Am Meer Quartet
For 45 amazing seasons, the Highlands‑Cashiers Chamber Music Festival has been guided by Dr. William Ransom’s conviction that the transformative power of chamber music extends far beyond the concert hall.
Under his artistic leadership, the Festival has become known not only for bringing many of the world’s finest chamber musicians to the Plateau each summer, but also for taking music into classrooms, churches, senior living communities, and campuses throughout the region. The annual Fall Residency Program is perhaps the clearest expression of that enduring commitment.
That commitment continues November 13–16 with this year’s Fall Residency, featuring the Am Meer Quartet. Though newly formed, the ensemble has already begun attracting attention for its artistry and collaborative spirit. Founded in 2025 at the Manhattan School of Music, the quartet studies under Peter Winograd, first violinist of the internationally renowned American String Quartet, giving Plateau audiences the rare opportunity to discover an outstanding young ensemble at the very start of its artistic journey.
The residency begins November 13, with visits to Blue Ridge School and Summit Charter School, where students will experience firsthand the artistry, collaboration, and communication that define chamber music.
Lawson Ensemble
On November 14, the quartet performs for residents of Eckerd Living Center before presenting a free public concert and wine reception at 5:00 P.M. at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Highlands.
The residency continues November 15 with a visit to Western Carolina University and concludes November 16 at Highlands School, extending the Festival’s educational mission across generations and throughout the region.
Before the Fall Residency begins, the Festival will make a special appearance during Highlands Porchfest on September 20. At 1:00 P.M., the Lawson Ensemble, currently in residence at the University of North Florida, will perform at First Presbyterian Church of Highlands as part of the community‑wide celebration of live music.
The performance offers an inviting preview of the Festival’s year‑round commitment to making chamber music approachable, engaging, and accessible.
The Festival’s success has never been measured solely by the applause at the end of a performance. It is equally reflected in the spark of curiosity ignited in a student, the joy of a shared musical experience at a retirement community, or the sense of connection created when neighbors gather to listen together. Those moments have defined the Highlands‑Cashiers Chamber Music Festival for 45 seasons – and continue to ensure its legacy reaches far beyond the concert stage.
For more information, please call (828) 526-9060.
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