026 @ noon
Schwartz Center, Tharp Rehearsal Hall
Masterclass Series: Jason Kwak, piano
Sunday, March 22, 2026 @ 2pm
High Museum of Art
Emerson Evening Series: Haydn @ The High: Vega Quartet

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APRIL

Friday, April 3, 2026 @ noon
Emory University, Emerson Concert Hall
Cooke Noontime Series: Robert Koenig, piano; Vega Quartet
Saturday, April 4, 2026 @ noon
Schwartz Center, Tharp Rehearsal Hall
Masterclass Series: Robert Koenig, piano
Saturday, April 11, 2026 @ 5 PM
Atlanta Botanical Garden
Emerson Evening Series: Flower Music: Vivaldi, Debussy, Tchaikovsky with Vega Quartet & Julie Coucheron, piano
Sunday, April 12, 2026 @ 4pm
Emory University, Carlos Museum
Lawless Family Series: Atlanta’s Young Artists Showcase
Friday, April 24, 2026 @ noon
First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
Bach’s Lunch Series: Abigél Králik, violin; William Ransom, piano
Saturday, April 25, 2026 @ noon
Schwartz Center, Tharp Rehearsal Hall
Masterclass Series: Abigél Králik, violin

MAY

Sunday, May 3, 2026 @ 4pm
Emory University, Schwartz Center
Emerson Evening Series: Vega Quartet: Joel Thompson String Quartet Premiere
Friday, May 8, 2026 @ noon
Emory University, Carlos Museum
Cooke Noontime Series: Around the World with Julie & Will: Piano four-hands
Sunday, May 10, 2026 @ 1:30pm
Emory University, Schwartz Center
Emerson Evening Series: Cherry Emerson Memorial Alumni Concert

For more information visit chambermusicsociety.emory.edu

EXTERNAL LINKS:

Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta: chambermusicsociety.emory.edu

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