History

Founded by Felicity Coltman in 1981 to offer a summer chamber music workshop for junior and senior high school musicians, the Austin Chamber Music Center (ACMC) quickly expanded to include school-year classes held on Saturdays. Arts education remains at the heart of ACMC’s mission. The summer workshop and school-year Academy provide opportunities for artists of all ages and skill levels to learn chamber music, explore music composition, theory, and other electives. Since partnering with McCallum Fine Arts Academy in 1997, ACMC has collaborated with numerous Austin schools to offer intensive chamber music coaching to band and orchestra students year-round. Many graduates of ACMC’s educational programs have become professional musicians, including the cellist of the Jupiter String Quartet, the violist of the Maia Quartet, the principal oboist of the National Symphony, the principal flutist of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, the principal bassoonist of the Houston Symphony, the principal clarinetist of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, as well as multiple members of the Austin and San Antonio Symphonies, and numerous music educators.

Felicity Coltman

Michelle Schumann

The addition of a performance series has expanded ACMC’s connection to the Austin community and transformed it into one of the premiere chamber music organizations in the world. In 2015, this transformation was recognized when ACMC was awarded the CMAcclaim award from Chamber Music America for its tremendous impact on the local community through chamber music, a testament to the organization’s success in pursuing its mission since 1981.

In 2006, Dr. Michelle Schumann was appointed the artistic/executive director of ACMC, accepting the responsibility of leading ACMC after the 25-year tenure of its founder, Felicity Coltman. As Artistic Director, Dr. Schumann has won multiple awards from the Austin Critics Table during her time with the Austin Chamber Music Center, including the coveted award for “ Body of Work/Season,” and was named “Best Classical Musician” in the Best of Austin 2019 Readers Poll by the Austin Chronicle.

In 2024, after an intense search with highly qualified candidates both locally and from around the country, the Austin Chamber Music Center appointed violinist Sandy Yamamoto to the role of Artistic Director.

The Austin Chamber Music Festival takes over the classical music world in Austin every summer. ACMC energizes the community with mesmerizing chamber music by presenting the finest local, emerging, and international-touring chamber artists over the course of three weekends. In 2023, the 27th annual festival—the highest grossing to date—featured collaborations with local artist and groups Miró Quartet, Ephraim Owens, Austin Classical Guitar, and Austin Symphony conductor Peter Bay, as well as chamber music icons David Finckel and Wu Han, Sara Sant’Ambrogio, and the Emerson String Quartet.

Sandy Yamamoto

ACMC offers free community concerts throughout the year, including interactive School Concert Tours in Austin schools (mostly Title-1); regular concerts in retirement homes; and accessible performances throughout the greater Austin community.

The Coltman Competition, which began as a municipal chamber music competition in 2010, now attracts ensembles nationwide. In 2024, 143 ensembles from over 20 states applied to compete before an expert judge panel for cash prizes, radio broadcasts, and performance opportunities.

The organization’s recent five-year strategic plan is not just a roadmap for the future, but a promise of greater things to come. Already underway, this plan will allow ACMC to make a more significant impact on music students and listeners throughout the Austin community, and beyond. It’s a testament to ACMC’s commitment to excellence and its dedication to the art of chamber music.

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