Guest blogger: Dianne Donovan, KMFA-FM announcer and host of Classical Austin

Really, it’s always a feast at the Austin Chamber Music Festival. This year is no exception. Artistic Director, Dr. Michelle Schumann, certainly achieved her goal of giving us a diverse, world-class program. I attended all three main-stage concerts last weekend, and on Friday I caught the sweet sounds of The Brasil Guitar Duo (presented by ACMC and The Austin Classical Guitar Society). Not only are these brilliant guitarists from Brazil but their program presented works largely by Brazilian composers.

Saturday, the Claremont Trio made a return to the Festival, with a dynamic performance of music by Mendelssohn, Mozart and a new work written for them by Sean Shepherd. The members of the trio also shared their artistry and energy in workshops with the young artists in the ACMC’s Summer Festival Program.

The Fine Arts Quartet closed the weekend with, you guessed it, Fine performances of quartets by Haydn and Schumann, but the show hit a whole new level of energy an excitement when Dr. Michelle Schumann joined the Quartet to perform the Dvorak Piano Quintet. Great!

That evening’s performance was dedicated to the memory of Peter Coltman, who passed away on July 3^rd, 2012. Mr. Coltman was married to ACMC founder, pianist, Felicity Coltman and was very much involved with ACMC over the years. Michelle Schumann and the very gifted ACMC student, cellist, Laura Andrade, performed Fauré’s Après Un Rêve, in a fitting musical memorial.

You can still experience the Festival!

Friday, July 13^th-Mother Falcon w/workshop artists-730pm at Antone’s

Saturday, July 14^th-Third Coast Percussion-730pm-Bates Recital Hall

Sunday, July 15^th-Matt Haimovitz (cello)& Christopher O’Riley (piano)-730pm-Bates Recital Hall

     ~posted by Dianne Donovan, KMFA announcer and producer of Classical Austin