We’re thrilled to announce that Chiarina is a recipient of a 2020 Classical Commissioning grant from Chamber Music America, a leading national organization that works to advance the reach of chamber music and its performers. You can see the full list of grantees here. The grant enables us to commission and premiere a new work for piano trio and voice, which Chiarina will premiere (currently slated for our 2021-2022 season).

More importantly—meet composer Carlos Simon, our talented composer for the project! Carlos is an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University and received recent commissions from the Philadelphia Orchestra, Washington National Opera, and the American Composers Orchestra. In early 2021 he will receive a Sphinx Medal of Excellence, which recognizes the extraordinary achievements of Black and Latinx musicians in the United States. 

Our guest vocalist for the commission premiere will be baritone Carl DuPont, Assistant Professor of Voice at Baltimore’s renowned Peabody Conservatory; other performers include violinist Domenic Salerni and Chiarina’s artistic directors. We look forward to working with these phenomenal musicians and to sharing something new and meaningful with you in the near future!