by Mike Telin
Music is in a constant state of flux — adapting and taking on new life as it crosses borders, cultures, and time. Just as tectonic plates shift slowly but inevitably, musical traditions push against one another, sparking something new.
Diana Cohen | Franklin Cohen | Roman Rabinovich
Artistic Directors
With the theme of “Continental Drifts,” the fourteenth edition of ChamberFest Cleveland will launch on Wednesday, June 10 at 7:30 pm in Kulas Hall at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Tickets to all events are available online.
The evening will begin with a 6:30 pm welcome by CFC executive director Jessica Peek Sherwood. The program, titled “Global Fanfare,” will kick off with virtuosic drumming from djembefola Weedie Braimah.
The program will also include Steve Reich’s Piano Phase, Yang Baozhi’s Ambush on All Sides, Miguel del Águila’s Clocks: I. Shelves Full of Clocks, Matthew Hindson’s Rush for Piano Trio, and Johannes Brahms’ String Sextet in G major, Op. 36. The audience is invited to stay for a Postlude Reception to celebrate Opening Night.
Since winning first prize at the International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition in 2010, Canadian violinist Kerson Leong has been on a meteoric rise to the upper echelon of musicians.
On Thursday, June 11 at Dunham Tavern, Leong, who is making his ChamberFest debut this season, will present a concert of works for solo violin. A social hour with CFC artistic directors and festival musicians begins at 7:00 pm, and the performance will begin at 8:00 pm.
Leong’s program will include Francisco Tárrega’s Recuerdos de la Alhambra, Alessandro Marcello / Johann Sebastian Bach’s Adagio from Oboe Concerto, Eugène Ysaÿe’s Violin Sonata No. 1: III. Allegretto poco scherzo & Sonata No. 5: II. Danse rustique, Agustín Barrios’ Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios, and J.S. Bach’s Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor.
On Friday, June 12 at 7:30 pm in Harkness Chapel, Finding Resonance will feature Jörg Widmann’s 180 beats per minute, George Enescu’s Violin Sonata No. 3, and Anton Arensky’s Piano Trio in D minor. Kevin McBrien, editorial & publications manager at The Cleveland Orchestra, will give a Prelude Talk beginning at 6:30 pm.
The first week of ChamberFest will conclude on Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 pm in Mixon Hall at CIM. “Homecoming” opens with Mozart’s Piano Trio in C major, K. 548. The evening will continue with CIM alum Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate’s Pisachi (Reveal) for String Quartet, and CIM founding director Ernest Bloch’s Piano Quintet No. 1.
A prelude talk presented by Nadiah Rivera Fellah, curator of contemporary art at the Cleveland Museum of Art, begins at 6:30 pm. A Postlude Ice Cream Social will follow the performance.
Published on ClevelandClassical.com June 4, 2026
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