The mission of the Chamber Music Society of Wichita is: 1) to enhance the cultural life of the greater Wichita, Kansas area with chamber music performances of the highest quality ranging from Baroque works to the newest compositions of the 21st Century; and 2) to provide the youth of the community an opportunity to interact with these individuals, who represent this important segment of the cultural fabric of our country, via master classes, extended residencies, concert preview performances within the secondary school systems, publicly-available lectures and workshops, in addition to discounted student concert tickets.
Board of Directors
Dr. Jeanne Kroeker, President
Dr. Robin Henry, Vice President
Ms. Lea McCloud, Secretary
Mr. John Boyer IV, Treasurer
Dr. Joan Griffing
Dr. James Knight
Mr. Larry Tobias
Ms. Daijana Wallace
If you are interested in becoming a member of our board, please send us a brief email to cmswichita@gmail.com using the subject “Board Inquiry”.
Staff
Dr. M. Brent Williams, Artistic Director
M. Brent Williams was Asst. Prof. of Violin/Viola at Fort Lewis College and Lecturer of Violin/World Music at Valdosta State University in addition to summer faculty positions at the Music in the Mountains Conservatory, Chapel Hill Chamber Music Workshop, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He was also previously Concertmaster of the San Juan Symphony and Albany Symphony Orchestra. A dedicated chamber musician, Williams is the violinist/violist of enhakē who collectively won the Grand Prize at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, First Prize at the 3rd International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition, and was a finalist at the Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and Festa (Japan). enhakē has been praised for their “playing of the very highest caliber” (Fanfare) and “keen instinct for exciting programmes” (BBC Music Magazine). Their latest CD, Prepárense: The Piazzolla Project, has been described as “positively delightful…[t]he sense of ensemble is near-miraculous” (Fanfare). Williams has also performed chamber music with the award-winning Sima Trio, violinists Jinjoo Cho, L.P. How, and Matt Albert, bassist Frank Proto, and guitarist Oren Fader. He received his DM and MM from Florida State University and his BMA from the University of Oklahoma. Williams has recorded for the MSR, Naxos, Koch, Emeritus, Barsuk, Pias America, Nub, and Alchemist record labels. 2019-20 season highlights include: giving the premiere of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s Abgang and Kaddish with enhakē, performing with the Rio Verde String Quartet as part of Dvořák Expeditions’ “Classical Music Journey”, and recitals with pianist Eun-Hee Park in Santa Fe (NM), Farmington (NM), Auburn (AL), and Montevallo (AL).