Balourdet Quartet
“Serenity and Passion” concerts highlight classical music joy, artistic accomplishment
Friends of Music Concerts’ 73rd season brings return engagements of the esteemed Han, Setzer, Finckel piano trio and the Balourdet Quartet, plus established masters Quartetto di Cremona and the Horszowski Trio, in addition to emerging artists Trio Azura and the Curtis on Tour musicians.
“In our turbulent era, classical music brings peace and tranquility. It has been described as ‘a quiet resistance to the noise of the world.’ The artists we present in our ‘Serenity and Passion’ season share their skill and commitment with us and we are fortunate to experience it,” said FOMC President Susan Harris.
Performances are scheduled to take place at Sleepy Hollow High School’s Kusel Auditorium, 210 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. and audience members are invited to a reception after each concert to mingle and meet the artists.
Here is the season lineup:
The Han, Setzer, Finckel piano trio, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, 7:30 p.m. Pianist Wu Han, violinist Philip Setzer, and cellist David Finckel are recognized for seamless, intimate, and often thrilling interpretations of the piano trio repertoire, reflecting years of collaboration. This concert is sponsored, in part, by White and Williams LLP.
This concert is on a Saturday evening. The rest of the concerts are on Sundays at 3:00 p.m.
The Balourdet Quartet, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, 3:00 p.m., is acclaimed for its vibrant energy and masterful blend of technical precision and emotional depth, bringing a fresh perspective to both beloved classics and modern compositions.
Trio Azura, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, 3:00 p.m., recipients of FOMC’s YCA Performance Award, is the first ensemble-in-residence at Young Concert Artists (YCA) and has quickly risen to international prominence through major competition wins.
Quartetto di Cremona, Sunday, March 14, 2027, 3:00 p.m. Since its formation in 2000, the Genoa-based group has established a reputation as one of the most exciting chamber ensembles on the international stage. The quartet is regularly invited to perform in major music festivals and halls in Europe, North and South America, as well as the Far East. This concert is sponsored, in part, by the Raymond Han and Paul Kellogg Foundation.
Curtis on Tour: Dohnányi Sextet, Sunday, April 11, 2027, 3:00 p.m. Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music presents a program highlighting Ernst von Dohnányi’s expansive Sextet, led by acclaimed cellist Nicholas Canellakis and featuring emerging artists.
Horszowski Trio, Sunday, May 2, 2027, 3:00 p.m., has quickly become a vital force in the international chamber music world since its formation in 2011. In 2023, the Horszowski Trio Prize was created by the prestigious Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, to award piano trio winners.
Subscriptions and tickets
Subscribers enjoy a significant discount from the single ticket price. A subscription to all six concerts is $240 ($40/ticket). A FlexSub subscription of four or more admissions is $45 per admission, each usable once as a ticket to any concert. Single tickets are $50 each. Those between the ages of 19 and 30 pay just $25, available only at the door. Those 18 years of age and under are admitted free of charge. Go to www.friendsofmusicconcerts.org for more information.
Friends of Music history
Founded in 1954, Friends of Music Concerts’ first concert featured the young Juilliard String Quartet. Since then, FOMC has brought to Westchester chamber music groups of world renown, accomplished soloists and developing artists. FOMC’s mission has always maintained a special focus on keeping musical experiences affordable and building audiences of the future.
Its Partnerships In Education Program sponsors one-day residencies of young professional musicians providing master classes at several Westchester County public schools during the season. Its Young Concert Artists Performance Award grants a concert performance to a winner of the annual YCA Susan Wadsworth International Auditions.
FOMC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.