Celebrating 30+ Years of Wild and Scenic Music

Praise for the Taos Chamber Music Group!

“One of the great treasures of Taos” -The Taos News 
“Big magic…silken ensemble playing” -Albuquerque Journal
“A remarkable concert of juxtaposed styles” -Horse Fly 
“Depth, vitality and inventiveness” -Spencer Beckwith, KUNM

Press Release

Taos Chamber Music Group presents
“Bonjour Et Au Revoir”
Friday, 9/27/24 5:30 p.m. at the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos and
Sunday, 9/29/24 3:00 p.m. at the Taos Center for the Arts

The Taos Chamber Music Group presents the American String Quartet in an emotional program, “Bonjour Et Au Revoir,” on Friday, 9/27/24 5:30 p.m. at the Harwood Museum of Art and Sunday, 9/29/24 3:00 p.m. at the Taos Center for the Arts. Violist Daniel Avshalomov has chosen TCMG and Taos for his final performances with the Americans and to also introduce Daniel’s successor, Matthias Buchholz. The Harwood and TCA concerts will offer two different programs of music. The repertoire will include compositions by Bela Bartok, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Felix Mendelssohn and Dmitri Shostakovich.

Founding TCMG Board Member, Mary Burns, recently interviewed the Americans to reminisce about their long history with Taos. Mary had this to say about her and her late husband Jim’s special connection with the Americans: “we were groupies in that we have heard them play in many venues in the US and also in London.” The Americans’ history with Taos, as shared with their treasured groupie-turned-friend Mary, follows.

“The American String Quartet started as faculty at the Taos School of Music in 1979. This came about because Chilton Anderson, the long-time director of the school, traveled to the Aspen Music Festival in the summer of 1978 to hear them play. At the time, TSofM needed a new faculty quartet. Mr. Anderson was impressed by what he heard and offered them the job, ‘no contract, just a handshake and let’s see how it goes.’ It went very well. For twenty years, this quartet was the faculty. During those years, they found that getting to know people in the local community made them feel at home, almost like one big family. They have performed all over the world, but only a very few other places have made them feel this way. It must be said that the late Jean Mayer was another attraction with the wonderful meals and comradery of the old St. Bernard Hotel. Besides the people, they loved being able to hike in the mountains and have picnics above the gorge. Musically, being with the students for the extended period of time gave the quartet the satisfaction of seeing their appreciation of the repertoire and each other develop. This was very meaningful for everyone.

“A favorite moment is hard to pinpoint because there were so many, but one tradition the quartet started were the ‘green parties.’ They noticed that in the middle of the season there was a sort of slump, so it was decided to give a party to perk things up. The food and drinks were mostly green or green-tinged. Each student was given a name tag with a special name made up for each one causing much hilarity and a great time for all. And it worked to get over the slump!

“Now, the Americans are returning to Taos for two concerts, which will be the last as a member of the quartet for violist, Dan Avshalomov, who is retiring. It is a sad event, but also a celebration of a wonderful career. Taos is honored that it has been chosen as the site for this event, but for them, as for all of us, it is a special place with special people. Many of Dan’s friends and family from all over will be here, as well as his many local friends, all wanting to celebrate the years they have had together. They will also be introducing Dan’s successor as violist in the quartet, Mattias Buchholz, who has been unanimously hand-picked by all of them.”

TCMG and the Americans look forward to welcoming the Taos community as well as friends and family of the Americans to the concerts and to join the celebration!

TCMG’s 32nd Season will continue in November 2024 with “Viaje Especial.” For more information on artists and performances, visit taoschambermusicgroup.org. For tickets visit taoschambermusicgroup.org or harwoodmuseum.org.

Do you want to help bring wild and scenic music to Taos? Email pam@taoschambermusicgroup.org for more information on volunteer opportunities.