Press

Chamber Music on the Fox Presents Holiday Brass

December 1, 2025

Featuring Axiom Brass

Celebrate the season with Axiom Brass, one of Chicago’s premier brass ensembles, as they return to Chamber Music on the Fox with a festive holiday program designed to bring you the joy of the season. Known for their dedication to “living music,” Axiom Brass not only performs timeless classics but also highlights the works of contemporary composers, engaging audiences with their dynamic performances. Join us for a weekend of holiday cheer, music, and the joy of community!

Event Details:

Friday, Dec 5th 2025 7:30 pm
Woodstock Opera House
121 W Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL

Sunday, Dec 7th 2025 2:30 pm
Wesley United Methodist Church
14 N May St, Aurora, IL

Monday, Dec 8th 2025 7:00 pm
First Congregational Church of Elgin
256 E Chicago St, Elgin, IL

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Chamber Music on the Fox Presents Homecoming: Beloved Chamber Music Experiences

October 8, 2025

Welcome the new musical season with timeless pieces that feel like old friends—an invitation to reconnect with the music that feels most like home. This concert features CMOTF favorites Isabella Lippi, Scott Metlicka, Bruno Vaz da Silva, and Sara Sitzer in an intimate quartet; audiences will hear Mozart’s exquisite Flute Quartet in D Major and Beethoven’s lovely String Trio No. 3 in G Major, as well as the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos with The Jet Whistle. The program culminates with To Bright Cecilia by Elgin’s own Daniel Brewbaker. Originally scored for a capella chorus, this will be a new imagining of this piece, performed by flute and string trio. With a program full of cherished classics and a celebration of local talent, this is a truly special homecoming you won’t want to miss.

Event Details:

Sunday, Oct 19th 2025 2:30 pm
New England Congregational Church
406 W Galena Blvd, Aurora IL

Monday, Oct 20th, 2025 7:00 pm
First Congregational Church of Elgin
256 E Chicago St, Elgin IL

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Chamber Music on the Fox Presents Moonshine Sonata

April 24, 2025

The Kruger Brothers and Kontras Quartet Combine for our Season Finale

Chamber Music on the Fox’s 2024-2025 season finale will be a celebration of diverse musical styles coming together in a dynamic and exciting concert! Moonshine Sonata is the collaboration between bluegrass ensemble The Kruger Brothers and string quartet Kontras Quartet. These two ensembles will perform music from their most recent album together, and delight audiences with the beautiful harmonies of banjo, guitar, and classical string instruments. Don’t miss your chance to hear these dynamic players in a concert that is sure to get your heart racing and foot tapping!

Event Details:

Sunday, May 18th, 2025 2:30 pm
The Venue
21 S Broadway, Aurora IL

Monday, May 19th, 2025 7:30 pm
The Haight
166 Symphony Way, Elgin IL

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Chamber Music on the Fox Presents Capriccio Concerts

March 10, 2025

Brass, Winds, and Piano Come Together in March Concerts

This month, Chamber Music on the Fox will bring its largest concert of the season to the stage: Capriccio. Named in honor of the centerpiece composition, Leoš Janácek’s Capriccio for Piano Left-Hand and Chamber Ensemble, this concert will celebrate the contributions of three of the 20th centuries’ most masterful composers. Capriccio itself is a fascinating work of music, with a solo for the pianist in the left-hand part, and layers of sound with flutes, trumpets, and euphonium. Paul Hindemith’s beautiful Morgenmusik, a tribute to the medieval tradition of greeting the sunrise each day with trumpets, will showcase some of Chicago’s finest brass players. Stravinsky’s Octet for Wind Instruments is a celebration of winds, and includes bassoon, clarinet, and flute playing alongside trumpet and trombone. With these three pieces on the program, audiences can expect an engaging and thrilling sound experience.

Event Details:

Sunday, March 23^rd, 2025 2:30 pm
New England Congregational Church
406 W Galena Blvd, Aurora IL

Monday, March 24^th, 2025 7:30 pm
First Congregational Church of Dundee
900 S. 8th St., West Dundee, IL

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American Stories

February 14, 2025

Featuring the Zodiac Trio

Chamber Music on the Fox will present three concerts across northern Illinois in its American Stories concert series, featuring the internationally recognized Zodiac Trio. In this program, the trio of clarinet, violin, and piano will present familiar masterpieces alongside hidden musical gems. From Benny Goodman’s iconic tunes to original arrangements of Argentine Tangos and Mexican ballroom dance music, this program of North and South American Songs and Dances is a creative compilation of pieces that have proven to be meaningful to people across both American continents.

Over the past decade, the Zodiac Trio has established itself as the leading international trio of its kind, heralded by Radio France as “A breathtaking ensemble of virtuosity and sensitivity.” Taking advantage of its unusual instrumentation of clarinet, violin and piano, the Zodiac Trio has been at the forefront of innovative programming, presenting 20th century masterpieces alongside new works and acclaimed original arrangements, offering the listener an immersive, musical journey.

Event Details:

Saturday, February 22^nd, 2:00 p.m.
Woodstock Opera House,
121 W Van Buren St, Woodstock IL

Sunday, February 23^rd, 2:30 p.m.
New England Congregational Church
406 W Galena Blvd, Aurora IL

Monday, February 24^th, 7:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Dundee
900 S. 8th St., West Dundee, IL

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Chamber Music on the Fox announces 11th season

May 1, 2024

cmotf season announcement 2024 2025 1200x675

There are a number of surprises in Chamber Music on the Fox’s 11^th season, which was announced this week. In addition to traditional chamber music ensembles performing works by legendary classical masters, the five-concert subscription series will include performances celebrating Latin American women, a mashup of a classical string quartet with a bluegrass folk trio, and a program of North and South American songs and dances.

“We are excited to offer a five-concert series that features a variety of world class musicians, some who have played with us before to great fanfare, like the KAIA String Quartet and pianist Liang-yu Wang, and some, like the Kontras Quartet and the bluegrass folk trio of the Kruger Brothers, that will stretch the traditional boundaries of classical music to create energetic, awe-inspiring experiences,” said Mark Fry, Artistic Director and Co-founder of Chamber Music on the Fox.

In addition to the series, Chamber Music on the Fox will host a special event that focuses on the Baroque era and features the music of Bach, Frescobaldi, and Handel on Nov. 25, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles, Ill. The special concert will feature soprano Kathleen Monson, bass trombonist Mark Fry, violinist Eric Pidluski, flutist Scott Metlicka, and keyboardist Christopher Powell. Tickets for this concert are sold separately from the series subscription and are priced at $25, and $15 for students.

In keeping with its expansion across the Fox Valley, Chamber Music on the Fox concerts will be held in Elgin, Dundee, Aurora, and St. Charles. A five-concert subscription package is $120. Individual tickets are priced between $25 and $45, with $15 – $25 student tickets. Season tickets are now available at www.ChamberMusicOnTheFox.org.

Chamber Music on the Fox will also continue its partnership with the Woodstock Opera House (WOH). Performances in Woodstock will be announced at a later date and tickets will be available exclusively through WOH.

The season begins Sunday, Oct. 6, with “A Celebration of Latin American Women” featuring the KAIA String Quartet performing eclectic works by Argentinian, Brazilian, Mexican, Uruguayan, and Venezuelan female composers. The 2:30 p.m. program will take place at The Packard Room at the Ballydoyle in Aurora. The concert will be repeated Monday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m. at The Haight in Elgin.

Two of the Chicago area’s most brilliant and virtuosic musicians, Matthew Oliphant and Rachel Velvikis, come together in a program that showcases the French horn on Jan. 12 and 13, 2025. The pair will be joined by violinists Eleanor Bartsch and MingHuan Xu, and pianists Winston Choi and Liang-yu Wang, in works by Beethoven, Ligeti and Brahms. The Jan. 12 concert will take place at New England Congregational Church in Aurora at 2:30 p.m. The 7:30 p.m., Jan. 13, performance will be held at First Congregational Church of Elgin.

The internationally recognized Zodiac Trio will present familiar masterpieces alongside hidden musical gems in a virtuosic program featuring iconic Benny Goodman tunes and original arrangements of Argentine Tangos and Mexican ballroom dance music in February 2025. The Sunday, Feb. 23, performance will be held at 2:30 p.m. at New England Congregational Church in Aurora. The First Congregational Church of Dundee will host the Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, 7:30 p.m. performance.

A favorite of Chamber Music on the Fox’s audiences, pianist Liang-yu Wang returns on March 23 and 24 to perform Leoš Janáček’s Capriccio for Piano Left-Hand and Chamber Ensemble. Mark Fisher will conduct the program, which also includes Paul Hindemith’s Morgenmusik for brass ensemble and Igor Stravinsky’s Octet for wind instruments. The programs will take place Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., at the New England Congregational Church in Aurora, and Monday, March 24, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., at the First Congregational Church of Dundee.

Moonshine Sonata rounds out the season on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., at The Venue in Aurora, and Monday, May 19, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., at The Haight in Elgin. In a meeting between classical string quartet and bluegrass folk trio, this promises to be a fun and feisty concert that weaves together new American folk and old European classical traditions. The Kontras Quartet and the Kruger Brothers are featured.

3rd Coast Brass presents rarely-performed edition of “Pictures At An Exhibition” for Chamber Music on the Fox’s season finale

April 29, 2024

cmotf pictures at an exhibition 2024 1200x675

18-piece brass ensemble takes on Howarth’s arrangement of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece, as well as music by Gunther Schuller and Bjork

Chamber Music on the Fox closes out its 10^th season with a nontraditional twist on the classical repertoire. This unique opportunity marks the first time Chicago-based 3^rd Coast Brass will come together as a large-scale symphonic brass ensemble. Brass legend Mark Fisher will conduct the 18-piece ensemble, consisting of notable Chicago area musicians including members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Music Festival, and CMOTF Artistic Director Mark Fry.

The program’s feature piece is a nod to the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble — which is credited with giving brass musicians visibility outside of an orchestra setting — as the symphonic brass ensemble performs Elgar Howarth’s arrangement of Modest Mussorgsky’s famous “Pictures At An Exhibition.” Originally composed as a piano suite by Mussorgsky in 1874 (and performed as such by Natasha Paremski on the CMOTF series in 2019), English composer Howarth arranged the masterpiece for brass ensemble 103 years later, in 1977, which was recorded the same year by the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble.

Also on the program is Schuller’s epic Symphony for Brass and Percussion, and Björk’s Overture to “Dancer in the Dark”, a 2000 film that also starred the singer/composer.

”The pieces we are playing in this concert are both interesting and special to me in that the Gunther Schuller’s Symphony for Brass is very unusual,” said Matthew Gaunt, tuba player for 3^rd Coast Brass. “Schuller wrote this work specifically to show brass instruments doing things unlike what they normally do in band and orchestra.

“The ’Pictures At An Exhibition’ is a really famous work that everybody knows and for me to play this particular arrangement is really exciting because it is one of the first recordings that my tuba teacher gave to me when I was a kid that got me excited about playing the tuba. So, I am really excited to play this with some fantastic musicians.”

CMOTF co-founder, artistic director, and bass trombone player Mark Fry grew up listening to the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble’s many recordings, as well as performing several arrangements by them. “I was quite literally shell shocked when I first heard their ‘Pictures’ the first time. I am thrilled to share this remarkable arrangement with Chamber Music on the Fox audiences in May. It is very fitting that CMOTF will have programmed both the original piano version and this very special arrangement for the symphonic brass ensemble on our series,” Fry said.

The concerts will be held Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Woodstock Opera House; Sunday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m. at The Venue in Aurora, Ill.; and Monday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Elgin, Ill.

NOTE: Biographies of all 18 musicians performing in this concert, along with program information, is available at https://www.chambermusiconthefox.org/program-pictures-at-an-exhibition.

Chamber Music on the Fox Chamber Players to present Romantic Piano Quartets

February 19, 2024

cmotf romantic piano quartets 2024 1200x675 1

Concerts scheduled in Woodstock, Aurora, and West Dundee

Chamber Music on the Fox presents three concerts featuring piano quartets of the Romantic era in March. CMOTF Chamber Players Cristina Buciu on violin, Dominic Johnson on viola, Sara Sitzer on cello, and Liang-yu Wang on piano will perform Richard Strauss’ Piano Quartet in C minor and Johannes Brahms Piano Quartet in G minor on Sunday, March 10, at 3 p.m. at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St. in Woodstock, Ill. The concerts will also be performed on Sunday, March 24, at 2:30 p.m. at New England Congregational Church, 406, W. Galena Blvd. in Aurora, and on Monday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Dundee, 900 S. 8^th St. in West Dundee.

CMOTF Co-Founder and Artistic Director Mark Fry said the pieces are some of the most rich and beautiful works in the genre but may be unfamiliar to audiences.

“One of my missions is to introduce our audiences to some of the standard literature that they might not have had an opportunity to hear live before. I chose to program this particular Brahms work since it is a very famous and an incredibly gorgeous piece within the chamber music genre, not to mention a personal favorite of mine that I look forward to sharing with our audiences,” Fry said.

Pianist Wang introduced Fry to the Strauss quartet, which he says was a perfect complement to the Brahms.

Tickets for the Woodstock concert are available exclusively through the Woodstock Opera House, online at www.woodstockoperahouse.com or by phone at 815-338-5300.

Tickets for the Aurora and West Dundee performances are available at www.chambermusiconthefox.org for $25 for in-person or virtual viewing. Students with a valid student ID qualify for $15 in-person concert tickets for the Aurora and West Dundee performances.

Free Chamber Music on the Fox concert features world premiere of Santos Cato’s “Sonatina for English Horn and Piano” featuring Virtuoso Pedro Diaz

January 18, 2024

“A Concert for Elgin” celebrates CMOTF’s 10^th anniversary

Chamber Music on the Fox will offer a free concert to celebrate the organization’s 10^th anniversary of bringing world class chamber ensemble performances to the Fox Valley.

“A Concert for Elgin” will be held Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. at Elgin Community College’s Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Building H, Elgin. Tickets are free, but must be reserved through the ECC Arts Center website, www.eccartscenter.org/events.

The Chamber Music on the Fox Players will be joined for this concert by Pedro Diaz, English hornist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra who will perform the world premiere of Santos Cato’s “Sonatina for English Horn and Piano”, a piece written specifically for Diaz. Heralded as evocative, eloquent, and expressive, Diaz is considered one of the pre-eminent players of his generation.

“We are very excited to bring Pedro Diaz and this world premiere to Elgin and, thanks to the generosity of SEIGLE Foundation and Elgin Community College, to be able to offer the performance for free as a token of appreciation to the community that has supported Chamber Music on the Fox for the past decade,” said Mark Fry, cofounder and artistic director of CMOTF.

Of the premiere piece, Diaz said, “Santos, a prolific composer who resides in Ensenada, Mexico, has strong connections to Italy, having attended school in Rome. These international influences add depth to the pieces we’ll be performing.”

The concert will also include works by Arthur Honneger, David Chesky, and Gaetano Donizetti.

“What adds a particular importance to this performance is that I’ll have the privilege of performing Honegger’s ‘Concerto da camera’ with Scott Metlicka as a co-soloist, alongside the Chamber Music on the Fox Chamber Players. We will also be accompanied by the wonderful pianist Liang-yu Wang. It’s an incredible opportunity, and I can’t wait to share this musical experience with our audience,” said Daiz.

The CMOTF Chamber Players include violinists Eric Pidluski and Emily Nash, violist Bruno Silva, cellist Sara Sitzer, and bassist Tim Shaffer.

Donizetti’s Concertino in F Major, a piece dating back to 1816, holds special importance to Diaz. Diaz discovered the original solo and orchestral parts for the piece several years ago at the Museo Internazionale e Biblioteca della Musica in Bologna, Italy, while on a research trip. The discovery, Diaz said, “adds a special historical dimension to our performance.”

Chamber Music on the Fox was founded 10 years ago by Fry, a trombonist, and cellist Sara Sitzer to bring chamber music ensembles – often featuring internationally renowned musicians – to intimate settings across the Fox Valley. Today, Chamber Music on the Fox offers concerts not only in the Elgin area, but also in Aurora and Woodstock.

“We are incredibly grateful for the community’s support that has fueled our success,” Fry said.

Partnership to bring Chamber Music on the Fox concerts to historic Woodstock Opera House

December 6, 2023

Chamber Music on the Fox and the Woodstock Opera House today announced a partnership that will bring four chamber music concerts to the historic venue, located at 121 Van Buren Street in downtown Woodstock, Ill.

“Chamber Music on the Fox has been bringing live chamber music performances featuring internationally renowned ensembles to Elgin, Illinois, for 10 years. Earlier this season, we expanded our complete 2023-24 concert series to Aurora. Our partnership with the Woodstock Opera House expands our reach to offer residents throughout the Fox Valley and Northwest suburbs the experience of hearing live classical music in an intimate setting,” said Mark Fry, Co-founder and Artistic Director of Chamber Music on the Fox. “We are grateful to Woodstock Opera House Managing Director Daniel Campbell and the entire Opera House staff for welcoming us to their home.”

Betsy Cosgray, Business Operations Manager at Woodstock Opera House, said the inclusion of small ensemble classical concerts are a natural addition to the Opera House’s line up.

“The Chamber Music on the Fox performances are the perfect fit for our historic theater, where operas, theater, and music performances have been part of our town’s history and have helped shape the careers of internationally recognized actors and performers for 133 years,” Cosgray said.

The first performance in the partnership will be a traditional Irish Christmas program featuring STEAM Irish Quartet on Friday, Dec. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and $25, and are available at www.woodstockoperahouse.com, or by phone through the Woodstock Opera House box office at 815-338-5300.

STEAM Irish Quartet is a powerful combo of the leading exponents of traditional Irish music from the international acoustic scene. Chicago artists John Williams, Katie Grennan, Steve Morrow, and Jeff Lindblade have thrilled audiences from Shanghai to Chicago and from Paris to Pittsburgh. In these special holiday-themed performances, concertina, fiddle, bodhran and guitar will ignite to raise the rafters and warm the heart. The ensemble has appeared on BBC, PBS, Dreamworks, Riverdance and with the Chieftains.

Other Chamber Music on the Fox concerts coming to the Opera House include:

“Mendelssohn and Shostakovich String Quartets,” featuring Avalon String Quartet, on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 3 p.m.
“Romantic Piano Quartets,” featuring the CMOTF Chamber Players, on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 3 p.m.
“Pictures at an Exhibition,” featuring 3rd Coast Brass and conducted by Mark Fisher, on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.

Chamber Music on the Fox presents ‘A Celtic Christmas’ featuring STEAM Irish Quartet

October 27, 2023

cmotf 2023 2024 steam irish quartet — Jeff Lindblade, Katie Grennan, John Williams and Steve Morrow

Concerts scheduled in Aurora and Elgin

Get into the holiday spirit in a rollicking way when Chamber Music on the Fox presents ‘A Celtic Christmas’ featuring STEAM Irish Quartet.

Concerts will be held Sunday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m. in The Packard Room at Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York Street in Aurora, and Monday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at The Haight, 166 Symphony Way in Elgin. Tickets are $25 and are available at www.ChamberMusicOnTheFox.org. Students with a valid student ID qualify for a $15 student ticket. Virtual tickets, for viewing the performance from Dec. 5 – 19, are also available.

Chamber Music on the Fox presents Moonstruck Pierrot at historic Moonlight Theatre in St. Charles Nov. 6

October 5, 2023

Chamber Music on the Fox is thrilled to partner with the newly opened, historic Moonlight Theatre for a special concert highlighting two of the 20th century’s most adventurous and dramatic works. Steve Vance Ingle will lead the CMOTF Chamber Players in Arnold Schoenberg’s haunting Pierrot Lunaire, as well as George Crumb’s electrifying Voice of the Whale.

This one-night-only concert will take place Monday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Moonlight Theatre, 2 South Second Avenue in St. Charles. Tickets are available at www.ChamberMusicOnTheFox.org for $25; students with a valid student ID may qualify for a discounted $15 student ticket. A virtual viewing option is also available.

Singing the role of Pierrot will be soprano Nathalie Colas, who is a current soloist and co-founder of Third Coast Baroque, Liederstube, and Fonema Consort, and has been a featured soloist with Haymarket Opera, Newberry Consort, Incantare, Bach Cantata Vespers at Grace Lutheran, Valparaiso Bach Institute, and the Bach Society of Saint Louis.

Ingle has conducted with the “Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra” series and led the South Bend Symphony Orchestra’s “Young People’s Discovery Concerts” in 2015 and 2016. A professional bassoonist, he is a former member of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and with the symphony orchestras of Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Kalamazoo, South Bend, Memphis, and Knoxville, among others.

Reserve your tickets now for this unique opportunity to hear these dramatic works in a historic venue.