About Adult Chamber Festival
Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Manchester Community Music School, Manchester, NH.
2026 Festival Information
All adult string players who want to have a chamber music experience are welcome; ASTA membership is not required. Music will be available ahead of time. Lunch will be provided as part of the $75. registration fee. We will have an informal performance of our day’s work at 3:00 pm. Friends and family members are welcome at the performance.
The purpose of this event is to offer adult string players an opportunity to learn and perform chamber music. We plan to have approximately 5 ensembles; however that number may change based on the number of musicians who sign up.
There will be a Novice Ensemble conducted by Muriel Orcutt for those players who are not that experienced or who would prefer to play in a section rather than one person per part. They will work on a variety of music, including an arrangement of themes from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” and the fiddle tune “Dancing Bear.”
We will have an intermediate string quartet coached by Stephen Poirier working on selected movements from Haydn's Op. 2 No. 5, and a more advanced string quartet working on Haydn’s Opus 42 in d minor, coached by Sarah Hoag.
Sam Smith will coach a cello ensemble, which will include parts for players of different levels. The repertoire includes the “Little Suite” by Purcell, Goltermann’s “Romance,” and “Homemade Boat” by Seth Graham.
This year we have had a pre-formed ensemble ask to participate, and they will work on Brahms’ Sextet no. 1, coached by Elisabeth Small.
Ensemble Levels
Questions & Registration
Registration is open now, and will close on September 1. Please use this link to register: https://forms.gle/Wdq5t4MiMJEzqU7U7
If you have any questions, you may reach out to Sally at (603)275-6971 or swituszynski@comcast.net.