Synopsis

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."

Detailed History

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:

  1. The Society would bring world-class international chamber music to the Augusta area for six major concerts.
  2. Talented local musicians would be invited to perform in Hausmusik concerts at private homes at no extra fee to members.
  3. Outreach clinics and programs by the visiting musicians would be given in schools in order to inspire young music students.

 

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."

Who was Harry Jacobs?

Harry Jacobs

Harry Jacobs was involved in the following arts-related endeavors:

  1. Chaired and developed the first Music Department at Augusta University (then known as Augusta College)

  2. Designed and championed the Fine Arts Building and the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre at Augusta College

  3. Collaborated in founding the Augusta Opera and Augusta Ballet

  4. Helped start WACG, the classical music radio station in Augusta

  5. Started the Augusta Symphony, and led it as conductor and music director for 25 years

  6. Organized the Chamber Music Society that bears his name, and directed it until his death in 2001

Past Performers

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