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Education Programs
A vital component of the Chamber Music Society of Detroit's mission is to promote a better understanding and appreciation of chamber music, thereby enriching the cultural life of metropolitan Detroit. One of the ways that the Chamber Music Society accomplishes this goal is through targeted, interactive education programs, including a series of pre-concert talks, master classes with international artists, and a Two-Week Ensemble Residency Program. For a list of collaborating school and community partners since the inception of the program in 1995, please click here. Since its inception, the Ensemble Residency Program has offered an enriched exposure to chamber music by introducing the highest caliber of chamber music performance in a personal and interactive way, enhancing the lives of participating students by cultivating their interest, understanding and enjoyment of chamber music.
The first part of each residency consists of on-site presentations focusing on composers, musical composition, chamber music instrumentation and the nuances of ensemble performance without a conductor. Because most of the programs are presented in school surroundings familiar to the students, they are effective in creating a comfortable context for chamber music and begin to prepare participants to attend student and series concerts presented by the Chamber Music Society of Detroit. High school and college students may participate in special chamber music coaching sessions and master classes. All sessions are highly interactive and include informal question and answer periods.
Two special student concert performances at Seligman Performing Arts Center are presented, usually during the second week of the residency program, for participating students.
The opportunity to see musicians in both settings - in the informal school environment and on a professional concert stage - provides a unique connection to chamber music, encouraging a feeling of comfort with and appreciation of classical music and of professional music venues. The students' comments about their concert experiences attest to the proven success of the methodology established by the Chamber Music Society of Detroit's Ensemble Residency Program:
The Chamber Music Society of Detroit gratefully acknowledges 2008-2009 education program support from the Darden Restaurants Foundation, Aldingbrooke Terrace & Townhome Rentals - a Beztak Development and Arts Midwest's Performing Arts Fund, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, General Mills Foundation and Land O’Lakes Foundation. The Chamber Music Society of Detroit depends upon foundations, corporations and individuals for their support in making this innovative education program possible. If you would like to support the presentation of world-class, internationally touring ensembles at educational institutions in the metro Detroit area, please call the Chamber Music Society of Detroit: 248-737-9980 or visit the Chamber Music Society of Detroit contributions page. The Education Connection section of the Chamber Music Society of Detroit's web site has been developed as an enhancement of the Residency Program. It includes web pages with information about each residency, educational resources that are useful as preparatory and follow-up tools for participating schools and general information about classical music and chamber music for students and parents. Please click here to visit The Education Connection.
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During the Shanghai Quartet's 25 years of concertizing around the world, we have met countless chamber music presenters and organizations. Many of them have become our good friends; only a few have became like our family — The Chamber Music Society of Detroit is definitely one of these few. As one of the most prestigious and respected music organizations in the US, the Chamber Music Society of Detroit not only presents concerts of the highest quality year after year, but makes an incredible effort in its extensive outreach program, to send its musicians to visit and perform for children in the area's schools. I was told by many of my musician friends who were originally from Detroit, that the schools there had very strong music programs years ago. This tradition has been beautifully sustained by the Chamber Music Society. The Shanghai Quartet is proud to have been part of this program during our last two visits to Detroit. On our next trip in January 2008, the quartet will be spending two weeks, visiting 12 schools before playing the two Brahms Sextets in concert with Shmuel Ashkenasi and Marc Johnson (the Shanghai Quartet's first teachers when we arrived in the US, 1985-1987). I imagine we will be exhausted by the end of those two weeks, but also exhilarated because we will be spreading seeds of good music among so many youngsters.
We are very enamored of the Chamber Music Society of Detroit. Here we have great audiences, and the society is doing everything possible to assure this great music remains alive, through performance, composition and in the preparation of young people for the future.
organizations that upholds the greatest tradition in bringing music to people. We, the Borromeo Quartet, have had the honor of playing on the stage of this great series. But I think our most fervent admiration for the Society has come from the fact that we have worked with the Society in extensive programs to bring String Quartet music to thousands of young people in every part of Detroit. We are very proud of participating in this and feel that the powerful efforts in this regard by the Society are efforts which have a profound positive impact on the young people of Detroit. 
