Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival Presents: Series Concert I
SERIES CONCERT I: Public/Private
The Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival returns for its 27th season, September 8–19, 2026, with two weeks of concerts that explore the influence of revolutionary thought in this 250th anniversary year of our nation. Founded in 2000 by Charlottesville natives and accomplished musicians Raphael Bell and Tim Summers, the Festival continues its tradition of bringing internationally acclaimed musicians to Charlottesville for performances that combine artistic excellence with emotional connection and intellectual curiosity.
The Festival kicks off with an evening of bold innovation, exhilarating musicianship, and profound lyricism. Renowned flutist Demarre McGill launches the program with Ruth Crawford-Seeger’s Diaphonic Suite, offering a fascinating glimpse into one of America’s most visionary composers. Beethoven’s beloved Symphony No. 7, heard in an intimate chamber arrangement, reveals the work’s vitality and infectious spirit in a fresh light. The concert culminates with Schubert’s Piano Trio No. 2, a masterpiece of soaring melodies, emotional depth, and radiant beauty. Together, this program performed by the Festival’s extraordinary musicians, makes for an unforgettable opening night celebration.
Program:
Ruth Crawford-Seeger Diaphonic Suite
Ludwig van Beethoven (arr. Hummel) Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 arr. for piano, violin, cello and flute
Franz Schubert Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 100
Raphael Bell, Benjamin Hochman, Demarre McGill, Tim Summers
Sponsored by The Maurice Amado Foundation
Other 2026 Festival concerts at The Paramount include ticketed events on Thursday, September 17 at 7:30PM and Saturday, September 19 at 7:30PM and a FREE lunchtime concert open to the public on Friday, September 18 at 12:30PM.
About the Musicians
Raphael Bell is principal cello of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra in Belgium, Co-Founder of the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, and Co-Artistic Director of La Loingtaine in Montigny-sur-Loing, France. He has performed at Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Salle Gaveau, Berlin Philharmonie, Köln Philharmonie, Luzerner Theater, the American Academy in Rome, Tokyo Suntory Hall, and Kyoto Concert Hall, and at festivals including Ferrara Musica, Wiener Festwochen, Elba Festival, Sonoro Musikland, Ravinia, Verbier, and Resonance Festival Belgium. After growing up in Charlottesville, Raphael studied at The Juilliard School with Harvey Shapiro, and later with Mario Brunello, Steven Isserlis, and Ferenc Rados. He now resides in Antwerp, Belgium with violinist Aki Saulière, and their son, Tomo.
In all roles, from orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician to conductor, Benjamin Hochman regards music as vital and essential. Composers, fellow musicians, orchestras, and audiences recognize his deep commitment to insightful programming and performances of quality. An Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, he has performed at the Wigmore Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Vienna Konzerthaus, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall, and Suntory Hall. Hochman’s recent and upcoming highlights include playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Rheinische Staatsphilharmonie conducted by Benjamin Shwartz; conducting the Szeged Symphony and Orlando Philharmonic; solo recitals in Paris, Berlin, and Hitzacker; and chamber music at Tanglewood and Nymphenburger Sommer.
Internationally recognized flutist Demarre McGill is celebrated for his lyrical expressiveness and commanding technique. A recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, he has appeared as soloist with major orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and Seattle Symphony, where he serves as Principal Flute. Demarre previously held principal flute positions with the Dallas and San Diego Symphonies and has performed as acting principal with the Metropolitan Opera and Pittsburgh Symphony. In the 2025–26 season, he appears with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Chamber Music San Francisco, Music of the Baroque, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, along with guest performances nationwide.
Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival since 2000, violinist Tim Summers is a member of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, and has performed on violin, viola, and occasionally mandolin with the orchestra across the world while also serving on the orchestra’s board. He is also artistic director and developer of the MCO’s ‘Future Presence’ Immersive Audio project with sound artist Henrik Oppermann, and has served as director of the orchestra’s own Festival in Hitzacker, Niedersachsen, Germany, focusing on music and the history of cryptography. Tim has performed as a chamber musician at festivals across the United States and Europe. He served as second violinist of the Orpheus String Quartet, and was for several years a participant in the Emmanuel Music cycle of Bach Cantatas in Boston, led by John Harbison and the late Craig Smith.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! The Paramount Theater is pleased to bring diverse programming to the stage and screen. The Theater does not provide advisories about subject matter for events, as sensitivities vary. Not all events may appeal to, or be appropriate for, every person. Patrons are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the shows offered in order to make informed decisions prior to purchasing tickets.
In addition to show synopses, trailers, and reviews on our web events, other resources about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb, and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches. For further questions, please contact the Box Office at 434.979.1333 or at boxoffice@theparamount.net, 10AM-2PM Monday-Friday + 1 hour before events.
