Crescent City Chamber Music Festival

Crescent City Chamber Music Festival 11th Season: October 15-25, 2026
New Orleans' premier Classical music festival and outreach organization

The Crescent City Chamber Music Festival (CCCMF) is an outreach/mission-centric festival founded in 2016 by New Orleans native and Artistic Director Luke Fleming in New Orleans, Louisiana. CCCMF's Tenth Anniversary Season, "Novelty and Nostalgia," will be held from October 10-19, 2025. More details at: crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com

Through partnerships with local organizations such as Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, the University of New Orleans, Urban South Brewery, St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, and WWNO, CCCMF has since its inception in 2016 presented 50 Free Public Concerts in local venues and over 400 Outreach Performances in nursing homes, retirement communities, homeless shelters, hospitals, schools, churches, and other helping organizations across the Greater New Orleans area. Over the course of CCCMF’s Tenth Anniversary Season in 2025 (October 10-19, 2025), Festival Artists and Ensembles-in-Residence will again visit nursing homes, schools, churches, homeless shelters, mission sites, and other helping organizations in the Greater New Orleans area, providing exciting, interactive musical performances in over 30 different locations. CCCMF will also present seven FREE Public Concerts in both traditional and non-traditional venues in New Orleans during its Tenth Anniversary Season. To receive periodic updates for CCCMF’s Tenth Anniversary Season, the details for which will continue to be announced leading up to the Festival dates (October 10-19, 2025), please sign up for our mailing list by clicking the link below:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=54cf6d30904bee462f562083b&id=72d1fcdb4c

Please also peruse our website to view photos, watch videos, and find out more about CCCMF’s mission in the Greater New Orleans community! www.crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com

The Crescent City Chamber Music Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. To support CCCMF with a 100% tax-deductible contribution, please visit:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/donate/

Crescent City Chamber Music Festival
Tenth Anniversary Season
October 10-19, 2025
New Orleans

Luke Fleming, Founding Artistic Director
Escher Quartet, Ensemble-in-Residence
Lott Quartet, Ensemble-in-Residence
Manhattan Chamber Players, Ensemble-in-Residence
Caity Gyorgy and Mark Limacher, Jazz Duo
Seth Grosshandler, Composer-in-Residence
Daniella Greene, Festival Manager

2025 Festival Artists (listed alphabetically):

Jaren Atherholt, Oboe
Adam Barnett-Hart, Violin
Bryan Batt, Narrator
Nanci Belmont, Bassoon
Amelia Clingman, Viola
Josiah Bullach, Horn
Mark Dover, Clarinet
Luke Fleming, Viola
Joshua Gersen, Conductor
Daniella Greene, Violin
Caity Gyorgy, Vocalist
Andrew Janss, Cello
Ida Kavafian, Violin
David Kidd, Trombone
Siwoo Kim, Violin
Krewe de Voix, Chamber Choir
Pierre Lapointe, Viola
Bryan Lee, Violin
Mark Limacher, Piano
Paul Macres, Double Bass
Virginia McDowell, Oboe
Joy Meade, Soprano
Thomas Mitts, Organ
Abigail Monroe, Cello
Grace Park, Violin
Max Paulus, Horn
Kristen Schmitz, Soprano
Claire Shackleton, Mezzo-Soprano
Aaron Smith, Percussion
Shaquille Southwell, Clarinet
Brendan Speltz, Violin
Brook Speltz, Cello
Steven Tenenbom, Viola
Benjamin Thacher, Violin
Alan Tolbert, Trumpet
Kate Walter, Violin
Paul Weber, Conductor/Choirmaster
Hannah Yim, Violin

Praised by The San Francisco Chronicle as being “fresh, different and exhilarating” and Strings Magazine as “intensely w...
09/29/2026

Praised by The San Francisco Chronicle as being “fresh, different and exhilarating” and Strings Magazine as “intensely wrought and burnished“, violinist Grace Park captivates audiences with her artistry, passion and virtuosity. Winner of the Naumburg International Violin Competition, she is one of the leading artists of her generation.⁠
⁠
We are delighted to have Grace returning to New Orleans for CCCMF's 11th Season, where she can be heard performing on October 20, 23, and 25!⁠
⁠
We asked Grace to tell us a bit about herself with a few questions:⁠
⁠
🎵 What about being in New Orleans this October are you most looking forward to?⁠
⁠
"As always, the food."⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠
⁠
"I only read non fiction."⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠
⁠
"Vulfpeck" ⁠
⁠
Read more about Grace and all of the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

Praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for his “glowing refinement,” violist Luke Fleming's performances have been describ...
09/27/2026

Praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for his “glowing refinement,” violist Luke Fleming's performances have been described by The Strad as “confident and expressive…playing with uncanny precision,” lauded by Gramophone for their “superlative technical and artistic ex*****on." Luke is the Founding Artistic Director of the Crescent City Chamber Music Festival and the Manhattan Chamber Players, and is the newly appointed Artistic Director of Chamber Music Monterey Bay. Luke is looking forward to the CCCMF's 11th Season, and to welcoming this year's talented artists to perform in New Orleans next month!

Luke can be heard performing in all seven of CCCMF 2026's Free Public Concerts. In the meantime, he answered a few questions for our audience to get to know him better:
⁠
🎵 What is one of your favorite things to do/places to go in New Orleans?
⁠
"So many things, but one of my favorite things to do it take the ferry over from where I live in Algiers Point to the Quarter, then walk all the way through the Quarter (people-watching along the way) to Frenchmen St to see some great live music."⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠
⁠
"I'm an avid gardener, and after gardening pretty extensively in New Orleans with my clay soil for the past six years, I think I'm prepared for just about any future challenge 😅"⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠
⁠
"I like a lot of genres, but I have really been enjoying Indie-Pop lately, and Matilda Mann is one of my favorite artists. She incorporates a lot of strings into her music as well, and her lyrics are really beautiful. My wife and I even chose one of her songs as our first dance at our wedding reception last year!" ⁠
⁠
Read more about Luke and the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

Siwoo Kim is an “incisive” and “compelling” violinist (The New York Times) who “plays with stylistic sensitivity and gen...
09/25/2026

Siwoo Kim is an “incisive” and “compelling” violinist (The New York Times) who “plays with stylistic sensitivity and generous tonal nuance” (The Chicago Tribune). Mr. Kim actively performs as soloist and chamber musician, and he is the Founding Co-Artistic Director of VIVO Music Festival in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

Siwoo will be returning to CCCMF next month for our 11th Season, and we are so excited to hear him perform on October 20, 23, and 25! We asked Siwoo to tell us about himself with a few questions:

🎵 What about being in New Orleans this October are you most looking forward to?⁠
⁠
"The music and camaraderie, of course, but also… Shaya Restaurant! The people’s kindness and joy are also always inspiring. NOLA is a special place!"⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠
⁠
"I host chamber music reading parties in my NYC apartment that sometimes go until 4am or so! Kind neighbors…"⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠
⁠
"Sufjan Stevens in recent years. He gets me to FEEL. In this digital age, I find it important to stimulate my emotional self." ⁠
⁠
Learn more about Siwoo and the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

Violist Amelia Clingman lives in New Orleans, where she is a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. During summ...
09/23/2026

Violist Amelia Clingman lives in New Orleans, where she is a member of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. During summer months, she holds the position of Principal Viola with the Britt Festival Orchestra in Jacksonville, Oregon, and has also appeared with the Oregon Bach Festival Modern Orchestra. In 2014, she was named a Quarterfinalist in the Primrose International Viola Competition.⁠
⁠
We are so excited to have Amelia back to perform at CCCMF’s 11th Season Finale Concert with the Manhattan Chamber Players on October 15! We asked Amelia to tell us a bit about herself and her life in New Orleans:⁠
⁠
🎵 What is one of your favorite things to do/places to go in New Orleans??⁠
⁠
"Audubon Park—the live oaks are just gorgeous."⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠
⁠
"I have family on four continents!"⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠
⁠
"Fiona Apple has been a long running favorite of mine—incredible songwriting skills and an amazing voice." ⁠
⁠
Learn more about Amelia and the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

Winner of the 2019 GRAMMY Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, violinist Keiko Tokunaga is acclaimed...
09/21/2026

Winner of the 2019 GRAMMY Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, violinist Keiko Tokunaga is acclaimed for her “exceptional technical ex*****on and graceful mastery” (The Boston Music Intelligencer). She is the founder and Artistic Director of INTERWOVEN, an intercultural ensemble dedicated to bringing Asian and Western classical traditions into dialogue, and serves on the faculty of Fordham University, where she teaches violin, viola, and chamber music.
⁠
We are so pleased to be welcoming Keiko to CCCMF for the very first time next month, where she can be heard performing on October 15, 16, and 18! We asked Keiko a few questions to get to know more about her:⁠
⁠
🎵 What about being in New Orleans this October are you most looking forward to?⁠
⁠
"I’m hoping to hear some good jazz while I’m down there!"⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠
⁠
"I’m a cartoonist. I post stories about my upbringing and serving my cat on Instagram."⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠
⁠
"I love watching Blackpink… they are so versatile! Their music pumps me up when I’m doing strength training lol!" ⁠
⁠
Learn more about Keiko and the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

Praised for “fluid virtuosity” and “soulful melodies," cellist Brook Speltz has earned acclaim for his expressive sound ...
09/19/2026

Praised for “fluid virtuosity” and “soulful melodies," cellist Brook Speltz has earned acclaim for his expressive sound and technical prowess. Known for his versatility as a performer, he is a member of the internationally acclaimed Escher String Quartet and an artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He is also a founding member of CCCMF Ensemble-in-Residence the Manhattan Chamber Players.⁠
⁠
We are excited to welcome Brook back to New Orleans next month for CCCMF's 11th Season, where he will be performing on October 20, 21, 23, and 25. We asked Brook to tell us a bit about himself with a few questions:⁠
⁠
🎵 What about being in New Orleans this October are you most looking forward to?⁠
⁠
"Eating my way through the city!"⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠
⁠
"I’m a slightly below average to pretty bad yet avid golfer."⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠
⁠
"A Tribe Called Quest- Always puts me in a positive and outgoing mood." ⁠
⁠
Learn more about Brook and the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

Daniella Greene is a passionate violinist, teacher, and budding arts administrator. She is currently the teaching assist...
09/17/2026

Daniella Greene is a passionate violinist, teacher, and budding arts administrator. She is currently the teaching assistant for Professor Yvonne Lam at Michigan State University, where she is pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts. She is also on faculty at the MSU Community Music School as a Suzuki violin teacher. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Akron, and graduate degrees in Suzuki Pedagogy and Music Performance from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford.⁠
⁠
With CCCMF's 11th Season kicking off in less than a month, we are overjoyed to have Daniella back as both our Festival Manager and as a performer! We asked Daniella to tell us a little bit about herself with a few questions:⁠
⁠
🎵 What about being in New Orleans this October are you most looking forward to?⁠
⁠
"I love walking around the city and all the parks, and of course the food!"⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠
⁠
"I used to be a yoga teacher!"⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠
⁠
"For long car rides I queue up albums of musicals to keep the energy up, and at home I tend to listen to ambient music to relax." ⁠
⁠
Learn more about Daniella and the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

Winner of the prestigious 2026 Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, composer and bandoneónist Juan Pablo Jofre Romari...
09/15/2026

Winner of the prestigious 2026 Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, composer and bandoneónist Juan Pablo Jofre Romarion, known professionally as JP Jofre, is a GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY®-nominated artist of international stature, and we are absolutely thrilled to welcome him back to the Crescent City Chamber Music Festival next month!⁠
⁠
On Friday, October 16, JP Jofre takes the stage in the Recital Hall of UNO’s Performing Arts Center, where he will combine forces with members of CCCMF Ensemble-in-Residence the Manhattan Chamber Players for an intimate evening of exciting, virtuosic collaboration.⁠
⁠
We asked JP to share a little bit about himself with a few questions:⁠
⁠
🎵 What about being in New Orleans this October are you most looking forward to?⁠
⁠
"Exploring the live music scene."⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠
⁠
"I live on the top of a beautiful mountain in South Korea."⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠
⁠
"Radiohead, their music deeply touches me." ⁠
⁠
Learn more about JP and the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

A winner of Astral Artists’ 2016 National Auditions, violinist Katie Hyun has been described as “a virtuoso by any measu...
09/13/2026

A winner of Astral Artists’ 2016 National Auditions, violinist Katie Hyun has been described as “a virtuoso by any measure” (The Berkshire Review). Passionate about incorporating different styles, her debut recital with Astral Artists in Philadelphia featured a program that showcased virtuosic works on both the Baroque and modern violins. Katie currently serves as the concertmaster of NOVUS Trinity Wall Street, in addition to solo and chamber performances throughout the States. On Baroque violin, she frequently appears with the Trinity Baroque Orchestra and Seraphic Fire.⁠
⁠
We are thrilled to welcome Katie back to the Crescent City Chamber Music Festival this season, where she will be performing on October 15, 16, and 18. We asked her to tell us a little bit about herself:⁠
⁠
🎵 What about being in New Orleans this October are you most looking forward to?⁠

"Eating everything."
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠

"I'm obsessed with cute animals."⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠

"I listen to a lot of Bruno Mars and Kpop 😊. Love Bruno's voice and Kpop covers a lot of different vibes which suits my mood swings"⁠
⁠
Learn more about Katie Hyun and all the CCCMF 2026 Festival Artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

A dynamic performer that aims to cultivate meaningful and relevant musical experiences, bassoonist Nanci Belmont has bee...
09/10/2026

A dynamic performer that aims to cultivate meaningful and relevant musical experiences, bassoonist Nanci Belmont has been praised as “outstanding” by New York Classical Review. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Bassoon at LSU School of Music, having previously served on the faculty of the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA.

Chamber music is an integral part of Nanci’s career, and we are thrilled to overjoyed to have her perform this season at the Crescent City Chamber Music Festival! 🎶

Nanci will be performing at CCCMF 2026 on October 25. We asked her to share a little bit about herself with a few questions:

🎵 What about being in New Orleans this October are you most looking forward to?⁠

"I'm up the road in Baton Rouge, but I always look forward to coming down to New Orleans to play! I love City Park, so I'm hoping to take a little time to walk around there before or after our rehearsals this year."⁠
⁠
✨️ What's a fun fact about you that we wouldn't know by reading your bio?⁠

"I love travel and the outdoors! Earlier this year I took a trip to Spain and walked part of the Camino de Santiago- my friend and I walked around 115 Km in 5 days."⁠
⁠
🎶 Name a non-Classical artist or band whose music you enjoy listening to, and tell us why!⁠

"Lady Gaga! Her voice is powerful, and I love her theatricality."⁠
⁠
Read more about Nanci and this season's festival artists at:

https://crescentcitychambermusicfestival.com/festival-artists/

Address

New York, NY

Telephone

+16462410303

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Crescent City Chamber Music Festival posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Crescent City Chamber Music Festival:

Shortcuts

Share

Category