A message from Artistic Directors Jing Li & Ilana Davidson

Dear Friends,

ClassicalCafé brings world-class musicians, performing both new and historical works, to intimate settings, aiming to increase access to and appreciation of classical chamber music.

We love inspiring the audience so they feel as though they are an integral part of the  performance.  Our first season has been such an exciting journey, learning and discovering what this mission would be like for us. We are so touched by how involved our audience members have been and continue to be. You are incredibly supportive and an inspiration to us!

We've also been so fortunate to work with many talented colleagues who have graciously dedicated their time and artistry to this series. As freelance musicians ourselves, we know how difficult it is in this economy to manage, but we don't give up because music-making is our passion. We strive to continue providing outstanding performances while also compensating our professional artists on par with existing music series at this level of excellence. And in our case, excellence with a twist - our relationship with you.

Much of our passion about this is due in part to how much we've seen our musical climate change since we were both at New England Conservatory and the Curtis Institute of Music alike. Many orchestras and arts associations are folding, the recording industry has undergone a major shift, and new music-school graduates enter the field with little or no job prospects. So many of our colleagues have also embarked on finding courageous and creative ways to fight for the essential nature of classical music and culture in our lives. We feel the necessity to preserve the rich history of the fine arts in our hectic modern-day society. Although ClassicalCafé may seem like a drop in the bucket, in essence, it speaks for the fortitude and spirit of the classical music world.

Please help us continue to bring you exciting and accessible music programming. Your individual support plays a crucial part in our ability to succeed as an organization, and allows us the possibility of hiring great professionals. A donation to ClassicalCafé is a direct investment in our artistic mission, supporting the production of both innovative programs and elite performers. As many of you know, income from ticket sales makes up only a fraction of our operating budget. A gift of any amount will allow us to continue adding more performances to our calendar and provide our audiences access to world class talent at reasonable prices.

 Our future programming will bring both familiar faces and new collaborations, expanding to venues throughout the region. We hope you’ll join us on our continued adventure!

With love and gratitude,

Ilana & Jing