Where festival meets conference, prepare for packed days featuring interactive sessions, peer-to-peer networking, experiential workshops, and more music making than ever. After all, things are just bigger in Texas.
Come to learn, connect, and celebrate our innovators, out-of-the-box thinkers, and all those propelling the field. And don’t forget to pack your instrument! Join in joyful unison each morning for a bit of Bach and breakfast: six Brandenburgs (two per day) served with eggs and coffee—all instruments and players welcome.
February 13, 2025 12:00 pm
Join Jennie Oh Brown—CMA Board Treasurer, Conference Committee Chair—for the official opening of the 2025 Conference.
Jennie Oh Brown
Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras; CMA Board Treasurer
February 13, 2025 02:00 pm
Sign up for an hour (or more) of playing time with friends new and old. Denote interest on your registration form; ensemble assignments will be determined later this fall. There are limited spots, participation will be first-come, first-served.
February 13, 2025 02:00 pm
Organized networking! Gather in small circles for the group-think practice known as luck circles. In the 90-minute interactive session led by New Music USA, eight “strangers” from across sectors offer communal problem solving and support for challenges each individual faces.
February 13, 2025 01:00 pm
Bringing to life ACF’s “Anatomy of a Commission” digital resource library, composers and their collaborators are invited to join entertainment lawyer Ari Solotoff, BMI’s Deirdre Chadwick, and other guests to discuss frequently asked questions—and things you didn't know to ask—about licensing, copyright, and other items.
Ari Solotoff
Solotoff Law
Deirdre Chadwick
BMI
February 13, 2025 03:30 pm
Created in 2023, the Texas Chamber Music Institute is a festival created in 2023 for pre-college and college piano and string students. Though they started with $0 in the budget, the founders were able to bootstrap the festival and host 54 students from around the nation and emerge with a significant net profit in just one year. By 2024, the program had expanded further. In this session, get a clear understanding of their budget management, as well as a demonstration of new tech and tools to help streamline the festival planning and digital marketing efforts.
Liz Lee
Texas Christian University
Juliette Herlin
Texas Christian University
Michael Bukhman
Texas Christian University
February 13, 2025 12:00 pm
Excellence in chamber music education—through inclusive, accessible, and creative programs and teaching—has already changed the face of the professional musical landscape. How can this trickle down to our audiences and support systems? This session will address education and advocacy.
Annie Fullard
Cavani String Quartet
Nicole Cherry
Marian Anderson String Quartet
Ronald Crutcher
The Aspen Institute
Mary Jo Pagano
Chamber Music Center of New York
Karla Donehew-Perez
Catalyst Quartet
February 13, 2025 03:00 pm
Browse vendors and exhibitor booths on the 7th floor of the hotel.
February 13, 2025 05:00 pm
Toast the 2025 Conference kick-off in the Exhibit Hall so you can mingle with vendors and catch up with old friends.
February 13, 2025 08:00 pm
Featuring the Helen Sung Quartet, ensemble in residence
with
Dave Meder's "New American Hymnal," showcase ensemble
Alex Coke & Carl Michel Sextet, showcase ensemble
Hop on the shuttle to visit the historic Eldorado Ballroom for a night of jazz, featuring two Texas-based ensembles and a starry Houston homecoming.
Performances are included with all conference registrations; concert-only tickets are available.
February 14, 2025 09:15 am
BYO-Instrument! Each morning of the conference, join in joyful unison to play two Brandenburg concertos with friends and special guests. All instruments and styles are welcome—these baroque jams are for everyone.
February 14, 2025 10:00 am
Browse vendors and exhibitor booths on the main, 7th floor of the hotel.
February 14, 2025 10:00 am
What happens when leading performers in the early music, jazz, and classical/contemporary music worlds unite to commission a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians? This panel delves into the making of Metropolis Trilogy, a world premiere from iconic innovator Roscoe Mitchell, written for flutist Emi Ferguson, Immanuel Wilkins Quartet, and the baroque band, Ruckus. Produced by New York’s Metropolis Ensemble and co-commissioned by DACAMERA, Metropolis Trilogy premieres Friday evening at DACAMERA, surrounded by a dazzling constellation of works from the baroque era and beyond. Ahead of the premiere, moderator Larry Blumenfeld chats with the groundbreaking, cross-genre work's creators and commissioners.
Immanuel Wilkins
Composer, Saxophonist
Emi Ferguson
Flutist
Clay Zeller-Townson
Ruckus
Sarah Rothenberg
DACAMERA
Andrew Cyr
Metropolis Ensemble
February 14, 2025 11:30 am
In June 2024, the Florida governor vetoed more than $32 million in state arts and culture grants. In 2021, another state, Missouri, cut DEI initiatives, affecting the Missouri Arts Council and numerous local arts organizations. More than 30 states have introduced laws restricting DEI initiatives. This increase in attacks on DEI in arts and social projects poses a challenge for inclusive programming. This session explores how to navigate these politicized realities and asks whether arts orgs should engage in socio-political—and critical—conversations and brings together heads of arts institutions from these states to offer strategies for the future. Learn how to balance the risks and benefits of taking a stand on DEI issues and how to communicate these positions to diverse stakeholders.
Cristian Martinez Vega
Lia Uribe
University of Arkansas
February 14, 2025 11:30 am
In an evolving chamber music landscape, financial sustainability is critical for producing and presenting organizations. This panel unites Tom Rizzo of Plectrum Advisers, an independent financial planning resource serving the freelance community, a representative from a major presenting organization as well as a fundraising professional, who, together, will provide a holistic view of personal and business finance strategies essential for long-term success. From managing operational budgets and funding sources to personal financial planning for music professionals, this discussion will equip attendees with the knowledge needed to thrive in today’s complex financial environment. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for fostering both organizational and individual financial health. For those interested conference attendees, Plectrum is offering one-on-one meetings following the session.
Tom Rizzo
Plectrum Advisers
February 14, 2025 10:30 am
Twelve hours of music! The full schedule and program will be announced soon.
Featured performers include:
Aperio, Music of the Americas, showcase ensemble
Apollo Chamber Players
ArcoStrum, showcase ensemble
Beo String Quartet, showcase ensemble
Cavatina Duo, showcase ensemble
*Del Sol String Quartet, ensemble-in-residence
*ETHEL, featuring Robert Mirabal, ensemble-in-residence
Formosa Quartet
Huu Bac Quintet, showcase ensemble
Invoke, showcase ensemble
Marlon Simon and the Nagual Spirits, showcase ensemble
*Seraph Brass, ensemble-in-residence
Sputter Box, showcase ensemble
Telegraph Quartet
Trio Colores, showcase ensemble
Trio Magnoliana, showcase ensemble
Ulysses Quartet, showcase ensemble
Ensembles from University of Texas at Austin's Butler School of Music, American Festival for the Arts/Kinder High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, and *The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University
Festival admission is included with all conference registrations. The festival is free and open to the public from 10:30am to 7:00pm.
*The evening performances, beginning at 8:00pm, are ticketed, though admission is included with conference registration. Concert-only tickets are available.
February 14, 2025 12:00 pm
A Valentine's lunch at the hotel is included with conference registration packages. CMA challenge: Sit with someone you don’t know!
February 14, 2025 01:00 pm
Learn how the Innovators at ROCO created The Nightingale, a piece for violin, clarinet, piano, and narrator that ROCO commissioned by Hong Kongese-Canadian composer Kevin Lau. To help bring the story to life, ROCO commissioned illustrations from Amy Scheidegger Ducos which were projected during the premiere performance, which lent themselves beautifully to the creation of the book. In a studio at The Shepherd School, experience the multimedia work and get to ask questions about its evolution.
Alecia Lawyer
ROCO
February 14, 2025 01:30 pm
What is “American music?” and what does “American” mean? Consider the power of music: its historical role in inspiring, oppressing, protesting, and celebrating people and events. In 2026, the U.S. will recognize the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—an opportunity to address the complexity of this anniversary historically and today. This session invites anyone creating, performing, sharing, and programming music around this occasion to join us in engaging and deeper inquiry as we seek to answer these questions. This is an interactive workshop to discuss how to strategically develop context and highlight the stories of those who have been silenced, ignored, or erased in the name of “independence.”
Carolina Heredia
American Composers Forum
Vanessa Rose
American Composers Forum
Ashleigh Gordon
Castle of our Skins
Hyeyung Sol Yoon
Del Sol Quartet
Armando Castellano
Quinteto Latino
February 14, 2025 01:00 pm
In a panel moderated by jazz scholar and Chamber Music’s Editorial Director Larry Blumenfeld, hear from several Houstonian jazz artists who will speak to the city’s impact and place in the greater jazz landscape. This panel will touch on Houston’s history and trajectory as a jazz mecca.
February 14, 2025 03:00 pm
In April 2024, a group of 5th grade students in the Bronx engaged in a six-week curriculum exploring chamber music and contemporary composers of color. In this session, hear about Chamber Music America’s initiative, Sound Journeys, the takeaways from the creative engagement venture, and how this work can be replicated in other communities. This session also includes preview of “Sounds of Houston,” a creative placemaking project that pairs Houston residents with musicians to create sonic memoirs, funded by The Wallace Foundation.
Renate Rohlfing
Sounds That Carry
Olivia Cosío
Sounds That Carry
February 14, 2025 04:03 pm
Hop on the party bus to explore ROCO’s city-wide placements of QR codes that allow for all Houstonians to experience the ensemble's music. There’s more to the fun: ROCO’s team will share the process of creation—artistic and logistic—to this unique endeavor.
Wine Tour tickets are included in the Festival Gold Pass registration available to members. For all other registrations, a Wine Tour ticket for Friday or Saturday can be purchased separately.
February 14, 2025 08:00 pm
Capping 12 hours of music, hear ensembles from The Shepherd School of Music as well as CMA’s Ensembles in Residence Seraph Brass, Del Sol Quartet, and ETHEL, featuring Robert Mirabal.
Daytime festival admission is free and open. Admission to the evening performances, beginning at 8:00pm, is included with conference registration. Concert-only tickets are available for non-conference attendees.
February 15, 2025 10:00 am
Artistry, technique, improvisation; texture, color, composition: Words to describe music... or cooking? Violinist, chef, James Beard Award–winning and New York Times Bestselling author, J. Kenji López-Alt joins CMA's conference as keynote speaker to share his passions for food and music and examine their intersections and parallels. Author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science; The Wok; and Every Night Is Pizza Night, López-Alt is a wildly popular New York Times food columnist; cohost of The Recipe podcast with Deb Perelman; and the host of Kenji’s Cooking Show, which has more than a million subscribers on YouTube. About López-Alt's impact, The New York Times writes: “For avid home cooks who came of age in the digital era, there may be few voices more authoritative than that of J. Kenji López-Alt, the nerd king of Internet cooking.” This summer, López-Alt joined violinist James Ehnes onstage at Seattle Chamber Music Society for a program truly pairing cuisine and chamber.
Kenji López-Alt
Chef, Writer, Violinist
February 15, 2025 11:00 am
BYO Instrument! Each morning of the conference, join in joyful unison to play two Brandenburg concertos with friends and special guests. All instruments and styles are welcome—these baroque jams are for everyone.
February 15, 2025 12:00 pm
Does the subscription model still work when it comes to selling a chamber music season? Hear from experts and innovators who will share ideas for new revenue streams, ticket forecasting in current times, and best practices / new technology in ticketing.
February 15, 2025 03:30 pm
The importance of community relationships to chamber music can’t be underestimated. This seminar will provide tested practices for building a community through multi-faceted and healthy relations with volunteers, audiences, donors, and performers. Learn how to initiate or maintain and nurture a healthy and engaged volunteer corps as well as a donor and audience base.
Anita Orne
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
Aloysia Friedmann
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
February 15, 2025 12:00 pm
Join this roundtable discussion for amateur players and professionals alike. This conversation will be led by members of Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP) and is designed to be an open and inclusive space for all participants.
February 15, 2025 11:30 am
Browse vendors and exhibitor booths on the main, 7th floor of the hotel.
February 15, 2025 01:00 pm
Help us honor outstanding achievements in our field through the CMA Awards. Award recipients will be announced in November.
This luncheon is included with all conference registrations.
February 15, 2025 03:00 pm
In this interactive session, meet three artists who are pitching high-impact artistic projects to the sharks: members of the presenter community who are looking to “invest.” The artists are part of CAG’s inaugural Community Impact Project Incubator, during which they embark on a six-month, career-launching program through Global Leaders Institute, providing entrepreneurial skills to navigate today’s arts ecosystem. Hear the sharks’ feedback to the artists and take part in voting for the crowd favorite.
February 15, 2025 12:00 pm
How does one form and become a professional chamber group? What are some of the paths and pitfalls? And how do you stay together without killing each other? This panel will discuss the panelist’s individual and collective paths to chamber groups that have each lasted over 25 years. Speakers will offer tips to recently formed chamber ensembles about early and mid-stage careers in the field as well as advice on supporting one another while navigating the challenges. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions as there will be time for group discussion.
Nick Photinos
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Sandy Yamamoto
The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music; Austin Chamber Music Center
Jan Grüning
Ariel Quartet; University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
February 15, 2025 03:30 pm
From creative curation to new programs, Houston’s chamber music leaders discuss audience engagement and invigorating change. In this session, hear inspiring success stories and gain new ideas to take home.
February 15, 2025 01:00 pm
From 2015 and 2022, a team of researchers, led by The Wallace Foundation, surveyed 25 arts organizations about their strategies to bolster audiences during their seasons. In this session, Dr. Francie Ostrower of The University of Texas at Austin, leads a discussion of her final report, "In Search of the Magic Bullet: Results from the Building Audiences for Sustainability Initiative." We’ll hear about the data acquired and how the 25 organizations fared—which tactics worked and why, and which strategies didn’t make an impact.
Francie Ostrower
The University of Texas at Austin
February 15, 2025 02:00 pm
Observe ensembles in session with leading guest artists and expert coaches. Inquire with conference@chambermusicamerica.org if your conservatory or university ensemble is interested in participating.
February 15, 2025 04:30 pm
Hop on the party bus to explore ROCO’s city-wide placements of QR codes that allow for all Houstonians to experience the ensemble's music. There’s more to the fun: ROCO’s team will share the process of creation—artistic and logistic—to this unique endeavor.
Wine Tour tickets are included in the Festival Gold Pass registration available to members. For all other registrations, a Wine Tour ticket for Friday or Saturday can be purchased separately.
February 15, 2025 06:00 pm
Celebrate the storied competition and its top winners during this marquee event. Following a seated dinner featuring several of the competition's junior division winners, head into Rice University's pristine concert hall at 8:00pm for a sparkling affair to remember. Performers include recent prize winners Lotus Saxophone Quartet and Trio Azura, as well as Balourdet Quartet and Aruna Sax Quartet. Representing more seasoned winning ensembles are WindSync and Miró Quartet—both conference ensembles-in-residence.
The Fischoff Gala Performance is included with conference registration; dinner tickets can be purchased separately.
(The Gala dinner is included in the Festival Gold Pass, available to members only.)
February 16, 2025 10:00 am
BYO Instrument! The final session. As we say adieu until 2026, join in joyful unison to play the remaining two Brandenburg concertos with friends and special guests. All instruments and styles are welcome—these baroque jams are for everyone.
Keynote Speaker
Chef, Author, Journalist, Violinist
Historical flutist
Senior Fellow,
The Aspen Institute
Violinist
Catalyst Quartet
Director of Chamber Music,
Texas Christian University
Violinist, Marian Anderson String Quartet;
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Founding Cellist, Eighth Blackbird;
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
Associate Dean of Academic Units & Leadership Dev.,
University of Arkansas
PhD in Musicology & MBA in Arts Innovation
Founder, Ruckus
Sounds That Carry
Composer, Saxophonist
Violinist, Cavani String Quartet;
Peabody Conservatory; McDuffie Center for Strings
Founder, Artistic Director,
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
Executive Director,
Quinteto Latino
Artistic Director,
DACAMERA
Artistic Director,
Austin Chamber Music Festival
Founder, Artistic Director
Chamber Music Center of New York
Associate Professor of Music & Chamber Music,
Texas Christian University
Violinist,
Del Sol Quartet
The University of Texas at Austin
Sounds That Carry
Executive Director,
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival
Founder
Plectrum Advisers
Ariel Quartet, violist;
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
CMA Board Member;
Managing Director, Diaz Inclusion Consulting
Founder, Artistic Director,
ROCO
Assistant Professor of Cello
Texas Christian University
Violist, Artistic Director
Castle of our Skins
Artistic Director,
Metropolis Ensemble
Ensemble-in-Residence
Ensemble-in-Residence
Fischoff Wind Gold Medal Winner, 2016
Ensemble-in-Residence
Fischoff Grand Prize Winner, 1996
Ensemble-in-Residence
Ensemble-in-Residence
Ensemble-in-Residence
Showcase Ensemble
Fischoff 2024 Grand Prize WInner
Showcase Ensemble
Fischoff String Gold Medal Winner, 2020
Showcase Ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
Fischoff Grand Prize Winner, 2019
Showcase Ensemble
Fischoff Wind Gold Medal Winner 2024
Showcase Ensemble
Houston ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
Showcase ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
2014 Fischoff Grand Prize Winner
Showcase Ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
University of Houston's Moores School of Music
Showcase Ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
Showcase Ensemble
Conference packages are inclusive of all sessions, performances, and hotel-based food/beverages for each day of registration. Three-day, two-day, and one-day packages are available.
CMA Members can take advantage of the Festival Gold Pass, inclusive of all sessions, performances, and hotel-based food/beverages, as well as the Saturday night Fischoff Gala dinner and a ROCO wine tour.
Don’t forget your CMA swag! Purchase a CMA-branded T-shirt, water bottle, or hooded sweatshirt, and pick them up in Houston.
CMA is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Donations added to your cart at checkout that support fellow artists’ attendance are tax deductible.
CMA has a reduced-rate room block at the Intercontinental Houston. The exhibit hall, keynote, and all general sessions will take place on the 7th floor.
or
Call the Reservations Department at (713) 422-2779 and press “0” to speak to the hotel’s Reservations Desk and identify yourself as guests of Chamber Music America’s Annual Conference 2025 Room Block.
Toll-free number: (888) 465-4329
InterContinental Houston
6750 Main Street
Houston, TX 77030
The hotel is a 4-minute drive or a 15-minute walk from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Shuttles will operate between locations.
Chamber Music America extends its sincere appreciation to the following organizations: