Ottawa Chamber Music Festival

The Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival has been operating each summer since 1994. In that year Julian Armour started a small festival that was to become the largest chamber music festival in the world. It has grown from 22 concerts in 1994 to over 130 concerts and performances in 2008, the 15th anniversary season. In 2003 the Festival was awarded Event of the Year by Ottawa Tourism. The CBC Radio frequently broadcasts concerts nationally during the festival, making the effective audience very large. The festival is organized and run by the Ottawa Chamber Music Society under the direction of Glenn Hodgins.

Artists

The festival attracts many of the world's major musicians and groups. Among those who have been or will be in the festival are the Beaux Arts Trio, the Tokyo String Quartet, the Emerson String Quartet, the Canadian Brass, Martin Beaver, Penderecki Quartet, Paul Stewart, Martin Chalifour, Monica Whicher, Julie Nesrallah, Quartango, Neil Gripp, Richard Raymond, the St. Lawrence Quartet, Mayumi Seiler, Keller Quartet, and Adaskin String Trio. Other artists include Marc-André Hamelin, Paul Merkelo, Patrick Wedd, Guy Fouquet, Musica Camerata, Stéphane Lemelin, Timothy Vernon, Jennifer Swartz, Matthew White, and Gino Quilico. The 2008 International Chamber Music Festival is delighted to have the Gryphon Trio as their Artistic Programming Directors, hosting such artists as Shanghai Quartet, Isabel Bayrakdarian and Quartetto Gelato, to name but a few.

Music

Although the concerts are primarily traditional classical music, the scope has evolved to include music by pop and jazz composers and also music from non-European countries. The concerts of a typical day would have several different types of music. For example on August 1, 2008 the following were available:

* 10:00 a.m. Musical Musings with Harry Halbreich (lecture series)
* Noon location 1: CBC Radio Two: Studio Sparks
* Noon location 2: Celebrating Ukraine
* Noon location 3: Platero y Yo
* 2:00 p.m. Old Friends Reunited
* 8:00 p.m. location 1: Gilles Apap
* 8:00 p.m. location 2: Penderecki String Quartet and Friends
* 8:00 p.m. location 3: Two Tales
* 10:30 p.m. Late Night at the Legion Events

2008 Ottawa Chamber Music Festival

The Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival marked its 15th anniversary in 2008. Building on experience, the 2008 festival incorporated the most successful features of this remarkably successful event from the past 15 years. We also added new features to enhance the experience for festival patrons. In addition to our 15th Anniversary concerts featuring leading artists, many of which have contributed to the Festival since its earliest days, the 2008 OICMF celebrated artists and arts institutions that have made major contributions to the Canadian and International cultural landscape.For more information about the Ottawa Chamber Music Society and the 2008 Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, please visit the website at http://www.chamberfest.com

Festival Cost

The festival is very popular because of its quality, but also because it is very affordable. Season passes, $95 CAD (adult) in 2008, allowed the holder to attend 121 concerts. If the holder attends just one concert a day, it reduces the entrance fee to a few dollars per concert. In addition, nine premium concerts were presented in 2008 for an additional fee.

For single events, the tickets range from $20 - $55.

The Society also offers three-day passes, student passes, early bird and group discounts that make the festival even more affordable and accessible for all music lovers.

Venues

The concert venues are generally churches or cultural facilities in the heart of downtown Ottawa, including:
*Dominion-Chalmers United Church
*Christ Church Cathedral
*St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
*Studio Sparks
*Rideau Hall

The University of Ottawa is also a regular venue. The Festival has also used, on occasion, Southam Hall in the National Arts Centre for special gala concerts.

Other Activities

Apart from the annual summer festival, which is the Ottawa Chamber Music Society's major event, the Society also organizes activities throughout the year.The Concert Series takes place from fall to spring offering approximately six concerts per season. There is also the Family Music Fair - a free day of musical activities for all to enjoy. An annual online auction raises money for the Society's operations. The Society also has its own CD label, CMS Classics, which has thus far recorded Schubert's string quintet and Haydn's The Seven Last Words of Christ.

References

* [http://www.chamberfest.com/ Ottawa Chamber Music Society website]