Leading young composer Gabriela Lena Frank’s music will be featured on The Chicago Chamber Musicians’ 25^th Anniversary Concert on March 29. The Magic of Three concert features both Gabriela and Paquito D’Rivera, along with the CCM musicians on a program that fuses jazz, Latin, and classical genres.

Chicago native Wendy Warner, cello, described as "expressive and glowing" by The New York Times will perform Saint Saens' Septet for trumpet, strings and piano and Schubert's Octet in F Major, D. 803 with The Chicago Chamber Musicians on March 11 at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall and March 12 at Gottlieb Concert Hall.

What do you listen to on you iPod?

I actually don't have an iPod.

What does "Chicago music" mean to you?

I grew up in the Chicago area so maybe I am a bit bias, but I think we are incredibly lucky to have a city that offers music, art, food, etc. on the highest level. I lived in New York for five years and I can say that I prefer Chicago in every way, plus, the people are a lot friendlier!

What is your concert day routine?

I sleep a lot the day of any concert.

Lowell Liebermann is in Chicago as the featured guest composer with The Chicago Chamber Musicians' Composer Perspectives concert on Wednesday evening, December 7 in Ganz Hall.  Composer Perspectives concerts feature a pre-concert talk, performance with the composer presenting the program and post-concert reception with the composer and artists.

Here are Chicago Classical Music's five questions for Lowell, and his responses:

CCM:  What do you listen to on your iPod?

LL: I'm not even sure where it is right now! The only thing on it is actually my own complete works: I only use it when travelling to do a residency at whichever university so that I don't have to lug a suitcase of cds. Otherwise, since I spend my working days either composing or practicing for performances, I tend not to listen to a lot of music in my down time. And when I do, I prefer it live.

Summer chamber music means the Vermont Marlboro Music Festival, the spiritual home of thousands of musicians from several generations. Founded by pianist Rudolf Serkin, Marlboro is now a world renowned institution that has had substantial impact on music’s evolving landscape. It’s an idyllic place where artists eminent and emerging are invited to explore and discover side by side in a dynamic learning environment – and a place where several Chicago Chamber Musicians ensemble artists have had formative artistic experiences. This summer the festival celebrates its 60th anniversary season. Here’s our own Larry Combs leading a group two summers ago: Summer chamber music means the Vermont Marlboro Music Festival, the spiritual home of thousands of musicians from several generations.

Norman Pellegrini, long-time program director for WFMT radio, passed away early this morning.

Norm helped to launch the Chicago Chamber Musicians at the inception of the organization in the mid-1980s, recognizing immediately the quality of the founding artists, their unique vision and the potential for such an organization in Chicago.  He started by putting the artists on the air at WFMT on a monthly basis, and his fierce intelligence and keen passion were fodder for the seminal discussions and work that helped to build CCM in the early years.  Since that time, he has been an Honorary Director for CCM.