Come enjoy three weeks of exhilarating chamber music performed by musicians from around the nation and the world. This year’s theme is “firsts” and includes seven small ensemble programs, two programs featuring “keyboard firsts” for harpsichord and piano, all in Wilmington, and three programs in Lewes, Delaware. Highlights include the return of pianists Victor Asuncion and Read Gainsford, two programs with mezzo soprano Gina Perregrino (fresh from her debut this season at the Met), favorite string players from past seasons, as well as oboe, clarinet, and harpsichord artists.

Participating Artists: Kate Ransom, violin and artistic director; Eric Pritchard, violin; Julianne Murphy, viola; Hal Grossman, violin; Amadi Azikiwe, viola; Adelya Shagidullina, viola; Lionel Thomas, viola; Charae Krueger, cello; Jacques-Pierre Malan, cello; Guang Wang, cello; Douglas Mapp, double bass; John Dee, oboe; Joseph Velez, clarinet; Victor Asuncion, piano; Read Gainsford, piano; Gabriel Benton, harpsichord; Gina Perregrino, mezzo soprano

Schedule Of Events

Week 1

June 10, 2025

7pm : Echoes of Old Russia - Shostakovich and Prokofiev

(Eric Pritchard, Kate Ransom, Amadi Azikiwe. Guang Wang, Victor Asuncion)

Shostakovich Five Pieces for Two Violins and Piano;

Prokofiev D Major Violin Son; Shostakovich Piano Quintet

June 11, 2025

7pm : String Splendor - Haydn and Dvorák

(Eric Pritchard, Kate Ransom, Amadi Azikiwe. Lionel Thomas, Guang Wang)

Haydn String Quartet Op. 1 #1; Dvorak String Quintet in A Minor, Op. 1

(this program runs - 70 minutes, followed by artists mingle)

June 12, 2025

7pm : Keyboard Firsts - Part I

(Victor Asuncion, piano; Gabriel Benton, harpsichord)

Mozart Sonata for Harpsichord Solo, K.279; Clementi Piano Sonata, Op. 2 #2;

Beethoven Piano Sonata #1 in F Minor, Op. 2#1

June 13, 2025

7pm : Opus 1 – Haydn, Mendelssohn, Dvorak

(Eric Pritchard, Kate Ransom, Amadi Azikiwe. Lionel Thomas, Guang Wang, Victor Asuncion)

Haydn String Quartet Op. 1 #1; Mendelssohn Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 1;

Dvorák Viola Quintet in A Minor, Op. 1

Week 2

June 17, 2025

7pm : Bach to Mozart

(John Dee, Joseph Velez, Kate Ransom, Amadi Azikiwe, Jacques-Pierre Malan, Gina Perregrino, Gabriel Benton)

Bach Cello Suite; Telemann Trio Sonata in C Minor for violin, oboe, continuo; Scarlatti harpsichord sonatas; Handel “Ombra mai fu” from Xerxes; Mozart “Parto,

parto” from Clemenza di Tito for mezzo soprano, clarinet, strings.

June 18, 2025

7pm : Bach and Beyond

(John Dee, Joseph Velez, Kate Ransom, Amadi Azikiwe, Jacques-Pierre Malan, Gina Perregrino, Gabriel Benton)

Bach Cello Suite; Mozart Parto, parto from La Clemenza di Tito; Telemann Trio Sonata in C Minor for Oboe, Violin, Continuo; Marin Marais Sonata for Viola and Harpsichord. This program runs - 70 minutes, followed by artists mingle.

June 19, 2025

4:30pm : Summer Soirée: Gypsy Life

(Kate Ransom, Amadi Azikiwe, Jacques-Pierre Malan, Read Gainsford)

Haydn Gypsy Trio; Monti Czardas; Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody #2; Brahms G Minor Piano Quartet Finale

June 20, 2025

7pm : French Firsts

(John Dee, Kate Ransom, Amadi Azikiwe, Jacques-Pierre Malan, Douglas Mapp, Gina Perregrino, Read Gainsford)

Farrenc Piano Quintet in A Minor, Op. 1; Saint-Saens Elephant, Swan, Tortoises for Double Bass and Piano; Saint Saens Oboe Sonata; Debussy Two Arabesques for piano; Ravel Pavane pour une intante défunte; Poulenc Le Bestiaire; Fauré Songs Op. 1#1 (Le papillon et la fleur) and Op. 1#2 (Mai)

Week 3

June 24, 2025

7pm : Czech Please!

(Hal Grossman, Kate Ransom, Adelya Shagidullina, Charae Krueger, Read Gainsford)

Dvorák String Quartet (American); Smetana Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15; Martinu Madrigals for Violin and Viola

June 25, 2025

7pm : String Splendor - Czech This!

(Hal Grossman, Kate Ransom, Adelya Shagidullina, Charae Krueger)

Dvorák String Quartet (American); Martinu Madrigals for Violin and Viola

Lewes Public Library at 7pm (this program runs - 60 minutes, followed by artists mingle)

June 26, 2025

7pm : Keyboard Firsts - Part II

(Read Gainsford, piano)

R. Schumann Abegg Variations, Op 1; Brahms C Major Sonata, Op.1; C. Schumann Four Polonaises, Op. 1

June 27, 2025

7pm : Masterful Firsts - Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schumann

(Hal Grossman, Kate Ransom, Adelya Shagidullina, Charae Krueger, Read Gainsford, Gabriel Benton)

Beethoven Moonlight Sonata first edition for harpsichord; Mendelssohn String Quartet, Op. 12; Schumann Piano Quintet, Op. 44

Date : June 10-27, 2025

Location :

Grace United Methodist Church, 900 Washington St, Wilmington, DE 19801

Lewes Public Library, 111 Adams Ave, Lewes, DE 19958

Stonegates, 4031 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807

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