"On Murder Trials and Mozart"
A Circle of Friends Special Event featuring Bruce Adolphe with the Prometheus Quartet
Sunday, October 19, 2025
3–5 p.m.
The Ebenezer Theater at Prager Family Center for the Arts
17 S Washington St, Easton, MD 21601
Chesapeake Music’s “Circle of Friends” are supporters who have generously contributed $1,000 or more during a Fiscal Year (October 1 – September 30) to help fulfill our mission: to bring renowned musicians to delight, engage and surprise today’s audiences, and educate, inspire, and develop tomorrow’s.
Chesapeake Music is excited to welcome this very special group of supporters back to The Ebenezer Theater for something a little different! The afternoon will open with time to mix and mingle, with refreshments and lite bites provided by Bluepoint Hospitality. At approximately 3:30 or 3:45 p.m., Senior Leadership of Chesapeake Music will welcome you, share a bit of an overview of the 2025 fiscal year, talk about what’s ahead this season, and introduce Bruce Adolphe and the Prometheus Quartet for On Murder Trials and Mozart.
Part lecture, part comic fantasy, On Murder Trials and Mozart is Bruce Adolphe’s musically revealing investigation into the dramatic narrative of Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G Minor. Adolphe proves beyond that shadow of a doubt that sonata form has many characteristics in common with courtroom procedure. It is easy to hear the opening unison rhetorical statement as an accusation or criminal charge and the piano’s response as a denial or plea of “not guilty”. The drama continues: the prosecution and defense “argue” the case, the first modulation puts a new spin on the evidence, the development is a cross-examination, the recapitulation is a summing up with final statements, and in the coda the verdict is handed down. There is even a confession from the piano just before the coda, making guilty the only possible verdict.
Bruce Adolphe
Bruce Adolphe is a composer of international renown whose works are frequently performed by major artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Fabio Luisi, Joshua Bell, Daniel Hope, Angel Blue, the Brentano String Quartet, the Washington National Opera, the Human Rights Orchestra of Europe, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and over 60 orchestras worldwide. He is the author of several books, including The Mind’s Ear: Exercises for Improving the Musical Imagination for Performers, Composers, and Listeners (Oxford, 3rd ed., 2021); the chapter on composing in Secrets of Creativity: What Neuroscience, the Arts, and Our Minds Reveal (Oxford, 2019); the chapter “Wordless Music that Speaks for Humanity” in The Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights (2022); Visions and Decisions: Imagination and Technique in Music Composition (Cambridge Elements series, 2023) and Dreaming and Thinking in Music (Oxford, 2025).
Widely known for his weekly Piano Puzzler segment on American Public Media’s Performance Today, which has been broadcast since 2002, Mr. Adolphe is the resident lecturer and director of family concerts for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York.
Prometheus Quartet
Formed in the fall of 2023 at The Juilliard School, the Prometheus Quartet is a New York City-based string quartet inspired by the myth of Prometheus, striving to bring the gift of music to others. Just as Prometheus stole fire from the gods to gift to humanity, we aim to bring meaningful forms of connection to our audiences through performances of the beloved string quartet canon and undiscovered gems.
The quartet’s current iteration formed after discovering an immediate bond while working on Korngold’s Piano Quintet in E Major in the 2024 Juilliard ChamberFest. Since then, the quartet coached intensively with Merry Peckham and was a Gluck Fellowship ensemble for the 2024-2025 school year. While at Juilliard, the quartet was coached by legendary cellist and chamber musician Joel Krosnick, Joseph Lin, Natasha Brofsky, and Catherine Cho. The quartet is currently the Graduate String Quartet in Residence at the University of Delaware where they are mentored by the Calidore String Quartet.
Additionally, the quartet has coached with members of Quatuor Ébène, the Alban Berg Quartet, the Jerusalem Quartet, Marc Danel, Timothy Eddy, André Roy, and appeared in masterclasses at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
Festival appearances include being named the inaugural Emerging Artist String Quartet of Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, where they studied under the Takács Quartet, an educational residency at the Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth, the Schiermonnikoog Festival in the Netherlands, and the McGill International String Quartet Academy. Furthermore, the quartet were recently invited to compete in the 2025 Schoenfeld International String Competition and also took part in the Fischoff Competition.
Dedicated to innovation in the concert scene, the quartet also recently performed in “The Mad King,” a collaboration between Carnegie Hall and Juilliard’s “New Series” curated by music division dean David Ludwig. For this program, the quartet performed Schoenberg’s Ode to Napoleon Buonaparte, Op. 41, in a multimedia setting alongside guest pianist Baron Fenwick and actress Ana Karneža. The quartet has also worked closely with Juilliard Arnhold Creative Associate, flutist Claire Chase, as part of her project Density 2036. Rated as one of New York Classical Review Critic’s Choice 2024-25 performances, the quartet premiered a new version of Terry Riley’s “Holy Liftoff” for string quartet, flute and electronic tape for Juilliard’s Fall Festival.
Upcoming concerts include performances at the Music Academy of the West’s Mariposa Series, Chesapeake Music, the University of Delaware, and in Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Inside Chamber Music series with Bruce Adolphe.
The quartet members individually attained their Bachelors degrees from Mannes School of Music, the New England Conservatory, the Peabody Institute, and the Eastman School of Music before forming at Juilliard.
Please make note of the following additional information:
- All programs, artists, and events may be subject to change.
- Cell phones and other electronic devices should be switched off prior to (and for the duration of) the performance.
- Photography and/or recording during the performance is strictly prohibited.
- Performances may be recorded and/or photographed by Chesapeake Music, and your attendance is considered consent to be photographed/recorded.
- Patrons who arrive after the start of the performance will be seated between movements or pieces at the discretion of the ushers.
- Outside food and drink is not permitted in the hall.
- Chesapeake Music will endeavor to make ice cold water available to all patrons prior to the concert and at intermission.
- Contact information for any questions and concerns: info@chesapeakemusic.org
What time should I arrive for the event and how long is it?
We hope you will plan to arrive at 3 p.m. to spend a full two hours with us. The event will begin with free time for all to mix and mingle with refreshments and lite bites provided by Bluepoint Hospitality. At approximately 3:30 or 3:45, Senior Leadership of Chesapeake Music will welcome you, share a bit of an overview of the 2025 fiscal year, talk about what’s ahead this season, and introduce Bruce Adolphe and the Prometheus Quartet for “On Murder Trials and Mozart”.
What is the "Circle of Friends"? I don't see tickets available for purchase... how can I attend?
This event is by invitation only to the Chesapeake Music “Circle of Friends”. This group of supporters have generously contributed $1,000 or more during the Fiscal Year (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025). The $1,000 can be reached through cumulative donations throughout the fiscal year. If you have questions or wish to discuss the Circle of Friends, please contact Chesapeake Music’s Executive Director, David Faleris, at dave@chesapeakemusic.org.
If you wish to support Chesapeake Music through an online donation — please use this linked form (or click the button below). Checks can be mailed to PO Box 461, Easton, MD, 21601. Other
How do I RSVP for the event? Can I bring a friend?
There are no physical or digital tickets for this event. Invitations are sent in mid-September. To confirm or decline attendance, or if you did not receive your invitation, please contact info@chesapeakemusic.org or 410-819-0380.
Invitations for this event are for two persons per household. If you are a household of one, we encourage you to bring a guest.
How does seating work? Are there reserved seats? Is the venue accessible?
All seating is unreserved with unobstructed views. The balcony will be closed for this event.
There is elevator access from the street-level lobby up to the main seating area. The lobby does not have seating, so guests are encouraged to not arrive prior to 3 p.m..
If there are further questions or concerns regarding mobility and accessibility at the venue, please do not hesitate to reach out to info@chesapeakemusic.org or 410-819-0380.
