MainStage Live
Voices in Time: A Celebration of Chamber Music in America
We are thrilled to announce Chamber Music Pittsburgh’s 65th anniversary MainStage Live season! We have much to celebrate—not only does next season mark CMP’s birthday, but the United States also commemorates its 250th. What better time to showcase some of this country’s most singular artistic voices, performing a breathtaking range of programs that celebrate all that chamber music can be in America.
Our 2025–26 MainStage Live season brings you six sensational concerts, returning to the iconic and sonically superior Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland and partnering with the adventurous August Wilson African American Cultural Center downtown for one concert. Throughout the season, you will hear innovative, world-class musicians in programs that explore peace and resilience, joy and celebration, tenderness and triumph, with plenty of musical discoveries and beloved favorites along the way.
New this season! Curate your experience and save up to 20% over single ticket prices with our new 2025-26 Season Flex Packages. The more you choose, the deeper the discount. Pick three, four, five, or all six concerts and unlock these subscriber benefits:
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- Priority seat selection
- $5 off any additional single tickets purchased throughout the season
Plus, subscribe by July 15 for an additional 15% discount on all tiers!
Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (Main Entrance on Forbes Ave.)
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
980 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
February 10, 2026 concert only
SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES, BENEFITS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much does a subscription cost?
Subscribers to all 6 concerts receive an overall 20% discount on tickets. New this year, we are offering flexible subscriptions with discounts that increase with the number of concerts you choose:
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- Pick 6: 20% discount
- Pick 5: 15% discount
- Pick 4: 10% discount
- Pick 3: 5% discount
| Pick 6 (Full Subscription) | Pick 5 | Pick 4 | Pick 3 | |
| Tier 1 | $264 $224 | $233 $198 | $198 $168 | $156 $132 |
| Tier 2 | $216 $183 | $191$162 | $162 $137 | $128 $108 |
| Tier 3 | $168 $143 | $143 $121 | $126 $107 | $99 $84 |
Subscribe by July 15 for an additional 15% discount on all tiers – early bird prices reflected above!
What perks are included with my subscription?
- Up to 20% off single ticket prices and choice of the best seats in the house before single tickets go on sale
- Priority seat selection
- $5 off any additional single tickets purchased throughout the season.
How much are single tickets?
| Tier 1 | $55 |
| Tier 2 | $45 |
| Tier 3 | $35 |
| Student | $15 |
Single tickets go on sale August 15.
How can I buy a subscription or a single ticket?
Subscriptions can be purchased online here, by mailing in a subscription form (from our season brochure) with a check made out to Chamber Music Pittsburgh or credit card payment, or by calling the Chamber Music Pittsburgh Box Office at 412-626-6121. Single tickets may be purchased online or by calling Chamber Music Pittsburgh beginning August 15, 2025.
Where is Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland, and where should I park?
Carnegie Music Hall is located at 4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, within the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History. Parking is located at the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. The museum operates a six-level parking facility for cars and small vans. The entrance is located at the intersection of S. Craig Street and Forbes Avenue. Event parking costs $10 per vehicle. Street parking in Oakland is also available and free after 6:00 p.m.
Where is August Wilson Center, and where should I park?
August Wilson African American Cultural Center is located in Downtown Pittsburgh at 980 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. There are many parking options close to the AWAACC. The closest parking options include:
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- The Westin Pittsburgh, 1000 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- David Lawrence Convention Center, 1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Grant Street Transportation Center, 55 11th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Smithfield – Liberty Garage, 111 9th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Street parking is free after 6 PM. Pittsburgh Downtown Partnerships has a wonderful interactive map to find up to date parking info. Find parking map here.
I have more questions!
We’d love to hear from you and offer any help we can! Please email boxoffice@cmpgh.org call Chamber Music Pittsburgh at 412-626-6121 x1 for all ticketing related questions.
Upcoming Concerts:
Brooklyn Rider
Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 7:30PM
Known for “making classical music accessible but also celebrating why it was good in the first place” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette), Brooklyn Rider holds a singular space in the world of chamber music.
“CITIZENSHIP NOTES”
FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN String Quartet in f minor, Opus 20, No. 5
New works by DON BYRON, TED HEARNE, ANGÉLICA NEGRÓN
BOB DYLAN (arr. C. Jacobsen) The Times They Are A-Changin’
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN String Quartet in C Major, Opus 59, No. 3
Sphinx Virtuosi and Sterling Elliott
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 7:30PM
The Sphinx Virtuosi, described as having “immeasurable power, unwavering command, and soulful beauty” (Washington Post), partners with rising star cellist Sterling Elliott for this unforgettable performance.
“VISIONS OF PEACE”
JOSÉ WHITE La Bella Cubana
CLARICE ASSAD Perpetual Motion
CLARICE ASSAD Dança Brasileira
JESSIE MONTGOMERY New Commission (World Premiere)
WILLIAM GRANT STILL Suite for Cello
QUENTON BLACHE A Vision for Peace (World Premiere)
SERGEI PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 7 “Stalingrad”
ALBERTO GINASTERA Concerto For Strings, Op. 33 IV. Finale
MANUEL PONCE Estrellita
The Complete Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach
Monday, November 24 , 2025, 7:30PM
Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, presented in partnership with the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music
Enjoy Bach’s beloved Brandenburg Concertos in a rare performance of the complete set on modern instruments! Presented in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, this special holiday concert features CMU faculty and students, along with soloists from our very own Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
J.S. BACH The Complete Brandenburg Concertos
Marc-André Hamelin
Monday, January 12, 2026, 7:30PM
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin, “a performer of near-superhuman technical prowess” (The New York Times), is known worldwide for his unrivaled technique and musicianship.
CHARLES IVES Piano Sonata No. 2, Concord, Mass., 1840-1860
ROBERT SCHUMANN Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), Op. 82
MAURICE RAVEL Gaspard de la Nuit, M. 55
Ruckus with Davóne Tines
Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 7:30PM
August Wilson African American Cultural Center
Ruckus makes its Pittsburgh debut, joining forces with bass-baritone Tines, “one of the most powerful voices of our time” (Los Angeles Times).
“WHAT IS YOUR HAND IN THIS?”
DOUG BALLIETT Steps to Compassion
TRADITIONAL (arr. Tines) Jesus Lover of My Soul
GEORG FRIEDRICH HANDEL Convey Me to Some Peaceful Shore (1748)
TRADITIONAL Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes
ANONYMOUS What Mean Ye (1720/1837)
JULIUS EASTMAN Buddha (1983)
JOHN DICKINSON (arr. Balliett) The Liberty Song (1768)
JOSHUA MCCARTER SIMPSON (arr. Tines & Ruckus) To The White People of America (1854)
BENJAMIN CARR (arr. Balliett) The Federal Overture (1793)
GEORG FRIEDRICH HANDEL Why Do the Nations (1741)
CLYDE OTIS This Bitter Earth (1960)
DOUG BALLIETT Knowledge
EARL ROBINSON/LEWIS ALLEN The House I Live In (1942)
DAVÓNE TINE/DOUG BALLIETT What is My Hand in This?
Juilliard String Quartet
Monday, March 30, 2026, 7:30 PM
Our 2025–26 MainStage Live season concludes with a return of the remarkable Juilliard String Quartet, which opened our inaugural season 65 years ago.
Originally founded in 1946 and described by The Boston Globe as “the most important American quartet in history,” the ensemble engages deeply with the classics while embracing the mission of championing new works.
BENJAMIN BRITTEN String Quartet No. 3 in G Major, Op. 94 (1975)
J.S. BACH (arr. M Ross) Prelude in E-flat Major, BWV 852
MICHELLE BARZEL ROSS Birds on the Moon (2024)
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK String Quintet No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97, “American”