Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series and the Spectacular Jazz Series On Sale Today
St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) launches subscription ticket sales today for the 2025 - 2026 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) and Spectacular Jazz Series concerts. Both series offer outstanding performances by world-renowned chamber music and jazz musicians.
The new season will celebrate SCMC’s 14-year partnership with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. These world-class artists will perform three exciting concerts including Gilbert Kalish & Viano Quartet on November 20, 2025; Quintet Revelations on April 16, 2026; and Schubertiade on May 14, 2026.
The Spectacular Jazz Series Concerts will include four concerts in the new season. One of jazz’s most celebrated vocalists, Catherine Russell will perform on October 9, 2025; World-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli and his Trio will appear on January 15, 2026; Pianist Emmet Cohen and his all-star Quintet will perform on February 26, 2026; and the Branford Marsalis Quartet will appear on March 19, 2026 with Marsalis’ newest release “The Belonging Tour.”
All concerts are now available through series subscriptions which offer a 15-20% discount on single ticket prices.
Executive & Artistic Director of SCMC Cathy Holbrook says, “This will be another outstanding season of music at St. Cecilia Music Center as we bring new, exciting performances by The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and four revered jazz artists performing on the Spectacular Jazz Series. Our first CMS concert with Gilbert Kalish & the Viano Quartet will bring one of chamber music’s most sought-after young ensembles who have become an international sensation, along with a revered pianist in Gilbert Kalish. The second CMS concert in April will feature a powerhouse chamber music ensemble performing “Quintet Revelations” featuring CMS Artistic Director Wu Han on piano and four stellar string artists. The final CMS concert in May will bring both CMS Artistic Directors David Finckel (cello) and Wu Han (piano) with two outstanding musicians Anne-Marie McDermott (piano) and Benjamin Beilman (violin) to perform “Schubertiade”, a celebration of Schubert’s beloved music.”
Holbrook continues, “The Spectacular Jazz Series will begin in October with Grammy-Award Winning vocalist Catherine Russell. The season continues in January with the John Pizzarelli Trio performing from his newest album, masterful jazz interpretations of well-known songs from Broadway and the silver screen. Jazz pianist Emmet Cohen arrives in February bringing his all-star Quintet on a journey through jazz celebrating 100 years of the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. The final concert in March will feature Grammy Award Winning and NEA Jazz Master saxophonist Branford Marsalis with his Quartet performing from his latest release and on The Belonging Tour.”
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series in the 2025 - 2026 season:
November 20, 2025 - “Gilbert Kalish & The Viano Quartet”
Praised for their “virtuosity, visceral expression, and rare unity of intention”(Boston Globe), the Viano Quartet are one of the most sought after young ensembles today and are current members of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program. Since soaring to international acclaim as winners of the 13th Banff International String Quartet Competition, they have performed at major venues across the globe.
April 16, 2026 - “Quintet Revelations”
The piano quintet will be a powerhouse chamber ensemble, combining the sonic richness of a string quartet with the symphonic aura of grand piano. Inspired by Robert Schumann’s early example, composers from the early Romantic Age all the way through the 21st century have contributed significantly to the genre. Russian master Anton Arensky, a teacher of Rachmaninoff, penned his sole quintet in his mature years, and the ever-popular champion of French music, Camille Saint-Saëns began his prolific chamber music career with this quintet of surprising skill and maturity. Bracing violin duos by virtuosos of Baroque and Classical eras serve as effervescent quintet preludes.
May 14, 2026 - “Schubertiade”
The “Schubertiade” was a concert invented during Franz Schubert’s lifetime by his friends, who would gather for long evenings to enjoy their favorite composer’s music. In this season-closing Schubertiade, explore Schubert in three settings: his inimitable four-hand piano music, his virtuosic vein with a violin-and-piano showpiece, and his profound statements in the epic Trio in E-flat major, which took the genre to unparalleled levels of complexity and emotional intensity.
Four stellar concerts for the Spectacular Jazz Series in the 2025 - 2026 season:
October 9, 2025 – Catherine Russell
“One of jazz’s most celebrated vocalist…a dogged song sleuth with a vast and varied book of salty blues, swooning ballads, pre-World War II pop tunes, and vintage R&B ~ San Francisco Chronicle.
Grammy Award winning vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell was a legendary pianist/composer/bandleader, and Louis Armstrong’s long-time musical director. Her mother, Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist/guitarist/bassist who performed with International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams, and Sy Oliver. After graduating with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Catherine Russell toured and recorded with Carrie Smith, Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, Toshi Reagon and Rosanne Cash among others. She has appeared on more than 200 albums.
January 15, 2026 – John Pizzarelli Trio
World-renowned guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli has dedicated many of his albums to the great songwriters and performers who have helped to establish the Great American Songbook and the pop music canon: Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, Richard Rodgers, and Duke Ellington to name a few. With his new album, Pizzarelli and his remarkable new trio cast a wider net to explore other sources for the most immortal songs of the past century: the Broadway stage and the silver screen.
February 26, 2026 – Emmet Cohen – “Presents Miles and Coltrane at 100”
In celebration of the centennial of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, pianist Emmet Cohen brings together an all-star quintet to explore the fundamental questions that shape their artistry: Why are we here? What are we reaching for? Where does the music take us? Guided by the spirit of the infinite, Cohen continues the journey set forth by the architects of jazz – seeking deeper truths through sound. A dedicated champion of the musical community, Cohen believes in jazz as a living, evolving conversation - one that unites people across time and place. Join Cohen and his ensemble for a bold, reimagined experience of the music that forever changed the course of jazz.
March 19, 2026 – Branford Marsalis Quartet “Belonging Tour”
Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in contemporary music and continues to thrill audiences around the world while racking up achievements across diverse musical platforms. He has won three Grammy Awards, a Tony nomination for work as a composer on Broadway, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as Jazz Master, and a 2021 Primetime EMMY nomination for the score for the Tulsa Burning documentary. Branford is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with members of the Grateful Dead, but the core of this musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet.
Tickets
Season subscription tickets for the 2025 – 2026 Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series and Spectacular Jazz Series are available online at www.scmcgr.org or by calling 616-459-2224. Detailed information for all concerts can be viewed at www.scmcgr.org.
(Folk Series Concerts will be announced this summer and throughout the season as these concerts are booked.)
SUBSCRIPTION TICKETS BENEFITS
- By subscribing to the Chamber and Jazz Series (six concerts), you receive 20% off the single ticket price
- By subscribing to either the Chamber or Jazz Series (four concerts), you receive 15% off the single ticket price
- Subscriptions are not offered for the Folk Series, however as a subscriber, you will have the benefit of purchasing tickets to these concerts first prior to the public sale.
- Subscribers have the benefit of choosing their seats and are guaranteed those seats for the season.
Purchase Subscription Tickets online at www.scmcgr.org or by calling 616-459-2224. Contact the Box Office Manager at tickets@scmcgr.org or 616-459-2224 x201 with questions. **Ticket prices: There is a $7 fee on each subscription ticket. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
Chamber Music Society Series
3-concert subscription
15% discount off single ticket prices
Subscription - $141
Spectacular Jazz Series
4-concert subscription
15% discount off single ticket prices
Subscription - $217
Chamber + Jazz Subscription package
20% discount off single ticket prices
7-concert combination series
Subscription - $336
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Series
Gilbert Kalish & The Viano Quartet
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Quintet Revelations
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Schubertiade
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Spectacular Jazz Series
Catherine Russell
Thursday, October 9, 2025
John Pizzarelli Trio
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Emmet Cohen “Presents Miles and Coltrane at 100”
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Branford Marsalis Quartet “Belonging Tour”
Thursday, March 19, 2026
