The Chamber Music Society of Southwest FL has a tri-part mission:

• to promote new and contemporary chamber music;
• to bring new audiences to the Foulds Theatre, the theater venue within the Alliance for the Arts;
• to bring contemporary chamber music to local audiences.

In a recent interview with Leland Kimball Artistic Director of Opera Delaware who recently directed a Lowell Liebermann premiere, Kimball states, "If we do not start producing and presenting new works, the audience for [new music] in the future will simply die. Furthermore, if we do not present American [music], new American audiences will eventually lose interest in [the genre]. Somewhere out there is the next Mozart, but we won't find him or her if we don't give new composers a chance."

At one time, even Beethoven was considered to be avant garde. Imagine Salieri's reaction upon hearing Beethoven's 7th Symphony after being riveted by Mozart's prolificity. The importance of new ideas, fresh interpretations of traditional forms, is not only prevalent in music, but in all aspects of life. Whether it's an original perspective in economic theory or a different way to heal patients, ideas of all sorts push us to consider novel solutions. In looking forward, we invent ways to analyze and to consider the past.

Contemporary chamber music is not frequently heard in areas outside of large metropolitan areas. Yet this music deserves to be presented. By giving contemporary composers a voice, not only do we perpetuate the arts, we attract visitors and future residents to our community through innovative cultural activities. Click here to read a recent article about the economic impact of the arts on local communties published by Happenings Magazine.

The Foulds Theatre at The Alliance for the Arts has been described as innovative, exciting and daring, with each production showcasing fresh talent and dramatically demonstrating that there really are new ideas. Housed within the vibrant gallery, this intimate theater space is opening its doors to new prgramming ideas this season. From comedic political satire to our series which features contemporary chamber music, the Foulds Theatre is becoming known an affordable arts venue which promotes a variety of new works.