July 28, 2022
Dear Sierra Chamber Society Patron/Fan/Friend…
The Sierra Chamber Society is proud to announce its 2022/23 Concert Season, our 36
th. I will be previewed program dates and order below in a moment…
It is that time of year, after two years “respite,” when I must beseech each and everyone of you to donate. I will not belabor the effects of the last three troubled seasons. Suffice it to say the SCS has, without donor appeal, through strict frugality, managed to maintain its
marginal working bank balance. Thanks to all of you who helped sustain us in the interval.
Nor do I wish to belabor my plea. I’m quite sure that all of you understand. Most recently, to those who attended the spectacular performance of Robert Sirota’s and my long-awaited collaboration,
Contrapassos for Voice and String Quartet on July 22, canceled and re-booked no less than
three times in the last so many years, to those who couldn’t attend as well, we garnered an audience of
sixty. Now, this is actually a quite
respectable number among chamber music endeavors, not just in the Bay Area where there are several such series to choose from although, honestly, none of which holds a candle to ours as regards quality and consistency.
To wit, the SCS netted just under
one-thousand dollars versus our usual
three-to-four thousand in idyllic pre-COVID times. We cannot long exist on such gates. Of course, we are lucky that our ever-present
donors, among the historically many who, perhaps, continue to feel unsafe in an enclosed environment, even knowing our audience is
highly vaccinated and
masked indoors at all times, have graciously sustained us in these hard times. Now, more than ever, the Sierra Chamber Society relies on both its generous donors and…
FILLED SEATS!!! As Director of this precious, albeit fragile, enterprise, I implore each and every one of you... Please. Please. Pull’
EASE, bring a friend. Better a
baker’s dozen!!! In truth, Robert and I would have been thrilled to have just one or two appreciative attendees in the audience, to witness this supremely striking event. Indeed,
appreciative you were, judging from the reverential silence, standing ovation, wowed comments that followed fast on the
Wings of Song.
Bob and I were in fact
blown away at the dress rehearsal. Afterwards, Bob commented to me: “If it’s
half as good tomorrow, I’ll be thrilled.” No surprise, given the caliber of these talented and devoted musicians, the performance, featuring the formidable Telegraph String Quartet, Abigail Fischer, soprano soloist, whose voice the
New York Times has called,
“Luminous...Cello-Mello” the
Boston Globe, “Sumptuous!”, was easily
twice as impressive, spectacularly so.
This brings us to the Sierra Chamber Society’s 2022/23 Concert Season, our 36
th.
Click here to view our season 36 schedule.
The SCS is thrilled to see noted musicologist teacher, program annotator for the
Seattle Symphony, Steven Lowe rejoin us, offering delightful, spirited, deeply-researched pre-concert talks at 2 PM, preceding each performance, lasting approximately thirty minutes.
Of note, the Sierra Chamber Society is the
cheapest ticket, i.e. THE best value by a wide margin, among like endeavors throughout the Bay Area.
As always... Season subscribers enjoy a
substantial discount
. As noted above, in addition to an enlarging audience, the SCS relies on its
SEASON SUBSCRIBERS not just to help sustain us through each season, but to generate a fiscal plan for the future.
I sincerely hope that you’ll become/remain a contributor as we pick up the pieces and pickup our
FOURTH decade in the chamber music business just where we left off! Allow me point out the obvious… Please check to see if your employer might offer MATCHING DONATIONS. Finally, you can help to ensure the Sierra Chamber Society’s legacy by making us a vital part of your estate planning. If you would like to know more about any of these options, please inquire at
info@sierrachamber.com. A board member will contact you.
Tickets will be available at our website as of Monday August 15. Last but far from least, please be sure to visit
www.sierrachamber.com regularly throughout the concert season for important messages and updates.
In closing, I am excited to announce that my multi-talented son,
Jordan Asher Cavalier, a UX, i.e.
User Experience, Graphic Designer, has designed our new website, and will become the new Webmaster! Speaking of “multi-talented,” Jordan is a virtuoso
nyckelharpist. Look it up. You will be surprised by the sheer beauty, let along the long history of this ancient instrument
Wishing us all good health in the upcoming years…
Stevan Cavalier
Director, Sierra Chamber Society
info@sierrachamber.com
