The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) is one of eleven constituents of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the largest performing arts complex in the world. CMS calls Alice Tully Hall, the world's finest chamber music hall, its home. Through numerous performances, educational initiatives, recordings, digital content, and broadcasts, CMS brings the experience of extraordinary chamber music to a broader audience than any other organization of its kind. This includes a full season in New York, as well as national and international tours.
Under the artistic direction of pianist Wu Han and cellist David Finckel, who have served as CMS Artistic Directors since 2004, CMS upholds a reputation for exceptional performances. Wu Han is the only Chinese female musician to receive this honor in over half a century, and she holds the distinction of being the only Chinese Artistic Director at Lincoln Center. David Finckel, the cellist of the Emerson String Quartet for 34 years, is a nine-time Grammy Award winner and is highly esteemed in the American chamber music community. CMS is known for its exceptional performance level, inspired programming, and as a global benchmark for chamber music. The BBC Music Channel stated that "The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center has an incredibly high reputation." Every season, CMS assembles over 130 artists, forming a diverse and international roster of the world's finest chamber musicians. This enables CMS to present chamber music of every instrumentation, style, and historical period. Critics have acclaimed CMS as "an exploding star in the musical firmament" (Wall Street Journal). In every touring performance, CMS consistently demonstrates a hallmark of artistic excellence. The touring programs presented to concert organizers are meticulously crafted and performed under the interpretation of world-renowned musicians, showcasing the pinnacle of chamber music expertise.
CMS continuously strives to promote, educate, and cultivate a love and appreciation for chamber music. Its digital presence allows CMS to reach hundreds of thousands of viewers and listeners globally each year, through livestreamed programs, extensive performance and education videos available for free on its website, a 52-week public radio series across the US, and broadcast programming in China. The NY-Emmy-nominated documentary "Transcending: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Celebrates 50 Years," the PBS documentary film "Chamber Music Society Returns," and performances featured on platforms like Medici.tv, Tencent, and SiriusXM’s Symphony Hall channel further amplify CMS's reach. Thousands of children, teens, and adults discover the joys of chamber music and deepen their knowledge and appreciation of this beautiful art form through CMS education and community engagement programs. CMS offers an extraordinary number of learning formats and experiences to engage and inform listeners of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of musical knowledge. This includes school-based programs for elementary school students, family concerts in both traditional and casual and accessible formats, teen-centered programs, master classes throughout the United States and internationally, pre-concert composer chats, and insightful lectures for adults on the season’s repertoire.
Visit the Chamber Music Society online at www.ChamberMusicSociety.org.
