World’s Largest Chamber Music Party Expands with Performances All Across the Greater Seattle Region
Marking America250, Every Concert Features a Work Connected to America—by an American Composer or One That Helped Shape Our Nation’s Classical Voice,
including music by Amy Beach, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, and George Walker
and SCMS Commissions from Juhi Bansal and Kian Ravaei
Renowned performers include violinists James Ehnes, Erin Keefe, Alexander Kerr, and Tessa Lark; pianists Inon Barnatan, Alessio Bax, and Orion Weiss; cellists Ani Aznavoorian, Efe Baltacıgil, and Mark Kosower; and violists Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt and Jonathan Vinocour
Seattle, March 9, 2026 — Seattle Chamber Music Society (SCMS), a cornerstone of the classical music scene since 1982, announced today the programming for its 2026 Summer Festival. From June 18 through July 26, classical music luminaries will come together for outstanding chamber music collaborations, guided by the vision of violinist James Ehnes, SCMS’s Gilbert Omenn and Martha Darling Artistic Director. This year, SCMS is broadening its geographical reach by presenting concerts in performance halls around the region and sharing chamber music in even more nontraditional spaces.
“This summer, we embark on a festival-wide celebration of American music, inspired by the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Every program includes a work either written in America, or by an American, or both” says Ehnes. “We’re especially looking forward to playing this summer in many different communities; our goal is to share this incredible music with as many people as possible! Every concert brings together remarkable and dynamic combinations of the world’s most compelling musicians, and often these extraordinary ensembles exist for a single evening only,” he adds.
Among the renowned artists performing this year are violinists James Ehnes, Erin Keefe, Alexander Kerr, and Tessa Lark; pianists Inon Barnatan, Alessio Bax, and Orion Weiss; cellists Ani Aznavoorian, Efe Baltacıgil, and Mark Kosower; and violists Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt and Jonathan Vinocour. For this summer’s festival, the SCMS Commissioning Club has commissioned a work from Juhi Bansal, and – with Mimir Chamber Music Festival – SCMS has co-commissioned a piece for narrator and string quartet by Kian Ravaei, in which the narrator recites the opening and closing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Summer Festival celebrates the depth, beauty, and vitality of the chamber music tradition. Highlights include John Adams’s Shaker Loops for string septet; Amy Beach’s Piano Trio; Samuel Barber’s String Quartet; Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring (“Ballet for Martha”) in its original version for 13-instrument chamber ensemble; Antonín Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12, “American”; Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances Op. 45 (Two Pianos); and George Walker’s String Quartet No. 1. Complementing these works are beloved masterpieces, including Brahms’s Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60; Haydn’s Piano Trio in A-flat Major, Hob. XV:14; Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D Minor, Op. 49; and Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20. (Full program details are below.)
Nordstrom Recital Hall, Meydenbauer Center, and Town Hall concerts will be livestreamed and available on demand worldwide through SCMS’s Virtual Concert Hall. The digital concert experience features six camera angles plus live intermission interviews and commentary with SCMS musicians and hosts from Classical KING, Seattle’s classical music radio station. This season’s Virtual Concert Hall includes all nine performances from the 2026 Summer Festival, along with three special “greatest hits” concerts drawn from standout performances of past seasons, creating a 12-concert online festival that pairs this summer’s programming with some of the most beloved moments from recent years.
SCMS joyfully refers to its Summer Festival as “the world’s largest chamber music party,” and, this summer, is bringing it to new corners of the Seattle region. During the five week period, SCMS presents 11 ticketed mainstage concerts and 11 completely free and open-to-the-public pre-concert recitals at leading performing arts spaces throughout the Sound, including Benaroya Hall’s Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Meydenbauer Center, Town Hall Seattle, Bainbridge Performing Arts, and Vashon Center for the Arts. In addition, on Saturday, July 18, audiences can enjoy the free Chamber Music in the Park outdoor concert and community play-along at Seattle’s Volunteer Park.
SCMS Summer Festival also transports the joy of live music all across the greater Seattle region with a series of 20+ concerts running June 18 to July 6 from the stage of The Concert Truck, fueled by SCMS. Redefining how people experience live music, The Concert Truck is a box truck transformed into a fully equipped mobile concert hall, allowing world-class chamber music to be performed in everyday spaces—city streets, parks, schools, and neighborhoods. SCMS Summer Festival stops include Alki Beach, Bellevue Downtown Park, Gas Works Park, Seattle Center, Seward Park, and Washington Arboretum Park. (All locations and dates will be announced soon.)
A highlight of the Festival, Tasting Notes returns July 6 with an exciting new lineup of celebrated Seattle chefs and a delicious new twist. Hosted by James Ehnes and celebrity chef and New York Times best-selling author J. Kenji López-Alt, this one-of-a-kind evening brings SCMS musicians together with acclaimed chefs Taichi Kitamura (Sushi Kappo Tamura), Mutsuko Soma (Kamonegi and Hannyatou), and Christina Woods (Temple Pastries). Guests will experience live chamber music, lively cooking demonstrations, and—new this year—a full dinner service featuring each chef’s creations, all unfolding on stage at the Triple Door (216 Union St, Seattle).
“Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Summer Festival shows the world how chamber music is a centering force,” added Ehnes. “Throughout the summer, we gather thousands of people to hear extraordinary works performed at the highest level, and we further establish Seattle as a cultural destination for exceptional artists and classical music audiences. Each concert reflects the very best of SCMS and our art form, and is designed to leave listeners uplifted, fulfilled, and more deeply connected to Chamber Music.”
The 2026 Summer Festival is generously sponsored by Lyn and Jerry Grinstein.
The Virtual Concert Hall is generously sponsored by Diana K. Carey.
The 2025-2026 season is generously sponsored by Dave and Amy Fulton.
Community and Education programs take place throughout the festival and are free with registration. A full list of community and education programs, including free pre-concerts, will be available at seattlechambermusic.org. Offerings will include four in-depth lectures—also streamed via Zoom—an interactive sight-reading party, the popular Azure Family Concert, open rehearsals, and a Community Play-Along, bringing Chamber Music in the Park for musicians and listeners alike. Dates and details will be announced soon.
