Based on the principles of the Marlboro Music Festival, the Artistic Development Program emphasizes weekly study and rehearsal, and is the cornerstone of the organization. The ensemble of 14 artists together with various internationally known guests explore selections from the entire chamber music literature, culminating in public performances.

CCM began as the resident ensemble of WFMT (Chicago's fine arts station) in 1986. Along with these first public performances on WFMT, CCM inaugurated its year-round free "First Monday" Series presented each month at noon at The Chicago Cultural Center to help people better understand and experience music, and to provide free access to world-class music-making for a broad segment of society. Through its exposure on WFMT, CCM received repeated requests from listeners for a traditional concert series, resulting in the creation of an annual Subscription Series in 1988. This series grew from three concerts in one location to the current 10 concerts in two locations (Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston and DePaul University Concert Hall in Chicago), and has been critically acclaimed for its artistic excellence, program diversity and distinguished guest artist roster.

Since 1987, CCM has gained national and international exposure through its Touring Program, with appearances at the Ravinia Festival, on NPR, in live concerts on WFMT radio, and in performance and short-term residencies across the United States and in Tokyo, Salzburg, and Giverny, France.

In September 1988 CCM inaugurated its Arts Education Program at Sullivan High School, an inner-city public school. Devised to enhance the school's limited music program, this arts education program is based upon a concert-oriented curriculum, teaching young students the skills to experience music and appreciate the benefits it can bring to their lives. In the 1995-96 season, the program expanded to Jonathan Burr Elementary School in Wicker Park. CCM has received extensive commendation for its Arts Education program and was named Volunteer of the Year by the Chicago Board of Education in 1991.

In 1989 CCM created a Fellowship Program for young professional musicians. This program offers its participants two opportunities consistent with CCM's goals: (1) to acquire artistic maturity and experience by working and performing with CCM's experienced ensemble artists; and (2) to explore and enhance teaching abilities by working with students in the Arts Education Program, under the supervision of CCM's artistic directors.

CCM's "Music Allegro" Series, takes the live concert experience to unconventional concert venues, such as The Lambs Farm, Lawson YMCA, Erie Neighborhood House and The Chicago Children's Memorial Hospital where people's quality of life is at risk due to circumstances or economic factors.

In 1996 CCM offered its first annual Family Concert, a high quality, interactive musical experience for children and adults to enjoy together. From 1999 through 2001, this event took place at the Field Museum of Chicago, reaching over 600 concertgoers annually, and included the world premieres of two works, I Met a Dinosaur and Tyrannosaurus Sue.

In 1998, CCM inaugurated an extensive artistic initiative entitled "Music at the Millennium," a three-year festival of 20th century chamber music taking place each May of 1998, 1999 and 2000 at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Set in a format of both retrospection and commissioning of new works, the festival had strong interdisciplinary and educational components to help audiences appreciate the music of our time in historical and musical context. The series, which won a CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, has been extended in 2001 into a new two-year program call "Composer Perspectives" with a focus on composer partnerships, including Pierre Boulez, musical advisor to the project, John Harbison and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.

CCM's budget has grown from $21,000 in 1986 to a projected budget of $850,000 for fiscal year 2002. Each year has ended firmly in the black. In recent years the number of ensemble artists has grown to 15, the cadre of guest artists numbers over 150, and CCM's repertoire numbers more than 400 works. The Board of Directors has grown from 8 in 1986 to 30 currently. In its short history, CCM has made a striking impact on the musical and cultural life of Chicago. It has lived its founding philosophy and is beginning to see its mission become a reality.

The Musicians

• Barbara Butler, trumpet
• Larry Combs, clarinet
• Christopher Costanza, cello
• Mathieu Dufour, flute
• Joseph Genualdi, violin, artistic co-director
• Charles Geyer, trumpet
• Michael Henoch, oboe, artistic co-director
• Jasmine Lin, violin
• Michael Mulcahy, trombone
• Bradley Opland, double bass
• Gene Pokorny, tuba
• Deborah Sobol, piano
• Rami Solomonow, viola
• Gail Williams, horn

Contact details and further information

E-mail The Chicago Chamber Musicians

For further details, see The Chicago Chamber Musicians