About the Corpus Christi Chamber Music Society

Presenting as great a performance as you can hear anywhere in the world in the most prestigious halls of the largest cities.

Mission Statement

The Corpus Christi Chamber Music Society’s mission is to promote the appreciation and enjoyment of chamber music by bringing world-renowned artists to perform for a broad range and age of listeners in the South Texas area at concerts, educational opportunities, and community outreach programs.

History

The Corpus Christi Chamber Music Society, Inc. (CCCMS) began presenting concerts in 1982. The Society was founded as a registered non-profit organization under the guidance of Marcia and Harry Marks. Dr. Herbert Madalin was elected as the first president of the original board of 14 members. Joan Allison was chosen as Program Director in 1986 and continued in this capacity until Susan Sturman took over the role in 2016. The organization continues to be managed by an all-volunteer board.

From the beginning, the focus of the CCCMS has been to promote the appreciation and enjoyment of chamber music by bringing the world’s finest chamber music ensembles to the community and surrounding areas. The list of ensembles presented by the Society reads like a “Who’s Who” of world-renowned musicians. It includes the Emerson String Quartet, the Golub-Kaplan-Carr Piano Trio, Musicians from Marlboro, Tashi, Summit Brass, the American Chamber Players, OPUS ONE, the Beaux Arts Piano Trio, the Cleveland, Juilliard, Guarneri, Tokyo, American, Ying, Shanghai, Prazák, Miró, Cavani, Pacifica, Enso, and Dover String Quartets.

In 1985, the CCCMS began presenting educational chamber music outreach programs and providing free concert vouchers for area students.

The objective of these programs has been to provide opportunities for the young people of the area to participate in interactive musical experiences and encourage them in the pursuit of excellence in both music and other facets of their lives. The program now reaches approximately 2,000 students each year. The outreach activities have expanded to include special community programs in order to introduce classical music education and enjoyment to a broader segment of our community. These programs are performed in casual settings outside the concert hall and are provided either free of charge or at reduced admission fees. Up to seven chamber music outreach activities for students and the community are offered during each concert season.

The Society has worked cooperatively with various institutions and foundations such as the public and private schools, the Corpus Christi Symphony, the Corpus Christi International Competition for Piano and Strings, the Art Museum of South Texas, Leadership Corpus Christi, the Performing Arts Series, Del Mar College Department of Music, Texas Commission on the Arts, Mid-America Alliance, and the Van Cliburn Foundation. We are grateful for the continued support from the City of Corpus Christi, local foundations, and patrons of the arts to help us continue our musical mission.