NEWSLETTER
Five-program season spans Mozart to Marsalis, blending classical masterworks with contemporary voices
July 12–26 at Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY (November 20, 2025) – Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) welcomes Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) back for its 2026 summer residency from July 12–26. Curated by Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, the season features five programs that traverse a remarkable spectrum of chamber music — from Mozart to Marsalis, with works by Dvořák, Beethoven, Barber, Villa-Lobos, and more. As the nation approaches America’s 250th, several programs also nod to the evolution of American music, highlighting composers such as Gershwin, Barber, Bernstein, and Marsalis. During Spa Little Theater’s historic renovation, all performances will take place at the Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College.
“As Spa Little Theater enters this important restoration phase, we are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with CMS. We are also deeply grateful for our ongoing collaboration with Skidmore College, whose Arthur Zankel Music Center provides a beautiful and welcoming home during the renovation,” says Elizabeth Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of SPAC.
The 2026 summer season opens with “Dvořák’s Quintet in A Major” (July 12), featuring works by Mozart, Ravel, and Gershwin. Subsequent programs include “From Haydn to Copland” (July 15), “Burleigh, Dvořák, and Beethoven” (July 19), and “Winds Around the World” (July 22), highlighting the richness of wind repertoire alongside piano and strings. The season concludes with the Calidore String Quartet (July 26), performing works by Franklin (attrib.), Haydn, Mozart, Hugo Wolf, and Wynton Marsalis.
“This year brings a special excitement as the Spa Little Theater begins its long-awaited renovation — a project that will elevate an already beloved space. We are delighted to bring the finest chamber music programs specifically designed for our cherished SPAC audiences performed by some of the greatest musicians from around the world. With music ranging from Mozart to Marsalis, and in celebration of this summer’s 250th anniversary of American independence and musical identity, we are deeply grateful for our enduring partnership with SPAC. We look forward to sharing this remarkable summer with you,” says CMS Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han.
Kicking off the season to lead the opening program is CMS Co-Artistic Director Wu Han (piano). Guest artists for the 2026 summer residency include Stella Chen, Danbi Um, Matthew Lipman, Sterling Elliott, Evren Ozel, Michael Stephen Brown, Sahun Sam Hong, Orion Weiss, Aaron Boyd, Sean Lee, Lawrence Dutton, Milena Pájaro-Van De Stadt, Mihai Marica, Juho Pohjonen, Demarre McGill, James Austin Smith, Romie De Guise-Langlois, Marc Goldberg, Nathaniel Silberschlag, and the Calidore String Quartet.
All 2026 CMS events will take place in the Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall in Arthur Zankel Music Center at Skidmore College while the Spa Little Theater undergoes renovation. Sunday performances are at 3 p.m., and Wednesday performances are at 7:30 p.m. Visit spac.org for more information.
To purchase tickets:
Subscriptions to all five performances are available for purchase from November 20-26. SPAC members will receive their member discount on subscriptions; non-members will receive $5 off the regular ticket price. SPAC member pre-sales begin December 1, tiered by membership level. Single ticket sales begin on December 5 at 10:00 a.m. Ticket prices range from $51.75-$71.75 per ticket, inclusive of all applicable fees. Purchases of three or more summer 2026 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center programs will receive a $5 discount on the regular ticket price, per ticket. Visit spac.org or call the box office at 518-584-9330 to purchase.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center residency is presented by Charles Schwab - Maureen Parker.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: July 12-26, 2026
SUN, JULY 12 | 3PM: Dvořák’s Quintet in A Major
Wu Han, piano
Evren Ozel, piano
Stella Chen, violin
Danbi Um, violin
Matthew Lipman, viola
Sterling Elliott, cello
Mozart Trio in E major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, K. 542
Ravel Sonata for Violin and Piano
Gershwin Three Preludes for Violin and Piano (arr. Heifetz)
Dvořák Quintet in A major for Piano, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 5
WED, JULY 15 | 7:30PM: From Haydn to Copland
Michael Stephen Brown, piano
Sahun Sam Hong, piano
Lun Li, violin
James Thompson, viola
Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Ian David Rosenbaum, percussion
Haydn Trio in C major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Hob. XV:27
Mendelssohn Quartet in C minor for Piano, Violin, Viola, and Cello, Op. 1
Brahms Selected Hungarian Dances for Piano, Four Hands
Bernstein Three Meditations from Mass for Cello and Piano (1971, arr. 1977)
Copland El Salón México for Piano and Percussion (arr. Bernstein)
SUN, JULY 19 | 3PM: Burleigh, Dvořák and Beethoven
Orion Weiss, piano
Aaron Boyd, violin
Sean Lee, violin
Lawrence Dutton, viola
Milena Pájaro-Van De Stadt, viola
Mihai Marica, cello
Burleigh Southland Sketches for Violin and Piano
Dvořák Trio in G minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 26
Beethoven Quintet in C major for Two Violins, Two Violas, and Cello, Op. 29
WED, JULY 22 | 7:30PM: Winds Around the World
Juho Pohjonen, piano
DeMarre McGill, flute
James Austin Smith, oboe
Romie De Guise-Langlois, clarinet
Marc Goldberg, bassoon
Nathaniel Silberschlag, horn
Beethoven Sonata in F major for Horn and Piano, Op. 17
Barber Summer Music for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Horn, Op. 31
Villa-Lobos Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon
Taktakishvili Sonata for Flute and Piano
Jongen Rhapsody in D minor for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, and Piano, Op. 70
SUN, JULY 26 | 3PM: Calidore String Quartet
Calidore String Quartet
Jeffrey Myers, violin
Ryan Meehan, violin
Jeremy Berry, viola
Estelle Choi, cello
Franklin Quartet No. 2 in F major for Three Violins and Cello
Haydn Quartet in E-flat major for Strings, Hob. III:38, Op. 33, No. 2, “The Joke”
Mozart Quartet in B-flat major for Strings, K. 589, “Prussian”
Wolf Italian Serenade for String Quartet
Marsalis At the Octoroon Balls for String Quartet
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Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America’s most prestigious outdoor amphitheaters. Its exquisite setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws lovers of arts, culture and nature for performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts imaginative programming such as Caffè Lena @ SPAC and initiatives in culinary, literary, healing and visual arts.
SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center’s thriving education program, community outreach efforts, and the vibrancy of its programming. For more information visit spac.org.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) is one of eleven constituents of the largest performing arts complex in the world, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Through its many performances, education, recording, digital, and broadcast activities, CMS brings the experience of great chamber music to more people than any other organization of its kind with a full season in New York, as well as national and international tours. Under the artistic leadership of David Finckel and Wu Han, CMS presents a wide variety of concert series and educational events for listeners of all ages, appealing to both connoisseurs and newcomers. The performing artists constitute a revolving multi-generational and international roster of the world’s best chamber musicians, enabling CMS to present chamber music of every instrumentation, style, and historical period. The CMS Bowers Program, its competitive three-season residency, is dedicated to developing the chamber music leaders of the future and integrates this selection of extraordinary early-career musicians into every facet of CMS activities. Its incomparable digital presence, which regularly enables CMS to reach hundreds of thousands of viewers and listeners around the globe annually, includes: a growing number of live-streamed programs; more than 1,000 hours of performance and education videos free to the public on its website; a 52-week public radio series across the US; radio programming in Taiwan and mainland China; appearances on American Public Media; the monthly program “In Concert with CMS” on the ALL ARTS broadcast channel; the NY-Emmy-nominated documentary “Transcending: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Celebrates 50 Years;” and performances featured on Medici.tv, Tencent, and SiriusXM’s Symphony Hall channel.
Skidmore College’s Zankel Music Center
The Arthur Zankel Music Center is Skidmore College’s state-of-the-art performance venue, dedicated to fostering musical excellence and creativity through innovative collaborations with students, faculty, guest artists, and community organizations. Named in honor of Arthur Zankel, a devoted Skidmore trustee and visionary philanthropist, the Center is a testament to his legacy of support and commitment to the arts, providing a vibrant and inclusive space for musical education, exploration and performance.
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