Friends of Chamber Music

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra & Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano
2026-11-15 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Denver) | Gates Hall, Newman Center, 2344 E. Iliff Ave., Denver, CO, 80208, United States
The acclaimed Orpheus Chamber Orchestra returns to our series in a much-anticipated performance, performing works by Handel, Haydn, and Mozart. Joined by award-winning British pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason in her FCM debut, this electrifying program showcases the magic that happens when world-class artists come together in true musical partnership. The program includes a world premiere by composer Katie Jenkins, co-commissioned through FCM’s Commissioning Initiative.
“Playing with perfect unanimity, [Orpheus] performances have polish and spirit, and display an infectious love for making music.” – The New York Times
“She plays with unreserved power when necessary, thundering forth full-bodied chords that combine sonorous weight and perfectly rounded edges.”
– San Francisco Chronicle
This event will be livestreamed.

Nikolai Lugansky, piano
2027-01-24 16:00 - 18:00
Described by Gramophone as “the most trailblazing and meteoric performer of all,” Nikolai Lugansky is making his long-awaited solo debut on our series. Lugansky will lend his extraordinary depth and versatility to two Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Op. 31 and Op. 109, as well as Schumann’s Fantasie in C Major.
“Lugansky’s passion radiates and his piano sings and thunders like an orchestra… ” – Bachtrack
This event will NOT be livestreamed.

Danish String Quartet
2027-02-18 19:30 - 21:30
A favorite of FCM audiences, the Danish String Quartet is one of the world’s most renowned string quartets, performing to sold-out concert halls around the world. Musical America’s 2020 Ensemble of the Year, the quartet will perform works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, and Gabriella Smith’s Carrot Revolution.
“A concert that was as comprehensively rewarding as any chamber music performance in recent memory… Do not lose track of this group: Even by today’s high standards, it offers something very special.” — The Boston Globe

Pavel Haas Quartet
2027-03-14 16:00 - 18:00
Based in Prague, the Pavel Haas Quartet is celebrated worldwide for its rich sound, infectious passion, and intuitive rapport. A five-time Gramophone Award winner and named one of BBC Music Magazine’s 10 greatest string quartets of all time, the quartet brings Czech soul and classical mastery to Beethoven’s Op. 135, Janáček’s Kreutzer Sonata, and Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 14.
“It’s their lightness of touch that commands; the subtle nuances of color, line and texture performed with almost spectral intensity.”– BBC Music Magazine
This event will be livestreamed.
This performance is generously sponsored by Neil Weiner & Alex Goldsmith

Anthony McGill, clarinet & Conrad Tao, piano
2027-04-05 19:30 - 21:30
Hailed by The New York Times for his “trademark brilliance, penetrating sound and rich character,” clarinet virtuoso Anthony McGill joins pianist–composer Conrad Tao for an exhilarating evening of chamber music. The program will feature Brahms’s beloved Clarinet Sonata alongside Berg’s 4 Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, as well as a new work by Conrad Tao. This powerful collaboration brings together two artists shaping the future of classical music.
Anthony McGill is “…a captivating virtuoso on the stage, and a longtime advocate for social change extending beyond it…” — The New York Times
Conrad Tao was “…adventurous, agile and often electrifying as he navigated works both contemporary and classical.” — The New York Times
This event will be livestreamed.

Imani Winds
2027-05-12 19:30 - 21:30
For nearly three decades, the GRAMMY-winning Imani Winds has revolutionized and reimagined the wind quintet. Closing our season with their program, Take Flight, the ensemble explores freedom, migration, and the beauty of nature through soaring melodies. Program highlights include Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, August Read Thomas’s Avian Escapades, and a world premiere arrangement of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird Suite.
“Imani’s performance was brilliant—intense, dynamic and wildly colorful.” – Oregon Live
This event will be livestreamed.
