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From Student to Teacher: Sophie Mathieu’s Musical Journey at ACMC

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Every year at the Austin Chamber Music Center, something magical happens. Young musicians who once sat nervously in their first chamber music rehearsal return as confident teachers, guiding the next generation. This full-circle journey is at the heart of our “Summer of Impact” campaign.

Sophie Mathieu: A Journey of Musical Growth

Sophie first came to ACMC in 2010 as a 7th grader through our Saturday Academy program. Recognizing her talent and passion, she was later awarded a spot in our Merit Scholarship Ensemble.

“ACMC gave me my first opportunity to study composition seriously” Sophie recalls. “The scholarship gave me that much more confidence to continue exploring this new musical world. ACMC changed everything for me—I discovered not just a love for chamber music, but a whole community that believed in my creative potential.”

Today, Sophie is a professional composer who has collaborated with renowned ensembles like Grammy winners Eighth Blackbird. This past year, she was named KMFA’s Composer-in-Residence as well as Austin Chronicle’s Best Classical Musician. Sophie is currently teaching composition through Golden Hornet’s Young Composers Collective and is returning to teach at ACMC’s Summer Workshop for the second time this year. Her students consistently cite her as an inspiration, not just for her musical expertise, but for her ability to connect with and nurture young talent.

Your Gift Creates This Legacy

Sophie’s story represents dozens of similar journeys made possible by supporters like you. When you give to ACMC, you’re not just funding a single learning experience—you’re helping create a sustainable cycle of musical excellence in our community.

A gift of $650 provides a half-scholarship for a deserving student to attend our Summer Workshop, potentially starting them on their own transformative journey. A full scholarship of $1,300 makes this experience completely accessible to a talented young musician regardless of financial circumstances.

Will you help continue this legacy with a gift today?

Donate Now

 

Photo Credit: Jack Kloecker

A New Era for ACMC Education

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The Austin Chamber Music Center would like to share some bittersweet news about our longtime Director of Education, Jeni Gossard.

After more than 16 years of dedicated leadership with the Austin Chamber Music Center, Jeni has accepted a new role as Community Investment Manager at the Central Texas Food Bank. Jeni’s extraordinary commitment to ACMC is evident in the quality and growth of our robust, year-round education programs. Notably, she spearheaded the launch of the Coltman Chamber Music Competition in 2010 and guided its evolution from a local event to a prestigious nationwide competition.

“Saying that I will miss the ACMC education community is truly an understatement. Over the past sixteen-plus years as Director of Education, I have had the immense privilege of connecting with countless incredible musicians, families, educators, and organizations. As I look forward to the next chapter of my career, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to have been a part of your musical journeys. Thank you all for enriching my life and allowing me to share in this wonderful experience throughout the years.”

While we are saddened to see Jeni step down from her current role, we are deeply grateful for her dedication and leadership. Her efforts have been instrumental in creating and expanding educational programs that have profoundly impacted learners of all ages. We look forward to building upon the strong foundation she has established.

Sandy Yamamoto: Artistic Director of Austin Chamber Music Center

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At Austin Chamber Music Center, we are privileged to have Sandy Yamamoto as our Artistic Director. With a career spanning decades and accolades from around the globe, Sandy brings an unparalleled wealth of experience and artistry to our organization, embodying our mission to connect, educate, and inspire our community through chamber music.

A Legacy of Musical Excellence

Sandy Yamamoto’s journey in music began at the tender age of 4. By 11, she had already made her solo debut with the North Carolina Symphony, setting the stage for a remarkable career. The New York Times has praised her performances for their “explosive vigor and technical finesse,” a testament to her extraordinary talent that continues to captivate audiences.

As a founding member of the renowned Miró Quartet, Sandy graced major concert stages across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Her achievements with the quartet include winning the Naumburg Chamber Music Award, the Cleveland Quartet Award, and First Prize at the Banff International String Quartet Competition. Sandy was also among the first chamber musicians to receive the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant.

Collaborations and Recordings

Throughout her illustrious career, Sandy has collaborated with some of the most prominent names in classical music, including Joshua Bell, Midori, and Pinchas Zukerman. Her discography spans from Beethoven’s complete Opus 18 Quartets to contemporary works like George Crumb’s “Black Angels,” earning her the esteemed Diapason d’Or Award and the CRF Award.

Dedication to Education

Sandy’s commitment to nurturing young talent is evident in her role as Associate Professor of Practice in Violin Performance at the Butler School of Music, University of Texas at Austin. Her excellence in teaching was recognized with the Butler School of Music Teaching Excellence Award in 2016. This dedication to education aligns perfectly with ACMC’s mission to develop the next generation of musicians and audiences.

Vision for ACMC

As Artistic Director of Austin Chamber Music Center, Sandy brings fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to our programming. Her vision for ACMC is rooted in a deep appreciation for chamber music’s power to connect people of all backgrounds.

“I am excited to serve the Austin community by bringing world-class chamber music to the “Live Music Capital of the World,'” says Sandy. “Through our performances and educational programs, we aim to make chamber music accessible to everyone, inspiring both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike.”

Experience Sandy’s Artistry

We invite you to experience Sandy Yamamoto’s artistry and leadership through our diverse offerings at ACMC:

  1. Concert Season: Attend our thematic series of concerts throughout the fall and spring, curated by Sandy to showcase a wide range of chamber music experiences.
  2. Austin Chamber Music Festival: Join us each summer for this energizing festival featuring local, emerging, and international-touring chamber artists.
  3. Educational Programs: Explore our various educational initiatives, from youth programs to adult workshops, all designed to instill a love for chamber music and develop musical skills.
  4. Community Connection: Participate in our community-focused events, including our annual Pride, Global Heritage, and Black Composers concerts.

Join the ACMC Community

Under Sandy Yamamoto’s artistic direction, ACMC continues to be a vibrant hub for chamber music in Austin. Whether you’re a long-time chamber music enthusiast or new to the genre, we invite you to be part of our musical family.

Explore our website to learn more about upcoming performances, educational programs, and ways to get involved. Together, let’s celebrate the enduring beauty and power of chamber music in our community!

ACMC Announces New Leadership

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After an intense search with highly qualified candidates both locally and from around the country, the Austin Chamber Music Center is pleased to announce the appointments of Frank Jenkins to Managing Director and Sandy Yamamoto to Artistic Director.

“Austin Chamber Music Center has been a driving force in the classical music scene in Austin for over 40 years,” says Frank. “I am honored to join this esteemed and impactful organization and look forward to contributing to the next chapter of its history.” Frank Jenkins has been an influential figure in Austin’s classical music scene for over a decade. Beginning June 10, 2024, he will take on the role of Managing Director at the Austin Chamber Music Center. In his previous role as Program Director for Austin Soundwaves, Frank led the day-to-day operations and strategic growth of school and community-based programs, benefiting over 1,100 students and community members annually. Frank has also previously held administrative positions and served on committees with the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

Violinist Sandy Yamamoto will begin the Artistic Directorship of ACMC in September 2024. She has dazzled audiences in concert performances around the globe for the past three decades as a soloist and as a member of the Miró Quartet. The New York Times describes her performance as playing with “explosive vigor and technical finesse.”  With the Quartet, she performed on the major concert stages of the world, regularly concertizing in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. She was a recipient of the Naumburg Chamber Music and Cleveland Quartet Awards, won First Prize at the Banff International String Quartet Competition, and was one of the first chamber musicians to be awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant. Currently, she is Associate Professor of Practice in Violin Performance at the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas at Austin and was the recipient of the 2016 Butler School of Music Teaching Excellence Award.

“It is a privilege and an honor to become the new Artistic Director of the Austin Chamber Music Center. Chamber music, education, and performing are all very important in my life, and I am excited to be able to combine my passions to serve the community of Austin. I look forward to collaborating with my new team, meeting more people, sharing inspirational music from artists from around the world, and making Austin Chamber Music Center an even bigger hub for chamber music in Austin.”

The search was led by a Board-appointed committee with Daryl Fox as the chair, together with Carl Caricari, Edwina Carrington, Eric Wittek, Ken Whiteside, and Michelle Schumann. “We are thrilled for the appointments of Frank and Sandy. ACMC will have a strong and imaginative future and we will continue to be a force in serving our community through chamber music performance, education, and community engagement,” says Carl Caricari, ACMC Board President. Michelle Schumann, ACMC’s current Artistic Director until August 31, 2024 says, “I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Sandy Yamamoto and Frank Jenkins to the leadership of the Austin Chamber Music Center. Our strong history in creativity and engagement is going to forge confidently into the future with Sandy and Frank at the helm.  They are both incredibly skilled and dedicated and I can’t wait to see what’s in store!”

2024 Festival Safety Guidelines

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ACMC looks forward to presenting the 2024 Austin Chamber Music Festival! With the health and safety of our community in mind, ACMC is implementing COVID-19 guidelines in accordance with the City of Austin and CDC:

  • Masks worn over the nose and mouth are optional.
  • Please plan to stay home if you are sick or feel ill. Your tickets can be exchanged for tickets to an event on an alternative date.
  • ACMC guidelines are subject to change as we continue to monitor risk level.

Contact us with any questions, or visit the City of Austin and CDC COVID-19 webpages for more health resources. We look forward to sharing the Summer Festival with you!

A New Chapter for ACMC Leadership

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Today, ACMC shares some transformational news which will have a substantial impact on our community. Both Peter Helf and Michelle Schumann have announced plans to change their roles at ACMC. The Board of Directors is setting a plan for the future which will lead our organization into a new and exciting next chapter.

Peter Helf has accepted a job offer to be the Executive Director of the Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation with a start date of March 1. After nearly 10 years of leadership with the Austin Chamber Music Center, Peter’s direction and management has poised ACMC for even greater levels of community engagement. “My time at ACMC has been filled with meaningful experiences that have resulted in great progress for our organization and have elevated the chamber music art form in Austin and beyond. While this move is incredibly bittersweet for me, I’m thrilled to continue giving back to the community in my new role at the Kuhn Foundation, which has supported ACMC for many years. I’m excited to be a resource to ACMC and help ensure that its future is bright and in good hands for years to come.” We invite community members to join us in celebrating Peter and his tremendous contributions to the Austin Chamber Music Center at the receptions of our upcoming Silent Wood, Deep River concerts on Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24.

Michelle Schumann, too, shares plans for succession. After 18 years of inspired artistic leadership, Michelle is wanting to step away from her role as Artistic Director at the end of August. “I am so proud of the wonderful things we’ve done at ACMC over the past years. But, just like my beginning at ACMC in 2006 was a real ‘shot in the arm’ for the organization, I feel like we’re approaching a new opportunity for a different, exciting, and energetic artistic direction for ACMC. I feel strongly about organizational renewal and am excited about the potential for growth and creativity at ACMC.” While Michelle will no longer serve as Artistic Director, she earnestly maintains her loyalty and dedication to ACMC and plans to remain a regular pianist with ACMC, continuing to grow the many relationships she’s cultivated over the years in our community.

It is a significant time at ACMC. We are a strong and inspiring organization and while we are sad to see Peter and Michelle leave their current roles, we are all so grateful that their leadership has helped to create and grow an organization that is so meaningful to so many. We are confident and eager to embark on the future.

— ACMC Board of Directors

2023–2024 Safety Guidelines

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ACMC looks forward to presenting the 2023–2024 Season: In Quotes! With the health and safety of our community in mind, ACMC is implementing COVID-19 guidelines in accordance with the City of Austin and CDC guidelines. The current data for the City of Austin and corresponding guidelines can be found at AustinTexas.gov/Covid19.

  • Masks worn over the nose and mouth are optional.
  • Please plan to stay home if you or someone in your household is sick or feels ill. Your tickets can be exchanged for tickets to an event on an alternative date.
  • ACMC guidelines are subject to change as we continue to monitor risk level.

Contact us with any questions. We look forward to sharing the 2023–2024 Season with you!

2023 Festival Safety Guidelines

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ACMC looks forward to presenting four weekends of incredible chamber music at the 2023 Annual Austin Chamber Music Festival, May 12–August 12! With the health and safety of our community in mind, ACMC is implementing COVID-19 guidelines in accordance with the City of Austin and CDC guidelines. The guidelines that ACMC implements will depend on the current City of Austin guidelines at the time of each event. The current data for the City of Austin and corresponding guidelines can be found at AustinTexas.gov/Covid19. ACMC guidelines are subject to change as we continue to monitor risk level.

  • Masks worn over the nose and mouth are optional.
  • Masks are recommended for at-risk individuals.
  • Depending on the current data from the City of Austin, all patrons may be asked to wear masks and/or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (obtained within 72 hours of the event) or proof of full vaccination (with final vaccine dated at least 14 days prior to the event). Negative test results or proof of vaccination must be dated with your full name matching your physical photo ID. Proof of a negative test or vaccination to be shown via digital device/physical card/printed copy along with a government issued I.D. Please visit https://www.austintexas.gov/covid-testinfo to find access to free testing.
  • Please plan to stay home if you or someone in your household is sick or feels ill. Your tickets can be exchanged for tickets to an event on an alternative date.

Contact us with any questions. All ACMC staff are fully vaccinated and will be tested prior to each concert weekend. We look forward to sharing the 2023 Austin Chamber Music Festival with you!

 

Updated on May 12, 2023.

2022–2023 Safety Guidelines

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With the health and safety of our community in mind, we are implementing COVID-19 guidelines in accordance with the most recent City of Austin and CDC guidelines. The guidelines that ACMC implements will depend on the current City of Austin Community Level at the time of each event. The current stage for the City of Austin and corresponding guidelines can be found at AustinTexas.gov/Covid19. ACMC guidelines are subject to change as we continue to monitor risk level.

We have returned to in-person programming, but will be providing virtual access to the season programs. Each Friday night Intimate Concert performance will stream live with on-demand access available through May 31. Access is available through our main ticketing page, or you can get access to full on-demand programming on our subscriptions page.

Low: Masks worn over the nose and mouth are optional.
Medium: Masks worn over the nose and mouth are required for all at-risk individuals except while eating or drinking. Depending on the current data from the City of Austin, all patrons may be asked to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of full vaccination (see high level requirement below).
High: Masks worn over the nose and mouth are required for all individuals. Patrons must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours to enter the venue. In lieu of a negative test result, patrons may provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, with final vaccine dated at least 14 days prior to the event. Negative test results or proof of vaccination must be dated with your full name matching your physical photo ID. Proof of a negative test or vaccination to be shown via digital device/physical card/printed copy along with a government issued I.D. Please visit https://www.austintexas.gov/covid-testinfo to find a free testing site. At-risk individuals are encouraged to join the virtual concert experience or exchange tickets for an event at a later date.

Please plan to stay home if you or someone in your household is sick or feels ill. Your tickets can be exchanged for virtual access to the concert or for tickets to an event on a later date.

Contact us with any questions. We are currently running events at 65% capacity in both venues (KMFA’s Draylen Mason Music Studio on Fridays and the First Unitarian Church on Saturdays) to accommodate social distancing. All ACMC staff are fully vaccinated and will be tested prior to each concert weekend. We look forward to sharing the 2022–2023 Concert Season with you!

Updated on October 4, 2022.

2022 Festival Safety & Guidelines

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ACMC is thrilled to present three weekends of incredible chamber music at the 26th Annual Austin Chamber Music Festival, July 8–24! With the health and safety of our community in mind, we have updated our COVID-19 guidelines in accordance with the most recent City of Austin and CDC guidelines. The guidelines that ACMC implements will depend on the current City of Austin Community Level at the time of each event. The current stage for the City of Austin and corresponding guidelines can be found at AustinTexas.gov/Covid19. ACMC guidelines are subject to change as we continue to monitor risk level.

We have returned to in-person programming, but will be providing on-demand access to the concerts taking place July 8–23. The on-demand videos will be available starting the Monday after each live event, through July 31. Access is available through our main ticketing page, or you can get access to full on-demand programming on our subscriptions page. All Festival programs are available to watch on demand with the exception of Invoke’s The Tale of the Fox on July 24.

Low: Masks worn over the nose and mouth are encouraged, but not required.
Medium: Masks worn over the nose and mouth are required for all at-risk individuals except while eating or drinking. Depending on the current data from the City of Austin, all patrons may be asked to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of full vaccination (see high level requirement below).
High: Masks worn over the nose and mouth are required for all individuals. Patrons must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours to enter the venue. In lieu of a negative test result, patrons may provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, with final vaccine dated at least 14 days prior to the event. Negative test results or proof of vaccination must be dated with your full name matching your physical photo ID. Proof of a negative test or vaccination to be shown via digital device/physical card/printed copy along with a government issued I.D. Please visit https://www.austintexas.gov/covid-testinfo to find a free testing site. At-risk individuals are encouraged to join the virtual concert experience or exchange tickets for an event at a later date.

Please plan to stay home if you or someone in your household is sick or feels ill. Your tickets can be exchanged for virtual access to the concert or for tickets to an event on a later date.

Contact us with any questions. We are currently running events at 60% in Bates Recital Hall (through July 23) and at 75% in AFS Cinema (July 24) to accommodate social distancing. All ACMC staff are fully vaccinated and will be tested prior to each concert weekend. We look forward to sharing the 2022 Austin Chamber Music Festival with you!

Original post June 28, 2022. Last updated July 21, 2022.