Hailed for its daring and intelligent programming with uncompromising artistic and spirited performances, the Seattle Chamber Players enjoy a growing international reputation. For fourteen years, SCP’s four core members—Laura DeLuca, clarinet, David Sabee, cello, Mikhail Shmidt, violin, and Paul Taub, flute - have been passionately dedicated to introducing a wide range of composers whose styles and influences broaden the language of contemporary chamber music. 

SCP is inspired by music for film, jazz, abstraction, electronic music, Romantic, Classical and traditional folk music. This eclectic mix of influences is reflected in this season’s visionary programming. The 2003-2004 season features premieres of six new works by Russian composers who participated on our Icebreaker Festival in 2001. Our American music program offers a variety of recent works representing both the new and older generation of composers, including Seattle premieres by Aaron Jay Kernis and George Perle. The centerpiece of our season, Icebreaker II, offers an exciting three-day festival of music and symposia that surveys the most current musical trends and styles evolving from the countries that surround the Baltic Sea. Russian pianist Ivan Sokolov appears for the third consecutive year along with Seattle’s celebrated guitarist Michael Partington. SCP’s final two programs focus on two very exciting artists, composer Chen Yi and conceptual artist DJ Spooky, both internationally recognized for their unique contributions to the world of art music. 

In November 2003, SCP will travel to Russia and Estonia, where the ensemble will participate in the Moscow Autumn Festival, St. Petersburg Sound Waves Festival, and perform in Tallinn’s Eesti KonTSert series, in programs featuring the newly commissioned Russian works and recent American repertoire. 

The Seattle Chamber Players will be ensemble-in-residence at Cornish College of the Arts this fall, where it will participate in score readings, help students develop skills and musical understanding through open discussion and give a performance of student works at Cornish’s PONCHO Theater.

SCP’s first CD, Otis Spann: Music of Wayne Horvitz is available on the Periplum label and their latest recording, Reza Vali’s Folksongs (Set No. 15) is soon to be released. 

Generous support for the Seattle Chamber Players has come from public and private sectors. SCP is a regular recipient of grants from the Cultural Development Authority of King County, The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Washington State Arts Commission. Private foundation supporters include The Swedish Council of America, the Finlandia Foundation, the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Meet the Composer, the Bossak/Heilbron, Nesholm Family, Seattle and Paul Allen Foundations; and the Trust for Mutual Understanding and Arts International. Corporate supporters include The Boeing Company, Microsoft, Seattle Music, Washington Mutual, Port of Seattle, and the U.S. Bancorp, the Consulate General of Canada, plus a growing list of individual supporters.

For more information and history of the group, visit their new website at
www.seattlechamberplayers.org.