Marking the very first concert of the Wyoming International Chamber Music Festival, the WICMF Camerata will perform beloved works spanning the last few centuries, and both sides of the Atlantic.

Program:

The WICMF Camerata

Simple Symphony Benjamin Britten

Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra Antonio Vivaldi

Keegan Bamford, cello

Manuel Papale, cello

Entr’acte Caroline Shaw

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 Johann Sebastian Bach

Four artists from across the country will come together to present an evening of favorite string quartet works in the remarkable setting and acoustic of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Cheyenne, WY.

Program TBA

Husband and wife duo, Kaden and Anna Larson, present a spellbinding program of intimate works for violin and piano. Join us for an unforgettable evening of classic repertoire and intimate storytelling!

Highlighting the WICMF connection to our friends across the pond at the Tenby International Music Festival (Wales, UK), the works of famed British composers Frank Bridge and Ralph Vaughan Williams will be presented along with a dynamic and moody piece by Czech composer Leoš Janáček.

Program:

Sonata for Cello and Piano Frank Bridge

Jessamyn Fry, cello

Alexei Aceto, piano

Romance for Viola and Piano Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ross McIntosh, viola

Alexei Aceto, piano

Sonata for Violin and Piano Leoš Janáček

Christopher Leonard, violin

Kaden Larsen, piano

Join the Cardini Quartet and pianist Alexei Aceto in their showcase of two pillars of the German Romantic chamber music canon, and a lesser-known work by the young prodigy, Felix Mendelssohn. Come dressed comfortably, but leaving wearing your heart on your sleeve!

“If music be the food of love, play on . . .” - William Shakesepare, Twelfth Night

Program:

Trio for Violin, Viola, and Piano Felix Mendelssohn

Thomas Mathias, violin

Ross McIntosh, viola

Alexei Aceto, piano

Sonata for Viola and Piano, Opus 120, No. 2 Johannes Brahms

Ross McIntosh, viola

Alexei Aceto, piano

Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Opus 44 Robert Schumann

Thomas Mathias, Akari Hatanaka, violins

Ross McIntosh, viola

Manuel Papale, cello

Alexei Aceto, piano

Kian Ravaei, our composer-in-residence, spearheads a new initiative to perform the works of up-and-coming composers from Wyoming and the surrounding region, and Wales. W3 (Wales-Wyoming Workshop) represents a significant aspect of the educational components of WICMF and we are proud to host this one-of-a-kind program along with our twin festival, Tenby Intl’ Music Festival. This concerts’s works will have been selected by a panel of judges and workshopped in Tenby and Laramie in order to give international performances.

Program and performers TBA

Composer-in-residence Kian Ravaei takes us on a musical journey through a collection of his own works for strings and piano. Ranging from violin duo, to piano trio, to full-length string quartet, Kian leaves no leaf unturned in his exploration of his own musical identity, and invites the listener to accompany him on their own inward journey. This concert is not to be missed!

• Join us at 6:45 for a pre-concert lecture on these works with Kian, and stick around after the concert for a Q&A with the composer and performers.

Program:

Navazi

Cradle Songs

Fantasy Variations (on a Theme by Dvorak)

Parvāneh

The Little Things, for String Quartet

Featuring:

Thomas Mathis, Alexi Whitsel, Akari Hatanaka, Basil Alter, violin

Mary Cowell, viola

Jaemin Lee, cello

Kaden Larson, piano

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the premiere of the Sonata for Viola and Piano by Dmitri Shostakovich, violist Ross McIntosh and pianist Benjamin David Tufte will attempt to shine an adequate light on this masterwork for the ages. This sonata is a remarkable feat in the history of western music, and explores the depths of what it is to be and to feel human.

Also on the program is a collection of smaller works for viola and piano by the wonderful British-American violist, pianist, and composer Rebecca Clarke. With Scottish folks songs,Greek mythology, and even her own musical impressions upon visiting China, Clarke paves for us a different path exploring what music means to people across the world.

Violinist Thomas Mathias takes the stage as the soloist in Astor Piazzolla’s (famed Argentinian master of the tango) reimagining of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. But before we hear The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, we take a trip to Spain with Joaquin Turina’s second piano trio.

Ralph Vaughan Williams also features on this program, as his song cycle The House of Life is presented by soprano (and Laramie native) Kathryn Harding, and pianist Alexei Aceto; they will also premier a new piece by our artistic director, Ross McIntosh.

Program:

Piano Trio No. 2, Opus 76 Joaquin Turina

Christopher Leonard, violin

Manuel Papale, cello

Alexei Aceto, piano

The House of Life Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ave Maria 1 Ross McIntosh

Kathryn Hardin, soprano

Alexei Aceto, piano

The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires Astor Piazzolla

Thomas Mathias, soloist

Basil Alter, Akari Hatanaka, violin

Ross McIntosh, viola

Manuel Papale, Jaemin Lee, cello

Benjamin David Tufte spearheads a piano-centric recital including works to impress and enchant every audience member! Don’t miss this penultimate concert of the 2025 WICMF

Program TBA

Take in the last of this summer’s offerings of chamber music on the grand scale! Edvarg Grieg’s Suite in Old Style will be a galavanting romp through old dances, contrasting and complimenting Jessie Montgomery’s Strum, a newer and incredibly imaginative work for string orchestra.

Finally, to highlight the special partnership between our WICMF and the Tenby International Music Festival (Wales, UK), the respective artistic directors of both festival will team up to play Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s definitively marvelous Sinfonia Concertante along with all the WICMF strings.

Join the WICMF Camerata for one last deep dive into some truly phenomenal repertoire. Until next year!

Program:

The WICMF Camerata

Strum Jessie Montgomery

Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola, and orchestra W. A. Mozart

Thomas Mathias, violin

Ross McIntosh, viola

Suite in Old Style (Holberg Suite) Edvard Grieg