Thanks to the generous support of Talbot Arts, The Van Strum Foundation, and the Artistic Insights Fund at Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Chesapeake Music is very pleased to offer a special Community Concert Series around the Mid-Shore that features our 2026 Competition Finalists: Brompton Quartet, Candide Quartet, Dolphins Quartet, Synchrony Quartet, and Trio Animoso. On Sunday, April 12, 2026, each of the five finalist ensembles will travel to a different venue — to Easton, St. Michaels, Oxford, Cambridge, and Centreville — to present a free, solo concert for our communities.
These concerts will take place the day after our 12th Biennial Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, where these ensembles will compete for $20,000 in prize money and additional performance opportunities. (The April 11th Live Final Round of the Competition is open to the public with general admission tickets at $25—free for students and teachers—available at ChesapeakeMusic.org.)
The Community Concert Series represents a unique opportunity for Chesapeake Music and its visiting artists to bring chamber music out of our home venue at The Ebenezer Theater at Prager Family Center for the Arts and into the community gathering spaces of our Eastern Shore neighbors. No tickets or reservations are needed for the April 12th concerts. Each ensemble has curated their own distinct program of 60-75 minutes of music with no intermission. Take a look at our Community Concert Series event page for all the details and read more below for an overview of the April 12th Series.
The Community Concert Series consists of the following performances:
- 2 p.m. in Centreville: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will host The Dolphins Quartet. Known for adventurous programming and collaborations with composers such as John Adams, Andy Akiho, and Jessie Montgomery, the ensemble champions discovery and storytelling.
- 2 p.m. in Oxford: Trio Animoso’s concert will take place at Church of the Holy Trinity. By actively taking part in community outreach, the ensemble aims to reach a diverse audience in terms of age, interest, and musical background. Ultimately, the trio aims to grow towards the goal of making a more accessible performance for all.
- 3 p.m. in Easton: The Synchrony Quartet will perform at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Synchrony Quartet seeks to support emerging composers while contributing to the evolving landscape of contemporary saxophone music.
- 4 p.m. in Cambridge: The Candide Quartet will perform at Christ Episcopal Church. Now in their third year as an ensemble, the Candide Quartet is even more dedicated to sharing the camaraderie inherent in string quartet playing, as well as exploring the profound wealth of repertoire for string quartet.
- 5 p.m. St. Michaels: Christ Church, St. Michael’s Parish is the host venue for The Brompton Quartet. Since its formation, the quartet has been dedicated to open musical dialogue, artistic clarity and precision, and expressive nuance, all in pursuit of a unique and unified musical identity.
The Community Concert Series takes place on the day after the Live Final Round of the 12th Biennial Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, offering a musical celebration as the Chesapeake Music community applauds the young performers’ significant achievements in this storied competition.
The Live Final Round is an all-day event (running from approximately 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.) on April 11th and each ensemble will perform for 45 minutes, vying for top prizes supported by very generous donors who are keen to support chamber music’s rising stars of tomorrow:
- Lerman Gold Prize Winner | $10,000 plus appearance at the 41st Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival in June 2026
- Moran Silver Prize Winner | $5,000
- Awards to remaining Finalists | $1,000 per ensemble
- Audience Choice Prize | $1,000
For tickets to the Live Final Round or additional details and information on the Competition schedule, finalist ensembles, judges, prizes, and community events, please visit ChesapeakeMusic.org.
Based in Easton, Maryland, Chesapeake Music is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that brings renowned musicians to delight, engage, and surprise today’s audiences and educate, inspire, and develop tomorrow’s. Learn more at ChesapeakeMusic.org.
