The Chamber Music Collective of CSI performs this Monday at the Center for the Arts under the directorship of CSI faculty pianist Dr. Sylvia Kahan.

The Center for the Arts at the College of Staten Island presents The Chamber Music Collective (CMC) of CSI on Monday, March 14, 2011 at 7:30pm.

The Chamber Music Collective of the College of Staten Island is a group of faculty musicians who teach in the Music Program of the Department of Performing and Creative Arts. All of these artist-teachers have performed in New York’s major concert halls (Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, etc.) and many have distinguished themselves nationally and internationally, to audience and critical acclaim. Under the directorship of CSI faculty pianist Dr. Sylvia Kahan, the Chamber Music Collective brings together this esteemed group of faculty artists to present diverse small-ensemble works spanning four centuries.

The core members of the Collective are: Elena Heimur, soprano; Edward Brown, guitar; David Wechsler, flute; David Keberle, clarinet; Olivier Fluchaire, violin; Renee Briggs, Sylvia Kahan, and Yoojin Oh, piano; and David Clive, percussion.

For the inaugural concert, the CMC, joined by guest artists Kurt Briggs (violin), William Frampton (viola), and Matthew Goeke (cello), will present works by Poulenc’s Flute Sonata, Hummel Grande Serenade for guitar, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano; four songs on Russian poems by Rachmaninoff; and an arrangement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto in F major, K. 413, for piano and string quartet. The program will also feature the Staten Island premiere of a work by CSI faculty composer David Keberle, Percorsi d’anima, for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano.

The creation of a resident faculty chamber music group at CSI has been a long-time dream of Sylvia Kahan, who has taught at CSI since 1996. “The Music Program tried to launch a faculty series several times before, but various difficulties made the idea hard to realize. In recent years, our beloved and recently deceased music benefactor, Dr. Michael Shugrue, filled the need for classical music concerts with his enlightened patronage. Thanks to Dr. Shugrue, the New York Philharmonic Ensembles and various other eminent groups brought their talents to the Center for the Arts, enriching immeasurably the lives of the campus community. It is hoped that, now, the Chamber Music Collective can fill the need for chamber music on campus left by Dr. Shugrue’s passing. Our goal is to offer programs that balance beloved, well-known works with rarities from the classical-music repertoire. These programs will also include 20th- and 21st-century works by established modern composers, including our own outstanding faculty composers.”

The Center for the Arts will offer only one program by the Chamber Music Collective this Spring 2011 semester. It is hoped, however, that, as interest in the group grows and as audiences develop, more frequent performances will be scheduled.

Tickets for this performance are $10 and can be reserved in person in Building 1P, Room 113; by phone at 718.982.ARTS (2787); by mail at 2800 Victory Boulevard, 1P-113, Staten Island, NY 10314; or via the CFA Website.  The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and Saturday from noon to 3:00pm.