Thirty-Five Years

Written By: Luke Osteen | Issue: 2016/07 - July

The Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival launches its 35th Season with an opening Gala Concert set for Friday, July 1, and Saturday, July 2.

“The season proper begins on July 1/2 celebrating both our Founder Lucas Drew and the Fourth of July weekend, with a “Founder’s Celebration” featuring Schubert’s Trout Quintet with David Coucheron, myself and others,” says Dr. William Ransom, The Anna and Hays Mershon Artistic Director. 

The celebration of Dr. Drew’s clear-eyed vision of the festival sets the tone for a dazzling 2016 season.

Making their festival debut this summer are the The Emerson, Cecilia and Canterbury Quartets. 

The Emerson String Quartet has accumulated an unparalleled list of achievements over three decades: more than 30 acclaimed recordings, nine Grammys (including two for Best Classical Album), three Gramophone Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize, Musical America’s “Ensemble of the Year” and collaborations with many of the greatest artists of our time. In addition to their Highlands-Cashiers debut, the quartet will be performing this year in Denmark, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Turkey, Austria, Hungary and the United Kingdom; they’ll also visit Moscow, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul. The Emerson continues its series at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC for its 37th season, and is presented by Lincoln Center’s “Great Performers” in a three-part series of late Haydn and early Beethoven string quartets in April and May.     

“You will not want to miss the Gary Motley Jazz Trio who will have an evening of their own in “All That Jazz” – one performance only on July 3,” says Dr. Ransom. “We welcome back pianists Julie Coucheron and Elizabeth Pridgen for Brahms and Dohnanyi, present an all-new CelloMania II; and the summer would not be complete without our friends William and Alexandra Preucil, the Vega Quartet, and the Eroica Trio among others.” 

Highlighting the season will also be the return of legendary clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. 

“Whenever we are able to present the Festival Chamber Orchestra, the concerts are always unforgettable – and so our final Gala Concert (and wonderful dinner after) on Sunday, August 7, will feature the Orchestra performing Mozart’s beautiful ‘Violin Concerto in A’ with Andres Cardenes, soloist; and we wrap up with a first-ever Festival performance of Beethoven’s ‘Piano Concerto #4 in G Major’ with yours truly taking a bow,” says Dr. Ransom. 

Throughout the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival’s 35th season, which stretches from June 26 through August 7, concerts will be held at 6:00 P.M. Fridays at the Martin-Lipscomb Performing Arts Center in Highlands and repeated at 5:00 PM. Saturdays at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library in Cashiers. Sunday concerts will be staged at 5:00 P.M. at the Performing Arts Center in Highlands and repeated at 5:00 P.M. Mondays at the Cashiers Community Library.

For tickets and information, call (828) 526-9060.