The Silicon Valley Music Festival, which has been brightening a week in San Jose each year in late June/early July for three years now, has announced plans to re-invent itself under the title Chamber Music Silicon Valley. Effective with the 2016-17 season, the festival is converting to a year-long program and expanding its offerings. Though a schedule has not been set, Artistic Director Ray Furuta has planned out concerts and signed on notable performers.
The Manhattan Wind Quintet will be the first ensemble in residence, performing a public concert and serving as coaches for a Young Artists Program. (A Young Producers Program will train arts administrators and offer them hands-on experience in running the Young Artists concerts.) Other concerts in the first season will focus individually on Beethoven, Brahms, Monteverdi, and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. There will be a jazz piano concert. More informal musical events mixing music with food and art also are being planned.
Other musicians performing will include violinist Philip Setzer and cellist Paul Watkins of the Emerson Quartet; pianist Jon Nakamatsu; soprano Malinda Haslett; and tenor Jonathan Boyd.
Implementing these plans is contingent on a $50,000 fund-raising program running from now to October. Information will be at www.cmsv.org.