Each year, Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Commissioning Club supports the creation of a new chamber music work, which receives its world premiere during our Summer Festival in July.
Commissioning Club members make a three-year pledge of $300 or more annually to join. Club activities include to three salons, as well as an invitation to the dress rehearsal before the annual world premiere at our Summer Festival. During the first two salons, led by chamber music educator and composer Aaron Grad, Club members learn about the history of the ensemble form that is featured in that year’s commission, as well as the compositional approach of the year’s selected composer. The composer attends the final salon and leads a discussion about the finished work.
Since its inception, Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Commissioning Club has supported the creation of 13 new works for chamber music; several have had additional performances at other festival around the country. They are:
2019 Sebastian Currier, Voyage Out; Quintet for Piano and Strings
2018 James Newton Howard, They have just arrived at this new level; Sextet for String Quartet, Flute, and Clarinet
2017 Lisa Bielawa, Fictional Migrations; Trio for Flute, Horn, and Piano
2016 Jeremy Turner, The Inland Seas for Violin and Mandolin
2015 Steven Stucky, Cantus, Sextet for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Percussion, and Piano
2014 Derek Bermel, Death with Interruptions for Violin, Cello and Piano
Death with Interruptions was co-commissioned with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and La Jolla Music Society for SummerFest
2013 Lawrence Dillon, Sanctuary, Septet for Horn, String Quintet, and Piano
2012 Gary Kulesha, Quartet for Piano and Strings
The Quartet was performed during the 2014 Ottawa Chamber Music Festival.
2011 Laura Kaminsky, Horizon Lines for Oboe, Bassoon, and Piano
Horizon Lines has received several performances and was performed by the Poulenc Trio in March 2014 in Washington, DC.
2010 Gerard Schwarz, Trio for Violin, Horn, and Piano
2009 Christopher Theofanidis, Summer Verses for Violin and Cello
2008 Jeffery Cotton, Six Departures, Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp
2007 Ronn Yedidia, Trio for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano
For more information about joining please contact us at 206.283.8710, or complete and return our Membership Form.
Here is Derek Bermel discussing his piece, Death with Interruptions for Violin, Cello, and Piano, which premiered during the 2014 Summer Festival.