DCWS Brings High-Caliber Musicianship to Birmingham

DCWS Brings High-Caliber Musicianship to Birmingham

Nightnotes series shapes new look for chamber music

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (January X, 2017) – Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings (DCWS) brings world-class chamber music to Birmingham’s backyard with its Nightnotes series: a collection of intimate concerts curated by top local artists.

For over 20 years, Hagopian World of Rugs (850 S. Old Woodward Ave.) has been an unusual home for the affordable Friday evening concerts, ranging from traditional chamber music programs to experimental artistic collaborations.

“Our collaboration with DCWS has been a great one for Hagopian and the community,” said Pamela Coultis, administrative assistant at Hagopian. “This relationship enables us to bring fine musicians and performers to a local venue at a nominal cost to the public.”

Nightnotes audiences are exposed to a traditional chamber experience, bringing them up close and personal to art and artist in a casual reception preceding the performance.

“The intimacy of the setting is crucial,” said Maury Okun, president of DCWS. “It’s intended to help break down barriers between audiences and performers that sometimes stands in the way of making a good artistic experience great.”

Featured musicians plan their own programs, choosing the pieces and discussing them in greater detail with the audience. This gives the artists an opportunity to stretch their imagination beyond what is traditionally seen at a larger concert, performing pieces otherwise lost in a standard repertoire.

“We encourage our musicians and audience members to interact throughout the evening,” said Okun. “The atmosphere in the small venue can make people feel like they are hearing a great performance in someone's lovely living room.”

Three of the DSO’s top string players were featured earlier in the season, followed by Pontiac-native and clarinet virtuoso Dave Bennett. The most recent Nightnotes performance highlighted the DCWS return of critically-acclaimed Akropolis Reed Quintet, the first reed quintet to ever win the Fischoff Gold Medal during the country’s largest chamber music competition.

The Nightnotes series includes three remaining dates for the 2016-2017 season: New Brass on the Block on Feb. 17 highlighting three of DCWS’ newest core brass players, Midwest Melting Pot on Apr. 7 featuring DSO principals Alex Kinmonth and Ralph Skiano alongside pianist Zhihua Tang and Kevin Brown & Friends on May 5, an in-depth look at Renaissance and Baroque-era chamber music led by DSO principal bassist and DCWS core

member Kevin Brown. All performances begin at 8 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. reception inviting guests to socialize with the artists.

Ticket Information

Advance tickets for New Brass on the Block, Midwest Melting Pot and Kevin Brown & Friends are $22 for adults, $10 for students and can be purchased at detroitchamberwinds.org.

Tickets are $5 extra at the door.

About Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings

Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings is an ensemble committed to bringing to life the body of repertoire that utilizes between six and 20 musicians. DCWS musicians are drawn primarily from the Detroit Symphony and Michigan Opera Theatre orchestras. Now in its 35th year, Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings presents three distinct concert series. More information at detroitchamberwinds.org.