In the early part of 1990, a small and enthusiastic group of music-loving persons met with Harry Jacobs in the home of Dr. William Boyd to discuss the possibility of forming a high quality chamber music series which would honor Maestro Jacobs and be led by him. At that meeting, the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society was formed.
Within a very short time, the Society had over 200 members, and it was accepted as a stellar addition to the fine arts organizations of the CSRA. Harry would be happy to witness our success, as we are happy that his legacy lives!
"Some have known him for most of their lives, others, a few years, but all seem to have found their lives better because Harry Jacobs was in them."
The idea of starting a chamber music society which would honor Harry Jacobs, retiring director of the Augusta Symphony, was met with unanimous enthusiasm. It was decided that the initial season would begin in the fall. The season was assured by financial pledges from the founders. Harry Jacobs was appointed Artistic Director and was charged with seeking top artistic talent for the upcoming concerts.
The mission of the Society was formed. In addition to honoring Maestro Jacobs, a three-pronged approach was agreed upon:
Officers were selected with Dr. Mercer Bridges as the first president. A committee was formed to draw up articles of incorporation and bylaws to govern the Society. By June, the Society was officially incorporated. The ballroom of the Old Medical College of Georgia was selected as the venue for concerts.
By the opening of the first season in the fall of 1990, a substantial number of members had joined. The contracted chamber music groups came from different countries in Europe, Canada and the U.S. This international component was greeted enthusiastically and it has continued to the present.
The Society continued to grow in stature, public awareness, membership and financial support during the 1990's. In 1999, the series was moved to the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre on the campus of Augusta State University (now the Summerville Campus of Augusta University). All concerts since then have been included in the university's Lyceum series, and students and faculty are admitted free of charge.
On June 3, 2001, Augusta was deeply saddened by the death of the beloved founder of the Society, Harry Jacobs. Maestro Jacobs had played a major role in developing the high level of classical music that Augusta enjoys. The Society especially felt the loss of their leader and motivator. The officers and board rededicated themselves to the continuation of the Society and the furtherance of the cause of chamber music in Augusta.
In September, the Board of Directors appointed Dr. Alan Drake to the position of Artistic Director. Dr. Drake, a founding member, had served as Assistant Artistic Director, Board member, Vice-President and President. Maestro Harry Jacobs was posthumously given the title of Artistic Director in Perpetuity.
World-class artists that have presented concerts for the Society have included the Fine Arts Quartet, Jess Trio - Vienna, the Scholars of London, the St. Petersburg String Quartet, the Jacques Thibaud String Trio, the New York Woodwind Quintet, the St. Louis Brass Quintet, the Brno Chamber Orchestra, the Moscow string quartet, Charles Wadsworth, and pianists Marina Lomazov, Roberto Plano and Esther Budiardjo.
The Society continues with the confidence that the great literature of chamber music written by the finest composers in history will convey its eternal message of beauty and hope, and that the members and guests of the Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society will continue to be full participants in its joys. We appreciate your support!
"As great an artist as he was, he was a much greater human being. He was a special, special person. The thing with Harry was, when you left him he had made you feel better about yourself. He sent you away skipping."
Harry Jacobs was involved in the following arts-related endeavors:
Performer(s) | Category | Year(s) |
---|---|---|
Angeles String Quartet | String Quartet | 2001 |
Alcan Quartet | String Quartet | 1996 |
Audubon Quartet | String Quartet | 1993 |
Avila String Quartet | String Quartet | 2002 |
Bergonzi String Quartet | String Quartet | 2000 |
Borealis String Quartet | String Quartet | 2006 |
La Catrina String Quartet | String Quartet | 2008 |
Cavani String Quartet | String Quartet | 2010 |
Cypress String Quartet | String Quartet | 2009 |
Daedalus String Quartet | String Quartet | 2004 |
Dali Quartet | String Quartet | 2018 |
Eder String Quartet | String Quartet |
1994 |
Euclid String Quartet | String Quartet | 2014 |
Fine Arts Quartet | String Quartet | 1999, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2012 |
Formosa String Quartet | String Quartet | 2017 |
Harlem String Quartet | String Quartet | 2011, 2014 |
Jasper String Quartet | String Quartet | 2016 |
Kocian String Quartet | String Quartet | 1996, 2000 |
Kodaly String Quartet | String Quartet | 2003 |
Lipatti String Quartet | String Quartet | 2000 |
Lark Quartet | String Quartet | 1997 |
Larchmere Quartet | String Quartet | 2013 |
Martinu String Quartet | String Quartet | 2009 |
Minguet Quartett with Andreas Klein | String Quartet | 2020 |
Montclaire String Quartet | String Quartet | 1990, 2014 |
Moscow String Quartet | String Quartet | 2001 |
Pacifica Quartet | String Quartet | 2010 |
Parker Quartet | String Quartet | 2022 |
St. Petersburg String Quartet | String Quartet | 1995, 1997, 2002, 2011 |
Stamic Quartet | String Quartet | 2002 |
Talich Quartet | String Quartet | 2007 |
Telegraph Quartet | String Quartet | 2017 |
Travnicek Quartet | String Quartet | 1991 |
Vega String Quartet | String Quartet | 2012, 2016 |
Wallinger String Quartet | String Quartet | 1995 |
Wilanow String Quartet | String Quartet | 1994 |
Julie Bees | Pianist | 1991 |
Esther Budiardjo | Pianist | 1993 |
Leonardo Colafelice | Pianist | 2023 |
Anthony de Bonaventura | Pianist | 1994 |
Martina Filjak | Pianist | 2011 |
Rosalyn Floyd | Pianist | 1991 |
Lorin Hollander | Pianist | 1992 |
Vola Jacobs | Pianist | 1993 |
Martin David Jones | Pianist | 2016 |
Igor Kipnis | Harpsichord | 1992 |
Stanislav Khristenko | Pianist | 2015 |
Dinara Klinton | Pianist | 2019 |
Mariana Lomazov | Pianist | 2001, 2003, 2006 |
McCray & Blasdale | Duo-Pianists | 1998 |
Nikita Mndoyants | Pianist | 2017 |
Michiko Otaki | Pianist | 1992, 1995, 2015, 2016 |
Roberto Plano | Pianist | 2000, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2022 |
Clara Park | Pianist | 2010 |
Alexander Schimpf | Pianist | 2012, 2015 |
Thevoas & Porro | Duo-Pianista | 1991 |
Martha Thomas | Pianist | 2004 |
Varshavsky-Shapiro Duo | Duo-Pianists | 2014 |
Teresa Walters | Pianist | 2005 |
Abegg Trio | Piano Trio | 2005 |
Alma Trio | Piano Trio | 2002 |
Amelia Piano Trio | Piano Trio | 2009 |
Arcadia Trio | Piano Trio | 1994, 1997 |
Arista Trio | Piano Trio | 1994 |
Bachmann-Klibonoff-Fridman Trio | Piano Trio | 2000 |
Beethoven Trio Vienna | Piano Trio | 1996 |
Claremont Trio | Piano Trio | 2006 |
Czech Trio | Piano Trio | 1998, 2001, 2008 |
Delphi Trio | Piano Trio | 2017 |
Gryphon Trio | Piano Trio | 2003 |
Horszowski Piano Trio | Piano Trio | 2015 |
Jess Trio, Vienna | Piano Trio | 2003, 2009 |
Lukens Piano Trio | Piano Trio | 2013 |
Max Brod Trio | Piano Trio | 2010 |
Merling Trio | Piano Trio | 1999 |
Morgenstern Trio | Piano Trio | 2018 |
Osiris Piano Trio | Piano Trio | 2009 |
Neave Piano Trio | Piano Trio | 2016 |
Paris Piano Trio | Piano Trio | 2007 |
Peabody Trio | Piano Trio | 1996 |
Prometheus Piano Trio | Piano Trio | 2002 |
Runnels, Scheer, Bjalla Piano Trio | Piano Trio | 1998 |
Stockholm Arts Trio | Piano Trio | 1992 |
Trio con Brio Copenhagen | Piano Trio | 2019 |
Trio Finlandia | Piano Trio | 1991 |
Trio Solisti | Piano Trio | 2010 |
Trio Terzetto | Piano Trio | 2011 |
Wrap Trio | Piano Trio | 2019 |
Ensemble 4.1 | Piano Windtet | 2022 |
Arabesque Winds | Woodwind Quintent | 2012 |
Ariel Winds | Woodwind Quintent | 2004 |
Borealis Wind Quintet | Woodwind Quintent | 1993 |
Georgia Woodwind Quintet | Woodwind Quintent | 2004 |
Haffner Woodwind Quintet | Woodwind Quintent | 2000 |
New York Woodwind Quintet | Woodwind Quintent | 2001 |
Suchon Quintet | Woodwind Quintent | 2015 |
Prairie Winds | Woodwind Quintent | 2000, 2009 |
Brazilian Guitar Quartet | Guitar Ensemble | 2008 |
Eden Stell Duo | Guitar Ensemble | 2016 |
Quarteto Vivace Brasil | Guitar Ensemble | 2011 |
Santa Fe Guitar Quartet | Guitar Ensemble | 2003 |
Bulldog Brass Society | Brass Quintets and Ensembles | 2004 |
Carolina Brass | Brass Quintet and Ensembles | 2019, 2022 |
Canadian Brass | Brass Quintet and Ensembles | 2021 |
Chestnut Brass Company | Brass Quintets and Ensembles | 1992 |
Foothills Brass Quintet | Brass Quintets and Ensembles | 2007 |
Millennium Brass | Brass Quintets and Ensembles | 2010, 2012 |
St. Louis Brass Quintet | Brass Quintets and Ensembles | 1995 |
Spanish Brass | Brass Quintets and Ensembles | 2015 |
Brno Chamber Orchestra | Chamber Orchestra | 2002, 2005 |
Chamber Orchestra Kremlin | Chamber Orchestra | 2008 |
Russian String Orchestra | Chamber Orchestra | 2017 |
Venice Baroque Orchestra | Chamber Orchestra | 2013 |
Cantus | Vocal Ensemble | 2012 |
Scholars of London | Vocal Ensemble | 1995, 2009 |
Stacy Sullivan, with Jon Weber & Saadi Zain | Vocal Ensemble | 2015 |
Amabile Piano Quartet | Piano Quartet | 1997 |
Ames Piano Quartet | Piano Quartet | 1993 |
Dunsmuir Piano Quartet | Piano Quartet | 1997 |
Garth Newel Piano Quartet | Piano Quartet | 2018 |
Los Angeles Piano Quartet | Piano Quartet | 2006 |
John Bauer | Violin | 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 |
Paul Brantley | Cello | 1993 |
Linda Banister | mezzo soprano | 1991 |
Mercer Bridges | Baritone | 1995 |
Michael Brown | Trumpet | 1991 |
Claire Chase | Flute | 2010 |
John Corina | Oboe | 1993, 1995 |
Vonda Darr | Harp | 1996 |
Double Exposure | Duo | 1997 |
Tom Gallant | Oboe | 2006 |
William House | Clarinet | 2006 |
Richard Human | Soloist | 1991 |
Bridget Kibbey | Harp | 2010 |
Constance Lane | Flute | 1992, 1996 |
Fred Mills | Trumpet | 2004 |
Patrick Pridemore | Horn | 1994 |
Misha Ravelesky | Soloist | 2008 |
Cary Leucas & Dorothy Leucas | Piano & Cello Duo | 1991 |
Adaskin String Trio | String Trio | 2000, 2006 |
Jacques Thibaud String Trio | String Trio | 1998, 2000, 2008 |
Ade String Trio | String Trio | 2004 |
Akropolis Reed Quintet | Ensemble | 2017 |
Aspen Ensemble | Ensemble | 2007 |
Augusta Collegium Musicum | Ensemble | 1994 |
Baltimore Consort | Ensemble | 1996 |
Calliope Renaissance Band | Ensemble | 1993 |
Charles Wadsworth & Friends | Ensemble | 2005 |
Concertante | Ensemble | 2007 |
Intersection | Ensemble | 2016 |
Italian Saxophone Quartet | Ensemble | 2013 |
New York Chamber Soloists | Ensemble | 2009 |
Miles Hoffman & American Chamber Players | Ensemble | 2004, 2008, 2013, 2023 |
Poulenc Trio | Ensemble | 2012 |
Rastreli Cello Quartet | Ensemble | 2018 |
REBEL, with Matthias Maute | Ensemble | 2018 |
Silkroad Ensemble | Ensemble | 2019 |
Quartetto con Flauto, Prague | Ensemble | 1998 |
Quartetto Gelato | Ensemble | 2014 |