Press Archive

Every quarter for the past seven years, minus the pandemic shutdown, InConcert Sierra (ICS) presents “Music on Wheels,” a free, in-person concert experience featuring professional musicians, for residents of local senior homes in our Nevada County community.

“These musical programs bring joy to our community’s seniors, as many residents are no longer able to go out to concerts to enjoy the benefits of live performance. “The transformative power of music should be accessible to all, regardless of age, ability, or circumstance. ICS proudly provides that experience through Music on Wheels and our other educational programs,” said ICS Executive Director Julie Hardin.

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The Sierra Master Chorale and Orchestra present “Sound You Can Feel,” a program of breathtaking masterworks that evoke spring’s energy, warmth, and sense of renewal, on Sunday, May 17 at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The concert begins like a deep restorative breath, with Mozart’s “Ave Verum Corpus,” widely regarded as a supreme example of Classical choral writing and an uplifting opening to the concert.

The program continues with Vivaldi’s “Beatus Vir,” a large-scale work for double choir and orchestra. It has shifting textures that create a physical sensation of sound coming from different directions and enveloping the audience in a grand, invigorating and cinematic way. The “Beatus Vir” text is inherently hopeful, producing a feeling of being replenished.

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InConcert Sierra presents “Quintet Revelations,” featuring an extraordinary ensemble of internationally acclaimed artists from New York’s Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

This concert is part of InConcert Sierra’s (ICS) collaboration with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s (CMS) prestigious national residency program. InConcert Sierra is one of just 12 in the United States, and the only residency on the West Coast.

The CMS program celebrates the power and beauty of the piano quintet—a genre that blends the intimacy of chamber music with the grandeur of symphonic sound, combining piano with string quartet. The program places two monumental quintets alongside works for two violins, offering a range of textures and styles from the 18th and 19th centuries by noted composers Arensky, Saint-Saëns, Leclair, and Viotti.

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Frisson, named for the French word meaning “spine-tingling chills,” is an electrifying chamber ensemble of rising classical stars performing on Sunday, March 15 at 2pm.

Frisson is an ensemble of ten rising classical music stars —award-winning graduates of leading conservatories including Juilliard, Curtis, and Yale. Under the leadership of artistic director and virtuoso oboist Thomas Gallant, these exceptional musicians were selected through auditions in New York City and now tour throughout the United States.

Frisson is known for showcasing rarely performed masterworks and the core group of musicians expands and contracts into a variety of ensembles featuring violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn.

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Broadway’s brightest hits come to life when real-life Broadway couple Libby Servais and Stephan Stubbins return to InConcert Sierra for a one-night-only performance Wednesday, February 25 at 7 p.m. at the Miners Foundry Cultural Center in Nevada City.

Applauded by critics as “dynamite” and “exceptionally gifted,” the duo returns following their sold-out 2022 InConcert Sierra appearance. Servais most recently appeared on Broadway as Glinda in “Wicked,” while Stubbins performed on Broadway in “Mary Poppins” and originated the roles of Buck Wiley and Dick Clark in the pre-Broadway premiere of the musical “Memphis.”

Joined by the Broadway in Love Combo — piano, bass and percussion — the program features favorites from “Wicked,” “Jersey Boys,” “Mamma Mia!,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “The Sound of Music,” and “Frozen,” along with beloved songs by Dolly Parton, Carole King, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel and more.

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Following a thrilling American Piano Awards victory and rave reviews for his electrifying Rachmaninoff performances, 28-year-old pianist Michael Davidman brings his artistry to Grass Valley on Sunday, February 15, 2026, as one of today’s most exciting emerging voices on the international concert scene. InConcert Sierra has collaborated with the American Piano Awards since 2007, presenting both recent winners and distinguished past laureates.

Davidman’s program opens with Bach’s Toccata in D Major, a lively and sparkling piece full of energy and invention that shows the piano at its most playful and brilliant. Schubert’s Sonata in C minor follows, a deeply expressive work that moves between stormy drama and tender, song-like moments.

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Ring in the new year with InConcert Sierra and the vitality and spirit of an all-Beethoven concert featuring the renowned Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on Sunday, January 18 at 2pm.

Beethoven’s music reflects transformation and growth, from the energy of his early works to the depth of his later compositions. The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s program traces this evolution, making it a fitting way to begin the new year.

The warm and lyrical program is a unique glimpse into the remarkable artistic evolution of Ludwig van Beethoven. The program unfolds as a graceful arc, moving from the conversational ease of his “String Trio, Op. 9, No. 2,” to the lyrical “Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat, Op. 12, No. 3,” and culminates in the composer’s iconic “’Archduke’ Trio in B-flat Major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 97.” These works illuminate Beethoven’s transformative impact on chamber music.

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InConcert Sierra presents the Sierra Master Chorale & Orchestra in their holiday celebration, “Sing in the Season,” on Saturday, December 20, at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 21, at 2 pm.

“This program offers fresh interpretations of classic holiday texts and beloved tunes,” says Conductor and SMC Music Director Alison Skinner, whose artistic vision brings sparkle and joy to the season.

The first half of the concert showcases the beauty of Christmas texts in Latin, blending historic works with new interpretations. “We open with an orchestral arrangement of ‘Adeste Fideles’ (‘O Come All Ye Faithful’), followed by choral settings of ‘Personent Hodie’ and “Gaudete,’ which show how composers reinvent old melodies with rhythmic counterpoints and exciting accompaniments,” Skinner explains. Audiences will also hear Mark Miller’s ethereal “O Magnum Mysterium”, Renaissance master Heinrich Schütz’s lively “Hodie Christus Natus Est,” and Franz Schubert’s exuberant “Magnificat,” with its reverent middle movement framed by energetic passages.

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After more than 40 years of global acclaim, Cuarteto Latinoamericano brings their retirement tour to Grass Valley, CA on Sunday, November 16 at 2pm.

Cuarteto Latinoamericano is one of the most celebrated string quartets in the Western Hemisphere and the foremost ensemble in Latin American chamber music.

This farewell tour marks the end of an extraordinary 43-year journey that has left a lasting legacy on the world of classical music. The ensemble—Saúl Bitrán and Arón Bitrán on violins, Álvaro Bitrán on cello, and Javier Montiel on viola—has achieved what few quartets ever do by performing together with the original lineup, including three brothers, for over four decades.

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Grass Valley, CA: InConcert Sierra’s tagline for years has been “Classical Music to Rock Your World,” and that is exactly their plan. ICS’s lineup for the 2025-26 season features exceptional concerts with inspiring collaborations designed to intensify the musical experience.

The season launches on October 19, 2025, with the Third Sunday Chamber Series, opening with the internationally renowned American Brass Quintet. Celebrated for their virtuosity and mentorship, the ABQ has spent over 65 years redefining the brass quintet sound and earning recognition as the most distinguished of brass quintets.

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InConcert Sierra’s season opening concert features the American Brass Quintet on Sunday, October 19 at 2pm.

The American Brass Quintet (ABQ), widely recognized around the world as the premier, and most venerable, professional American brass ensemble. Since its founding in 1960, the American Brass Quintet has performed on five continents, made nearly 60 recordings, and premiered more than 150 contemporary works for brass. ABQ has been the Ensemble-in-Residence at The Juilliard School since 1987 and at the Aspen Music Festival since 1970.

The ABQ is considered unusual because it uses a bass trombone instead of the more traditional tuba for its lowest voice. Their decision to use a bass trombone is a conscious artistic choice and has significantly influenced other brass quintets and the modern brass repertoire. While the tuba is still generally the standard low brass instrument, the ABQ’s legacy has cemented the use of the bass trombone as a respected alternative.

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Grass Valley, CA: InConcert Sierra’s tagline for years has been “Classical Music to Rock Your World,” and that is exactly their plan. ICS’s lineup for the 2025-26 season features exceptional concerts with inspiring collaborations designed to intensify the musical experience.

The season launches on October 19, 2025, with the Third Sunday Chamber Series, opening with the internationally renowned American Brass Quintet. Celebrated for their virtuosity and mentorship, the ABQ has spent over 65 years redefining the brass quintet sound and earning recognition as the most distinguished of brass quintets.

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NEVADA CITY — InConcert Sierra and the Sierra Master Chorale present the fourth annual Sip ‘n Song event at Pioneer Park on Saturday, June 28.

Sip ‘n Song is an outdoor, family-friendly fun-filled evening of music, dancing, and activities, all to support and raise funds for the Sierra Master Chorale’s acclaimed programs. The two bands performing live at Sip ‘n Song are the Sons of Boogie and Then Again, both featuring members of the Sierra Master Chorale.

Sons of Boogie offers a great variety of rocking blues and favorite nostalgic hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s. With smooth vocal harmonies and high-energy stage antics, they’re all about getting everyone up and dancing.

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Nevada City, CA: Start your week with music! InConcert Sierra and the Nevada County Library present Musical Mondays to bring a joyful noise to the outdoor amphitheater at the Nevada County Madelyn Helling Library starting Monday, June 16 through Monday, August 4 from 11am until noon.

Free to the public, Musical Mondays is a popular, family-friendly summer series of one-hour morning concerts. The series features talented local and regional musicians performing music geared toward youth, but enjoyable for all audiences. The atmosphere is casual, with attendees bringing their own snacks and lawn chairs or blankets.

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GRASS VALLEY — InConcert Sierra wraps up its spectacular 2024-25 season with a return visit from one of the most celebrated chamber music ensembles in the world — the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The concert will feature four musical superstars, Wu Han, piano; Chad Hoopes, violin; Matt Lipman, viola; and Nicholas Canellakis, cello, on Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

The dazzling program of masterworks spans centuries and styles — from Beethoven’s bold and spirited “Piano Trio” to Jean Françaix’s witty and colorful “String Trio,” culminating in the lush, emotional sweep of Dvořák’s “Piano Quartet.” Together, these works showcase the full power and poetry of the chamber music repertoire.

Beethoven’s “Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 1, No. 1” is more than just a lively opener — it’s a landmark.

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Grass Valley, CA — The Sierra Master Chorale and Orchestra, under the baton of Musical Director and Conductor Alison Skinner, presents two powerfully moving performances on Sunday, May 18 at 2:30 PM and Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30 PM.

Through “A Musical Journey of Light and Hope,” Skinner brings together themes of resilience, transcendence, and connection, celebrating the human spirit through an emotionally rich collection of choral works.

The concert program features music by Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Rutter, Lauridsen, Hagenberg, Hasse, and Ola Gjeilo, along with a moving choral arrangement of “For Good” from the Broadway musical “Wicked” and “Over the Rainbow” from the “Wizard of Oz.”

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Experience a passionate afternoon of melody, rhythm and cultural brilliance brought to life by some of the world’s finest chamber musicians on April 27.

InConcert Sierra presents The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s concert program, “Spanish Journey,” featuring an eclectic ensemble of CMS roster artists, including InConcert’s good friend, Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux.

Vieaux is described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.” He has been a frequent soloist for InConcert Sierra’s Third Sunday Series since 1997.

The ensemble also includes soprano Vanessa Becerra, pianist Soyeon Kate Lee, violinist Kristin Lee and cellist Clive Greensmith. The concert aims to showcase the diverse sonic landscape of Spanish music and culture.

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If you plan to give your child a doll house or a train set, a rocking horse or a trampoline, most likely there’s some assembly required. And it may take more time than you expect—hours rather than minutes. Consequently, if a birthday or special holiday is approaching, it’s best to prepare in advance so you won’t be up until four in the morning trying to put the contraption together.

Now, say you want to put on a concert for over 600 Third Grade schoolchildren, representing 11 schools and 24 classrooms spread around Western Nevada County. Well, there definitely will be “some assembly required. Yet this is something InConcert Sierra pulls off every year. They contract with musicians, rent a venue, arrange with teachers to reserve the concert date, send docents to the schools prior to the concert to talk about the music, hire a fleet of buses to deliver the kids to the venue in two different shifts, and have professional musicians in the wings set to go on stage when the kids arrive.

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Grass Valley: Experience an unforgettable “Spanish Journey”—a passionate afternoon of melody, rhythm, and cultural brilliance—brought to life by some of the world’s finest chamber musicians on Sunday, April 27, at 2 PM.

InConcert Sierra presents The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s concert program, “Spanish Journey,” featuring an eclectic ensemble of CMS roster artists, including InConcert’s good friend, Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux.

Vieaux is described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.” He has been a frequent soloist for InConcert Sierra’s Third Sunday Series since 1997.

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InConcert Sierra presents WindSync, a dynamic wind quintet, bringing their unique blend of exceptional artistry, youthful energy, and effervescent programming to Grass Valley on Sunday, March 16, at 2 PM

WindSync is known for connecting with audiences through storytelling, humor, and interaction, making the experience fun and accessible. They are “a group of virtuosos who are also wonderful people, too.” (Alison Young, Classical MPR).

Their program entitled “Taxonomies” reflects this concept by exploring the beauty, complexity, and interconnectedness of nature through music.

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Grass Valley: InConcert Sierra presents the renowned Escher String Quartet, joined by two extraordinary guest artists with deep family ties to the ensemble. This performance blends world-class artistry and personal connections on Sunday, January 19 at 2pm.

The Escher String Quartet, recognized as a BBC New Generation Artist and recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, has taken the classical music world by storm. With performances ranging from the BBC Proms at Cadogan Hall to their role as season artists at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York City, the quartet has earned international acclaim for their technical mastery and emotive performances.

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Grass Valley, CA: InConcert Sierra brings the sparkling musical joy of the holidays with Sierra Master Chorale and Orchestra concerts on Saturday evening, December 14, and Sunday afternoon, December 15.

“We’re thrilled to share a joyful program that brings the spirit of the season to life,” says Alison Skinner, music director and conductor of the Sierra Master Chorale (SMC).

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Grass Valley, CA: InConcert Sierra’s sensational opening concert of its Third Sunday series happens on Sunday afternoon, October 20, with the world-class musicianship of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble.

The eight-member chamber ensemble is part of the larger internationally acclaimed London-based Academy of St Martin in the Fields, a chamber orchestra, led by its artistic director Joshua Bell.

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InConcert Sierra and the Sierra Master Chorale present the third annual “Sip ‘n Song” at Pioneer Park on Saturday, October 12 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

InConcert Sierra and the Sierra Master Chorale had to reschedule the original July date for Sip ‘n Song due to extremely hot weather. Coincidentally, the SMC’s spring concerts were canceled in May because of a Covid outbreak and were rescheduled for the next month, on June 23, 2024.

“This group deserves a big community party after dealing with such unexpected obstacles. We’re ready to sing, dance, and just be together with our friends, families, and supportive community,” said Alison Skinner, SMC Music Director.

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A caravan of yellow buses pulled into the parking lot and hundreds of third graders streamed into the concert hall, ready to hear a performance arranged just for them.

A day earlier, on Sunday, March 17, a general audience was treated to a full-length concert presented by Fandango! as part of InConcert Sierra’s (ICS) Third Sunday Series. The Fandango! ensemble, with an unusual blend of instruments—guitar, flute, violin, and cello—played a mix of Baroque, Latin, Spanish, and Balkan music. Then they returned on Monday morning, March 18, to play an abbreviated version of the program for the younger set.

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One of the most unique and exciting ensembles on the classical music circuit is FANDANGO! – a quartet performing a mix of Spanish, Latin-American, Balkan, Sephardic and traditional classical music for InConcert Sierra’s Third Sunday concert series on Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 2pm.

Hailing from Spain, France, Bosnia, and Taiwan, the four multi-award-winning virtuosi have appeared on the world’s most prestigious stages, earning accolades from the international press. Given their global recognition and diverse backgrounds, this ensemble brings a rich tapestry of musical influences to their performances.

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The InConcert Sierra third Sunday Series kicks off in 2024 with an impressive duo, next Sunday, January 21 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grass Valley, with the return of Grammy Award-winning guitarist, Jason Vieaux, this time partnered with accordionist/bandoneonist, Julien Labro.

Vieaux will be returning to Nevada County to wow audience members. Artistic Director Ken Hardin said he took a chance on the artist when Vieaux was just a youngster, “We first had him in 1998. He had just won the international guitar competition (Guitar Foundation of America International Competition) and I just stumbled across him and listened to his playing a little bit and just loved it, so I thought I would take a chance on this fresh-out-of-school-competition winner and everyone just loved him.”

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A dynamic master class by visiting pianist Spencer Myer held a group of teenage composers of classical music in rapt attention on a recent Saturday morning. The class was a collaboration by two premier music organizations, InConcert Sierra and Nevada County Composers Cooperative.

Myer was in town to perform at InConcert Sierra’s Third Sunday concert the following day. The students participate in the Young Composers Project designed and taught by local composer Mark Vance. It is a music education program offered by the Nevada County Composers Cooperative.

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Violinist Athena Giuliani strode on to the stage and opened the show with a dazzling performance of Niccolo Paganini’s Caprice #16—a quick ride on a musical roller coaster with triple time, fancy fingering and cascading passages in perpetual motion. She left the audience breathless, anticipating the upcoming line-up of young musicians on the rest of the program.

The occasion was the Sierra Student Showcase presented by InConcert Sierra on Sunday afternoon, December 3 at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Grass Valley—a recital featuring a cast of 15 musicians, ranging in age from 7 to 18, playing music by Poulenc, Bach, Vivaldi, von Weber, Lully and Saint-Saens, as well as simple folk tunes and waltzes, performed via piano, violin, cello and voice.

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Sierra Master Chorale and Orchestra presents “Sing Joy” on Saturday, Dec. 16, and Sunday, Dec. 17.

Photo by Carolyn Valle of Valle Visions

Embark on a musical journey with award-winning pianist Spencer Myer, featuring Claude Debussy’s “24 Preludes.” Myer’s return to InConcert Sierra’s stage promises to evoke a rich tapestry of emotions and moods that are a signature of Debussy’s compositions, Sunday, Nov 19 at 2 p.m.

A former American Pianists Association Fellowship winner, Myer has garnered acclaim for his musical talent. His decision to perform the entire set of 24 Debussy Preludes, rarely heard as an entire program in concert, is a testament to his artistry and his dedication to delivering an extraordinary musical experience.

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“Seraph Brass” will be gracing InConcert Sierra’s stage as part of the Third Sunday Concert series. As the most prominent all-female brass group in the county and a proponent of diversity in the arts, Seraph draws from a roster of America’s top brass musicians that identify as female. This extraordinary group will be performing on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, 2 p.m. with a pre-concert forum at 1:15 p.m.

InConcert Sierra’s principal horn player, Cara Jones, said, “When I heard that ICS was bringing in Seraph Brass, I was so excited. I have been a professional female horn player for 20 years, and I’ve never had a female trumpet, trombone, or tuba colleague in the Grass Valley area. The fact is that female brass players continue to be under-represented in orchestras everywhere. I am delighted for the ICS audience to not only be treated to this world-class brass quintet, but also to show aspiring female musicians and the entire audience what is possible. Thank you, ICS, for bringing this incredible opportunity to the community!”

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The InConcert Sierra Orchestra, led by Conductor and Artistic Director Ken Hardin, is thrilled to extend an invitation to music enthusiasts of all ages for an exceptional afternoon of music on Sunday, September 17. The doors are open wide to welcome you into a world of mesmerizing melodies and outstanding artistry.

Guided by the adept hand of conductor Ken Hardin, InConcert Sierra Orchestra, comprised of local and regional professional musicians, promises a musical voyage encompassing a selection of enduring classics and contemporary jewels.

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Wake up your week! Musical Mondays brings joy and music to the outdoor amphitheater at the Nevada County Library starting Monday, June 12 and running through Monday, July 24 from 11 a.m. until noon.

Kicking off the summer series on June 12 will be the KSK Jazz Trio with pianist Ken Hardin, bassist Steve Nicholson and flutist Kirsti Powell with fun jazz standards and memorable playful tunes from the Beatles, Raffi, and many more that will resonate with little ones and adults alike.

Free to the public, Musical Mondays is a popular summer series of one-hour morning concerts where kids can sing, squirm and dance, and adults can relax and enjoy, or dance as well. The experience is casual with attendees bringing their own lawn chairs or blankets, and snacks. The series features local and regional musicians performing music geared toward youth but enjoyable for all ages.

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