EarRelevant Staff | 31 AUG 2025
ATLANTA, Georgia— The Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta will begin its 34th season Sept. 11 with more than 60 free concerts, masterclasses, classes, world premieres and other programs at venues throughout Atlanta and at Emory University.
The 2026–27 season will include the ECMSA’s Emerson Evening, John and Linda Cooke Noontime, Bach’s Lunch and John Lawless Family concert series, along with the Waits Cannon Chapel Concerts, Masterclass Series and performances at the High Museum of Art, Fernbank Museum, Fernbank Planetarium, the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, Oxford College and Carnegie Hall in New York.
All ECMSA concerts are free of charge, although concerts at the Carlos Museum require free online registration. The brochure notes that Lawless Family concerts are generally held at the Carlos Museum, while Emerson Series concerts are presented at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts and Bach’s Lunch programs take place at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta.
The season’s most ambitious project is a yearlong celebration of Ludwig van Beethoven marking the 200th anniversary of his death on March 26, 1827 at the age of 56.. The Vega Quartet, ECMSA’s Quartet-in-Residence, will perform Beethoven’s complete cycle of 16 string quartets over six concerts during the season. The first three programs are scheduled for Jan. 23, March 20 and May 8, with the cycle continuing into the 2027–28 season.
The season opens Sept. 11 with “Souvenir of Florence,” featuring violist Luke Fleming, artistic director of the Manhattan Chamber Players, and cellist Abby Monroe joining the Vega Quartet. Other early-season highlights include “Jazz Meets Classics” with the Joe Gransden Big Band and the Coucheron & Ransom piano duo; a world premiere by composer Tristan Schulze; violinist Robert McDuffie; pianist Gloria Chien; and a “Bach Under the Stars” program at the Fernbank Planetarium.
The Atlanta debut of violinist Stella Chen is scheduled for Jan. 29, when she will perform two Beethoven sonatas with pianist William Ransom. Chen will also lead a masterclass the following day. Other artists featured during the season include flutist Ransom Wilson, pianist Andrew Armstrong, cellists Sara Sant’Ambrogio and Zuill Bailey, pianists Alan Woo and Bryan Wallick, bassoonist Eleni Katz and violinist Njioma Grevious.
The season also features programs connected to the nation’s 250th anniversary. “American Masters,” scheduled for Oct. 17 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, will include music by American composers including Samuel Barber and George Gershwin, with vocalist Timothy Miller, the Vega Quartet and Ransom.
The ECMSA will return to Carnegie Hall on April 16 for “Sonata Mulattica,” a program featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove, violinist Njioma Grevious and Ransom. Dove’s readings draw on the story of George Bridgetower, the Black violinist for whom Beethoven originally wrote the work now known as the “Kreutzer” Sonata.
Family programming begins Sept. 27 at Fernbank Museum with “Invitation to the Dance,” featuring the Vega Quartet and Ransom. Other Lawless Family programs include “Santa’s Favorite Chamber Music,” a Jan. 22 pajama concert, “Atlanta’s Young Artists” and “Hello Cello!” with Bailey and his 325-year-old Gofriller cello.
The Masterclass Series, generally presented at 10 a.m. in Tharp Rehearsal Hall at the Schwartz Center, will feature 12 sessions with artists including Fleming, Rachelle McCabe, Woo, Wilson, McDuffie, Armstrong, Sant’Ambrogio, Chen, Katz, Grevious, Bailey and Wallick. The programs give the public an opportunity to observe professional musicians working with Emory undergraduate musicians.
The ECMSA’s 34th season continues the organization’s longstanding emphasis on combining professional performance with education and community engagement. Its Vega Quartet residency includes interdisciplinary classes throughout Emory and the Society’s Music for Healing initiative, which brings live music to health care centers around Atlanta.
Founded 34 years ago, the ECMSA brings together Atlanta-based musicians and internationally recognized performers for chamber music performances and educational programs. William Ransom is the Society’s artistic director.
For the complete schedule and registration information for programs requiring it, visit chambermusicsociety.emory.edu. ■
Complete 2026–27 schedule
Fall 2026
- Sept. 11 — “Souvenir of Florence”
Cooke Noontime Concert; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
Vega Quartet; Luke Fleming, viola; Abby Monroe, cello - Sept. 12 — Luke Fleming, viola
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall, Schwartz Center; 10 a.m. - Sept. 19 — “Jazz Meets Classics”
Emerson Series; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center
Joe Gransden Big Band; Coucheron & Ransom piano duo
Grieg-Duke Ellington: “Peer Gynt Suite”; Tchaikovsky-Ellington: “Nutcracker Suite” - Sept. 25 — Antiphonal Brass Choirs
Bach’s Lunch; First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta - Sept. 27 — “Invitation to the Dance”
Lawless Family Concert; Fernbank Museum; 1 p.m.
Vega Quartet; William Ransom, piano - Oct. 3 — Rachelle McCabe, piano
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall; 10 a.m. - Oct. 3 — “The Old & the New”
Waits Chamber Music Concert; Cannon Chapel, Emory University
Vega Quartet; Rachelle McCabe, piano
World premiere of a new quartet by Tristan Schulze - Oct. 7 — “Concert on the Quad”
Cooke Noontime Concert; Emory Quadrangle
All-Star Brass Quintet - Oct. 16 — Alan Woo, piano
Cooke Noontime Concert; Ackerman Hall, Michael C. Carlos Museum
Free registration required. - Oct. 17 — Alan Woo, piano
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall; 10 a.m. - Oct. 17 — “American Masters”
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta; 7:30 p.m.
Timothy Miller; Vega Quartet; William Ransom, piano
Music by American composers including Samuel Barber and George Gershwin - Oct. 23 — Ransom Wilson, flute
Bach’s Lunch; First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta - Oct. 24 — Ransom Wilson, flute
Masterclass Series; Performing Arts Studio; 10 a.m. - Oct. 24 — Gloria Chien, piano
ECMSA at Oxford College; 5 p.m.
Gloria Chien; Vega Quartet; William Ransom, piano - Oct. 25 — Gloria Chien, piano
ECMSA at the Breman; 3 p.m.
Gloria Chien; Vega Quartet; William Ransom, piano - Oct. 30 — “Bach Under the Stars”
Emerson Series; Fernbank Planetarium; 7:30 p.m.
Vega Quartet - Nov. 6 — Robert McDuffie, violin; William Ransom, piano
Cooke Noontime Concert; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center - Nov. 7 — Robert McDuffie, violin
Masterclass Series; Performing Arts Studio; 10 a.m. - Nov. 20 — Andrew Armstrong, piano; Vega Quartet; William Ransom, piano
Bach’s Lunch; First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta - Nov. 21 — Andrew Armstrong, piano
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall; 10 a.m. - Dec. 4 — Sara Sant’Ambrogio, cello; William Ransom, piano
Cooke Noontime Concert; Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum
Free registration required. - Dec. 5 — Sara Sant’Ambrogio, cello
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall; 10 a.m. - Dec. 13 — “Santa’s Favorite Chamber Music”
Lawless Family Concert; Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum; 4 p.m. -
Spring 2027: A Beethoven Celebration
- Jan. 15 — “Beethoven’s 5th”
Cooke Noontime Concert; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center
Julie Coucheron; David Coucheron; William Ransom, piano - Jan. 22 — “Pajama Concert”
Lawless Family Concert; Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum; 7 p.m. - Jan. 23 — Beethoven String Quartet Cycle, Part I
Emerson Series; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center
Vega Quartet
Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 127 and Op. 59, No. 1 - Jan. 29 — Stella Chen, violin; William Ransom, piano
Bach’s Lunch; First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta - Jan. 30 — Stella Chen, violin
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall; 10 a.m. - Feb. 14 — “Bach Bowl”: Inspired by Bach — Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations
Emerson Series; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center; 4 p.m.
Michael Gurt, piano - Feb. 20 — “Beethoven in Love”
Waits Chamber Music Concert; Cannon Chapel, Emory University
Emily Smith and Jessica Wu, violins; Bethany Mamola, soprano; Timothy Renner, baritone; William Ransom, piano - Feb. 26 — The Lawson Ensemble
Cooke Noontime Concert; Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum
Free registration required. - Feb. 28 — “Atlanta’s Young Artists”
Lawless Family Concert; Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum; 4 p.m. - March 5 — “Beethoven for Winds”
Cooke Noontime Concert; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center - March 6 — Eleni Katz, bassoon
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall; 10 a.m. - March 20 — Beethoven String Quartet Cycle, Part II
Emerson Series; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center - Vega Quartet
Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 18, No. 3; Op. 74; Op. 132 - April 2 — “Carnegie Hall Preview”
Cooke Noontime Concert; Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum
Njioma Grevious, violin; William Ransom, piano
Free registration required. - April 3 — Njioma Grevious, violin
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall; 10 a.m. - April 9 — The Vega Quartet
ECMSA at Oxford College
Beethoven String Quartet Cycle, Part II - April 11 — “Hello Cello!” with Zuill Bailey and his 325-year-old cello
Lawless Family Concert; Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum; 4 p.m. - April 16 — “Sonata Mulattica”
ECMSA at Carnegie Hall; Weill Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York; 7:30 p.m.
Rita Dove, poet; Njioma Grevious, violin; William Ransom, piano - April 16 — Zuill Bailey, cello; Yinzi Kong, viola; Vega Quartet
Bach’s Lunch; First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta - April 17 — Zuill Bailey, cello
Masterclass Series; Tharp Rehearsal Hall; 10 a.m. - April 18 — “Bach @ the High”
High Museum of Art; 2 p.m.
Zuill Bailey, cello
Free with museum admission - April 30 — Bryan Wallick, piano
Cooke Noontime Concert; Ackerman Hall, Carlos Museum
Free registration required. - May 1 — Bryan Wallick, piano
Masterclass Series; Performing Arts Studio; 10 a.m. - May 8 — Beethoven String Quartet Cycle, Part III
Emerson Series; Emerson Concert Hall, Schwartz Center
Vega Quartet
Beethoven: String Quartets Op. 18, No. 1; Op. 18, No. 5; Op. 130 with original final movement - May 9 — Cherry Emerson Memorial Alumni Concert
Emory University; 1:30 p.m.
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta: chambermusicsociety.emory.edu
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