Welcome to the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival
At the heart of metro Detroit, we bring people together to celebrate the artistry, intimacy, and innovation of chamber music. Whether you’re a longtime enthusiast or new to this art form, we invite you to join us on a journey of extraordinary performances, creative collaborations, and meaningful connections.
Our Mission
The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival celebrates and advances its art form through extraordinary performance, collaboration, and education, inspiring diverse audiences to share in the intimate dialogue that is unique to chamber music.
Our Vision
We envision a future where chamber music captivates broader audiences, sparking a lifelong passion for the arts. As a global leader in innovation, performance, and education, we aim to enrich the cultural life of our community and beyond.
Our Values: EPIC
Excellence
Passion
Inclusivity
Collaboration
These values guide us in creating a space where everyone feels valued, respected, and inspired to share in the power of music.
Our History
The Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival was born in 1994 from a remarkable relationship between religious and cultural institutions. A secular event, the Festival is sponsored by three religious institutions—St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church, Temple Beth El, and Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church—alongside Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, a prominent musical ensemble that also provides administration for the Festival.
Two Weeks of Musical Excellence
Each June, the Festival presents more than 20 concerts across southeastern Michigan. Performances take place at sponsor venues and other notable locations, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Kerrytown Concert House (Ann Arbor), and even the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
The Shouse Institute
A cornerstone of the Festival, the Shouse Institute supports emerging ensembles by offering performance opportunities, coaching, and complimentary lodging. Alumni include eighth blackbird, Attacca Quartet, and Pacifica String Quartet, among others.
Community and Business Support
Generous support from Detroit’s business community has helped sustain the Festival, with sponsors such as JPMorgan Chase, Plante Moran, and R.H. Bluestein contributing to its success.
World-Class Performers
Over the years, the Festival has hosted a “who’s who” of chamber music, including Jeremy Denk, Jonathan Biss, Menahem Pressler, and the Emerson String Quartet. In 2015, Paul Watkins, cellist of the Emerson String Quartet, became the Festival’s Artistic Director, following James Tocco’s retirement. Watkins continues the tradition of engaging world-class musicians and creating imaginative projects.
National Acclaim
The Festival has earned coverage from NPR’s Performance Today, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Travel and Leisure Magazine. Its recordings have been released on Gasparo, Newport Classics, and Albany Records.
What We Do
Extraordinary Performances
Education and Collaboration
Community Enrichment
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
GLCMF is firmly committed to being a welcoming, inclusive cultural organization, one that will fully embrace, respect, and value the diverse voices and shared experiences of all – on the stage, in the community, and in all aspects of the organization.
For more information, please visit our Community Engagement page.
Transparency and Accountability
We value transparency in all our operations. To learn more about how we steward our resources and maintain fiscal responsibility, please visit our Financial Statements.