About Us

Bringing exceptional music to Hudson Valley
audiences in an intimate chamber setting.

Who We Are

At Howland Chamber Music Circle, we cultivate community through exceptional music performances, and we foster artistic appreciation and creative growth through music outreach programs in the surrounding Beacon city area. Since 1993 HCMC has presented concerts by internationally renowned soloists and chamber ensembles in a venue wonderfully suited to this purpose, the historic Howland Cultural Center, located in Beacon, New York. Each season offers diverse music programming through our signature Chamber Series, our popular Classics For Kids, and free community Pop-Up Concerts, which present free public concerts in unlikely places throughout Beacon.

“In this beautiful corner of the Hudson Valley, you have drawn musicians from near and far, nurturing the aspirations of young talent and welcoming the never-ending explorations of established artists.”
– Joseph Lin, former violinist of Juilliard String Quartet

Musicians who perform for HCMC regularly appear in the world’s greatest halls. Past performers include: Shanghai Quartet, Israeli Chamber Project, Jasper Quartet, MET Opera Singers, Dorian Wind Quintet, Juilliard String Quartet, Escher String Quartet, Imani Winds, Sō Percussion, WindSync, Zephyros Quintet, Michael Brown, Jeremy Denk, Simone Dinnerstein, and Anthony McGill, among others. You can find a detailed list of all of our concerts, (past performers and their programs) here.

“The concert series by the Howland Chamber Music Circle is first-rate in every way. The list of artists, which rivals that of a major New York concert hall, is unbelievably impressive, and the Howland Cultural Center as a listening space couldn’t be more perfect—resonant, warm and intimate.”
– Brentano Quartet

Diversity Benefits Us All

At the Howland Chamber Music Circle, our mission is to bring exceptional music to our audiences. We know that great art comes from people of all genders, races, and ethnicities, and that is why we are committed to elevating the voices of performers and composers who have been historically underrepresented in classical music. We seek to build a more inclusive culture by fostering new and lasting relationships to better serve Beacon’s vibrant community as well as the surrounding area.

We know there is more work to be done, and we welcome your comments and suggestions with respect to this goal. Contact us here.

“I have incredibly fond memories of playing in that beautiful, unique, characterful space. It’s an ideally informal environment, with a wonderful sound. I always felt the music spoke back to me there, in ways that were inspiring, and surprising.”
– Jeremy Denk, piano

Board of Directors

Kathleen Bosman
Timothy Brown
Zinnia Gutowski
Brad Hubbard
Sarah Kennedy
Zachary Pulse
Betsy Smulyan
Jinny St. Goar
Paul Stoddard

Officers

President: Paul Stoddard
Vice President: Sarah Kennedy
Treasurer: Zinnia Gutowski
Secretary: Jinny St. Goar

Music Director: Akiko Sasaki
Concert Manager: Carl Gutowski

Assistant Concert Manager: Ilse Ivanoff
Assistant Concert Manager: Robert Schnetzler

Founders: Gwen and Bill Stevens

Our Partners

The Howland Chamber Music Circle is privileged to work with, and be supported by, a number of outstanding partner organizations, including the following: