Press Room

Recent Press Releases

• The International Chamber Artists on Display 4th Annual Benefit, Ruzanna Tantushyan, January 2010
• The International Chamber Artists Announce April Performances, Melissa Schuler, March 18, 2009
• International Chamber Artists 3rd Annual Artists on Display: A Champagne Soiree and Benefit Concert, Sarah Barnes, February 20, 2009
• Introducing International Chamber Artists!, Anna Batcke, September 28, 2006

Recent Press Releases

(CHICAGO, IL) January, 2010 – The International Chamber Artists (ICA) invite you to its Fourth Annual Benefit event Artists on Display on Saturday, February 6th at 6:00 PM at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Skyline Room on Navy Pier (800 East Grand Avenue Chicago, IL 60611).

ICA will be performing a special selection of musical works by Bernstein, Brahms, Debussy, Dvorak, Shostakovich and Previn. The evening will include a silent auction, hors d’ouevres, artists displaying their works and an amazing concert.

The evening will feature guest artist Mary Sauer, principal keyboardist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, while artists Robin Carlson, painter and photographer, Jack Dodds, woodworker, and Susan Goebel, jeweler and ceramic artist, will be exhibiting their works.

ICA’s exceptional group of musicians will include: ICA's President and Artistic Director, and pianist Patrick Godon, Marguerite Lynn Williams, harpist, Carolina Gomez, cellist, Alice Dade Del Campo, flutist, Sean Whitaker, tubist, Chelsea French, trombonist, and Jessica Usherwood, soprano. The ticket price is $75 per person. Please reserve your ticket now - as space is limited - by sending a check to 1621 W Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60660. Or you may go to the Support Us page at www.ICAmusic.org and click the “Donate” button.

Performer Biographies:

	Patrick Godon, made his debut as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in May of 2007, playing one of the solo piano parts along with Mary Sauer in Colin McPhee's Tabuh-Tabuhan: Toccata for Orchestra and Two Pianos, with Alan Gilbert conducting. In March 2008, Patrick was the featured soloist with the Lake Shore Symphony Orchestra in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Patrick Godon made his debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as second keyboardist in 2003. In 2008, Patrick began performing as orchestral keyboardist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra. Patrick Godon is artistic director and pianist for the International Chamber Artists (ICA), a chamber music ensemble that he founded in 2006. ICA has been featured on WFMT, at the Chicago Cultural Center, and at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. ICA went on its first international tour to Germany in the fall of 2009 to critical acclaim. Since July 2003, Godon has been the Director of Music at Saint Gregory the Great Church in the Andersonville neighborhood, where he composes and arranges music for liturgies.
	Mary Sauer, principal pianist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1959, as well as the keyboard coach of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra of the CSO. Mary Sauer also has an outstanding reputation as a music educator. For 33 years she was on the piano faculty of DePaul University, where she was the coordinator of the keyboard program for 22 of those years. In addition to her many professional DePaul graduates, Ms. Sauer's private studio, now in the Fine Arts Building of Chicago, has produced many concert pianists, conductors, music directors, and high school and university teachers worldwide. Her unique teaching approach solves problems of tension which frees the individual's inner musicality and artistry.
	Marguerite Lynn Williams, harp, has concertized throughout the United States, Europe and Asia as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestra member in such venues as Carnegie Hall (New York), Shostakovich Hall (St. Petersburg, Russia) and Symphony Center (Chicago). Ms. Williams has won prizes in numerous competitions including First Prize of the Anne Adams National Competition sponsored by the American Harp Society in both 1998 and 1999; the National Endowment of the Arts Artist Recognition Talent Search (1997), the National Federation of Music Clubs (1997), the American Opera Society (2003) and Sigma Alpha Iota (2001).
	Carolina Gomez started her musical training at age 5. She graduated from the Instituto Musical Diego Echavarria Music High School, the only school of its kind in Colombia, in 1994. In 1997, Carolina Gomez was accepted into the Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where she was also awarded with a talent scholarship. That same year, she was accepted into the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony, and was awarded with a fellowship for the 2000-2002 seasons. Through the Civic Orchestra, Ms. Gomez played under the batons Christoph Eschenbach, William Eddins, Pierre Boulez, Michael Gielen, Neeme Jaarvi, and Daniel Baremboim, among others. Carolina Gomez received her Master's degree from DePaul University in 2002, and a Performance Certificate from the same in 2004.
	Alice Dade Campo, flutist has spent the past two years as Acting Co-Principal Flute of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra where tours to Germany, Italy, Russia and Belgium were the highlight. Prior to this, she was a member of the New World Symphony directed by Michael Tilson Thomas for three seasons and performed as guest principal flute with the Bergen Philharmonic under Andrew Litton. Alice has also performed with the New York Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony and Harrisburg Symphony. Recent solo appearances include performing Elkies' Brandenburg Concerto no. 7 with Festival Mozaic as well as J.S. Bach's Brandenburg no. 4 with Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra. As part of Kyoto's Student's Music Festival (Japan), Ms. Del Campo presented a solo flute recital of American flute music. While with the New World Symphony, Alice gave chamber music recitals throughout the Umbria Region in Italy. Alice received her undergraduate and master degrees from The Juilliard School where she studied with Carol Wincenc and Robert Langevin. In her spare time, Alice enjoys performing stand-up comedy and participating in story slams. Most recently, Alice was winner of NPR's The Moth storySLAMS: Detroit.
	Sean Whitaker currently holds principal tuba positions with the Millar Brass Ensemble, Lake Forest Symphony, and Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. He was acting principal of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra during the 1999-2000 season. As a freelance musician, Sean has performed with the Chicago Philharmonic, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Ars Viva, Chicago Brass Quintet, Chicago Sinfonietta, Northwest Indiana Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfonica UANL (Monterrey, Mexico), as well as many recording sessions. Sean also enjoys brass chamber music and currently plays with the Artemis Chamber Brass and Horizon Brass Quintet in addition to the Alloy Arts Ensemble.
	Chelsea French is a Chicago-area freelance musician and brass instructor received her Master of Music degree in trombone performance from Northwestern University in June of 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University. She has studied primarily with Michael Mulcahy, Mark Fisher, Charles Vernon, Randall Hawes and Vance Shoemaker. Chelsea has played with Chicago's Music of the Baroque, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the South Dakota Symphony, the Brevard Music Center Orchestra, and many regional orchestras in the Chicago area. Chelsea has received local, national and international recognition by winning the Chicago-area Musicians' Club of Women solo competition, the International Trombone Association's Marstellar Solo Competition, the National Trombone Solo Competition held at the Eastern Trombone Workshop, and was an alternate competitor in the International Trombone Association's VanHaney Philharmonic Competition.
	Jessica Usherwood, soprano, holds a professional diploma and a master’s degree from Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) at Roosevelt University, where she performed the role of Polly Peachum in John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera and Drusilla in Monteverdi’s The Coronation of Poppea. Jessica participated in the CCPA Opera Night at the Auditorium Theatre and performed a duet with Samuel Ramey. She also shared the stage with Richard Stillwell at the Opera Gala at the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University with the CCPA Orchestra. She appeared with the Chicago Opera Theater for several seasons, also singing the role of the Young Soprano in their outreach production of Mozart’s The Impresario. Jessica sang Ninetta at the Chicago Cultural Center’s summer production of Prokofiev’s Love for Three Oranges. She was recently featured at the Jubilate! concert at Harris Theater for the Alexian Brothers Bonaventure House and was also a participant of the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia Festival.

For more information, visit www.ICAmusic.org.
You can also learn more on ICA’s Facebook page, or by following us on Twitter @_ICAMusic_
Phone calls will be gladly returned. Call us at 773-727-5357.

About ICA:

The International Chamber Artists, ICA, is a professional group of talented musicians under the artistic direction of pianist and conductor Patrick Godon from Chicago, IL. ICA seeks to present performances driven by the highest standards of artistic excellence while supporting communities and organizations through collaborations and financial support to promote the viability and growth of classical music audiences for the future.

(CHICAGO, IL) March 18, 2009 - The third season of the International Chamber Artists (ICA), one of Chicago’s premiere chamber music ensembles, continues with “Tuba or Not Tuba?” on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 7:00 PM, at the Winnetka Congregational Church (725 Pine St., Winnetka, Illinois 60093) and Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 4:00 PM, located at St. Gregory the Great Church (5535 N. Paulina St., Chicago, 60640).

The musical selections will include Herni Tomasi’s Étre ou ne pas Étre (To be or not to be) for three trombones and tuba, Christer Danielsson’s Concertant Suit for solo tuba and four horns, Chausson’s Concerto in D Major, Op. 21 for piano, violin, and string quartet, and Alan Smith’s Four Folk Songs for soprano, viola, and piano. As part of ICA’s philanthropic and educational mission, a student ensemble from the Merit School of Music will also perform. Suggested donation is $15 for adults and $7 for students. For more information, visit www.ICAmusic.org or call 773-727-5357.

The season concludes at St. Gregory’s on June 7, 2009 at 4:00 PM with “Prokofiev is to Ballet as Debussy is to Drama,” a fascinating compilation of works by Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy, Alan Hovhaness and Sergei Prokofiev.

Free parking is available in St. Gregory’s courtyard parking lot; Enter from West Bryn Mawr through the tunnel between St. Gregory High School and the British School of Chicago. Additional free parking is located one block east at Ashland and Gregory Streets. CTA: 22 Clark to Bryn Mawr, 50 Damen to Bryn Mawr. Red Line to Bryn Mawr.

The International Chamber Artists, ICA, is a professional group of talented musicians under the artistic direction of pianist and conductor Patrick Godon from Chicago, IL. ICA seeks to present performances driven by the highest standards of artistic excellence while supporting communities and organizations through collaborations and financial support to promote the viability and growth of classical music audiences for the future.

 

(CHICAGO, IL) February 20, 2009 - The International Chamber Artists (ICA; www.icamusic.org) invites you to their 3rd annual Artists on Display: A Champagne Soiree & Benefit Concert at 6:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 14 in the studio of Mary Sauer (410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago), Principal Keyboardist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The intimate evening will feature musicians of ICA performing works by Rachmaninoff, Schubert and Britten, and will include a guest performance by Mary Sauer. Benefiting the musicians of ICA, the evening will include a silent auction featuring works by visual artist L. Lee Junge and photographer Michael McReynolds. Enjoy delectable hors d’oeuvres & champagne. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $50/person. Seating is limited to 50 people, so reserve your spot now by calling 773-727-5357 or at info@icamusic.org.

The International Chamber Artists (ICA) is a professional group of talented musicians under the artistic direction of pianist and conductor Patrick Godon from Chicago, IL. ICA seeks to present performances driven by the highest standards of artistic excellence while supporting communities and organizations through collaborations and financial support to promote the viability and growth of classical music audiences for the future.

(CHICAGO, IL) September 28, 2006 - When Daniel Barenboim was packing up, giving his final interviews, and putting his last flourishes on his career in Chicago this past spring, Patrick Godon was doing what all good musicians do: he was listening.

Godon, who holds bachelors and masters degrees in piano performance from DePaul University, played under Barenboim's baton frequently as second pianist for CSO. He accompanied the orchestra on its triumphant 2005 European tour. He was even served cookies at the home of the maestro after he masterfully accompanied soprano Deborah Voigt in private rehearsals. So when the former CSO Artistic Director began publicly vocalizing his pessimism for the future of classical music in America - specifically with young people - the 27 year-old Godon took notice. A 9-year member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and a keen observer of the cultural climate, Godon was no stranger to the idea that classical music was dying in America. But the comments from Barenboim had a particular sting to them.

"We're talking about a giant in the world of classical music. He knows what he's talking about," remarks Godon. "So many orchestras and classical music organizations are struggling to attract, widen and retain audiences - you see it even among the best orchestras in the U.S. The musicians feel it. It's maybe the worst kept secret in the rehearsal hall," he continues, with a hint of his pessimism in his own voice.

But at the same time, for an effervescent, driven young man just embarking on his career, he couldn't let the maestro's pessimism go unanswered.

"When I read in the press that he predicted a bleak future for classical music in America, it felt like a challenge, especially to young musicians. And when Daniel Barenboim issues a challenge to you, you want to rise to it. He inspires people to excellence."

So as the curtain fell on Barenboim's career in Chicago, Godon began thinking of his own - and the careers of the many young musicians he collaborates with regularly. Appearing regularly with CSO, Civic, at Ravinia and with CSO's MusicNow group, Godon's performance schedule was already impressively booked. But Barenboim's comments inspired him to move forward with an idea that had been bouncing around in his head since his first solo recital in 1997. With the help of his wife, Keri - an accomplished musician in her own right - he began envisioning an organization and assembling a group of chamber musicians that would try to put some muscle to the problem of decreasing audiences and limited opportunities to play. He focused on creating a group that would make a substantial investment in the development and growth of music in newcommunities. And the idea for the International Chamber Artists (ICA) was born.

"I was anxious to play chamber music, but more than that, I was anxious to collaborate with musicians who I knew could rise to the challenge of playing at a world-class level," he explains. "And most of all, I was interested in playing with musicians that see themselves more than just artists, but as stewards of classical music - people who were ready and willing to take onthe responsibility to make sure that classical music thrives in the 21st century."

That stewardship - and the answer to classical music's "audience problem", in Godon's mind - lay in outreach, in the truest sense of the word. Looking at the cultural and social fabric of the city, he realized that outreach had to be more than just a tip of the hat to under-served communities - more than just updating repertoire and moving locations for performances. "I wanted to demonstrate that music has the ability to truly serve, in that it can offer tangible benefits in addition to emotional and artistic ones." Godon thought long and hard about the mission of ICA, and realized that in order for new audiences to invest in him, he needed to invest in them as well. "Music is collaborative - so marrying a philanthropic mission with music should be the most natural thing in the world."

The International Chamber Artists now consist of 16 artist-musicians who raise funds for and engage third-party organizations through performances. For the first year, the recipient of ICA's fundraising and collaboration partnership is the People's Music School, a Chicago organization that offers free music instruction to anyone who would like to learn. For Godon, the People's Music School was an obvious choice: it was an established organization with a mission near to ICA's heart.

"First off, as musicians, were all were students. We've all come from diverse backgrounds. Geographically, we represent 8 countries, and we've come up with differences in socio-economic conditions and cultural experiences. We were brought together through music, and through our instruction in music. The People's Music School is the embodiment of that mission here in Chicago, serving a diverse student population in Uptown," he explains. "The School is doing most of the heavy lifting of audience development - they're creating musicians and music lovers in Chicago. They're taking on the challenge of getting people involved in music-making whatever their background or experience with classical music. As an organization, theyembody the spirit we're trying to promote," he reports.

He was particularly excited that the People's Music School, the only school of its kind in the US, was based in Chicago. Godon is excited to be able to provide the People's Music School financial support, and an opportunity for some of their students to have a real-world experience in performing. Students at the school will be invited to perform short pieces at ICA events."Performing in front of an audience allows students a chance to deepen their experience of music. As a performer, I believe in the power of that experience to motivate you to want to learn more and grow," he says. "Most importantly, having that formative experience in music can lead to a lifetime of enjoying music and supporting the arts," he explains.

ICA is strongly committed to serving Chicago, but Godon hasn't ruled out looking internationally for causes and communities to support in the future. "I think to establish yourself as a truly potent organization, you have to stay nimble and involved with the world. Music is global and dynamic, so as an organization you must evolve and change. Moving around, looking locally and globally, sharing experiences... bringing them back, translating that experience through music - that's how you keep classical music fresh. That's how you keep your audiences interested."

Godon believes that audiences and donors will respond to the mission of ICA, and will have many reasons to come out to performances. "First and foremost, we have a commitment to the music," he remarks. "If we didn't have that commitment, we certainly couldn't offer any benefit to the communities and organizations we're trying to serve. We want to present chamber music of the highest caliber - we want to create experiences that are valuable and worth making an effort to see. Audiences will only respond if the substance is there. We hope to provide the best chamber performances in the city, in a city known for great chamber music." He points to a rich season calendar which includes Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Messaein, Britten and Brahms as proof of this commitment. But he makes it clear that the philanthropic mission of ICA shouldn't hurt in motivating audiences as well. "Essentially, by coming to our performances, our audiences are able to simultaneously support the arts and support building bridges, building community." He's confident of success. "Look how popular benefit concerts have become in responding to challenges and crisis." He points to programs and foundations that have been set up just to support the rebuilding of the arts community in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina as proof. "I think what we're witnessing is a wonderful rebirth of compassion, commitment and philanthropy, in our country and in our world. I think philanthropy for arts and philanthropy towards humanity aren't in competition. They're in harmony."

The road of the new artistic director has not been without challenges. While enjoying preparing the concerts and working on difficult arrangements with his fellow musicians, he's had to go through the traditional non-profit hazing of assembling a board, filing for non-profit organization status, networking for financial support and meeting with tax attorneys, all of which take him away from music. But he's already proven himself a capable leader with strong organizational skills and a knack for finding resources. And his management is already gaining accolades by his supporters. Godon accepts the responsibility of running a new non-profit with joy: "I want to be a good steward of classical music, even from the beginning of my career. And in the 21st century, it's going to take a little more."

Fittingly, it is a commitment to music and mankind very similar to Bareboim's that fuels Godon's passion for leading the charge of chamber music's future in Chicago. "In the past few years, with all of the challenges society has faced, I can confidently say that music has proven itself to be part of the solution," he remarks, sounding strikingly similar to the maestro. "I want ICA to be part of the solution."

ICA's next performance is on Sunday, November 26th, 2006 at 6 PM at St. Gregory the Great Church in Andersonville. The concert will feature Mozart's Quintet for Piano and Winds, Leopold Mozart's Trombone Concerto, a Haydn Trio, and songs of Beethoven.