named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Auditing Program
Option for attendees to observe coaching sessions and participate in free-play and social activities without performing obligations
Chamber Music Coaching
Intensive coaching sessions for small ensembles led by faculty, with participants expected to arrive fully prepared for each assigned piece
Composers' Forum
Features a Composer-in-Residence and Composition Fellow each week (weeks 2–4); includes coaching on newly commissioned works provided free to participants
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
- Provide chamber music coaching and educational programmingOffers daily chamber music coaching sessions for participant groups studying complete works with distinguished faculty, using multiple coaching formats. Includes faculty-led seminars, open rehearsals for faculty chamber groups, and participant musicales where coached ensembles perform for peers and faculty.
- Support auditor participation in conference activitiesOffers an auditor program that allows individuals to observe coaching sessions, participate in free-play sessions, access the sheet music library, and engage in informal ensemble playing with participants and faculty, without performing in formal settings.
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Arts Education Scholarships 1 activity
- Administer financial aid and named funding programsProvides need-based financial aid to both new and returning participants to help cover tuition costs, supported by donations and grants that cover about 25% of operating expenses. Also manages designated funds that support named faculty chairs (in oboe, piano, cello), lectures, special events, and new music commissions.
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Organizational DEI Capacity Building 1 activity
- Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiativesFormed a working group composed of participants, faculty, staff, and Board members to examine diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization, gathered community input, and is developing governance recommendations based on hundreds of suggestions.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Commission and premiere new chamber music worksCommissions new chamber music compositions annually from established and emerging composers, including a Composer-in-Residence and Composition Fellow each week. These works are studied by participants during coaching sessions and premiered at participant musicales or public concerts; the organization has commissioned at least nine major works since 2004, including four for its 75th anniversary in 2022.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Facilitate newcomer integration and peer supportAssigns a buddy to each first-time participant to provide pre-arrival guidance, assist with orientation, and arrange informal playing sessions. Hosts a newcomers’ meeting and Sunday evening playing event to welcome and integrate new attendees into the community.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Host free public concerts and musical eventsPresents weekly public chamber music concerts on Wednesdays and Saturdays featuring faculty performers, guest artists, and premieres of newly commissioned works. Also hosts informal gatherings and post-concert social events to foster community engagement.
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Infection Prevention & Control Protocols 1 activity
- Implement health and safety protocols during conferenceAdministers rapid antigen tests to all attendees every Tuesday during the conference and conducts rapid molecular COVID-19 tests for symptomatic individuals to ensure a safe environment for participants and staff.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Operate summer chamber music conference and composers' forumHosts a four-week annual summer chamber music conference for approximately 300 participants, including musicians from around the world, featuring coaching, seminars, free playing opportunities, and structured social events. The program includes on-site operations such as participant applications, auditions, housing, meals with dietary accommodations, and administrative staffing.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Produce archival and historical materialsPublished a comprehensive history book titled "The Music of Friends: 75 Years of the Chamber Music Conference and Composers’ Forum of the East" in 2022, released 29 archival faculty concert recordings spanning 1956–2019, and collected oral histories to create a lasting archive of personal experiences within the CMC community.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$580K
Contributions & grants$114K20%
Program service revenue$413K71%
Investment income$51K9%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$548K
Program expenses81%
Admin / overhead19%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$164K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$1.65M
Cash$143K
Investments$1.45M
Liabilities$16K
Net assets$1.63M
Liquid reserves34.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +15.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Susan Ikeda | Executive Director | 18 | $55K |
| Tobias Werner | Music Director | 12 | $35K |
board members · 15
- Amy Galluzzo — Faculty Representative
- Andrea Berger — Secretary
- Barbara Kipp — Director
- Beverly Van Ausdal — Director
- Claire Stefani — Director
- Daniel Grabois — Faculty Representative
- David Knapp — Director
- Katherine Canning — Director
- Katie Pena — Vice Chair
- Larry Kohorn — Chairman
- Linda Rappaport — Director
- Miriam Goldberg — Director
- Patricia Maxson — Nominating Committee Chair
- Stanley Corfman — Treasurer
- Sylvia Lipnick — Director
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- Aaron Copland Fund for Music Funder — Provides financial support for the programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Aaron Copland Fund for Music Funder — Provides support for the Composers' Forum and other programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Aaron Copland Fund for Music Funder — Provides support for the programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Aaron Copland Fund for Music Funder — Supports the chamber music coaching program and other programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University Funder — Provides financial support for the programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University Funder — Provides support for the Composers' Forum and other programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University Funder — Provides support for the programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University Funder — Supports the chamber music coaching program and other programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Amy Galluzzo Partner — Faculty Representative providing input and connection between faculty and board governance.
- Andrea Berger Partner — Board Secretary responsible for administrative and governance functions.
- Associated Chamber Music Players Funder — Provides support for the Composers' Forum and other programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Associated Chamber Music Players Funder — Supports the chamber music coaching program and other programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP) Funder — Provides support for the programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP) Partner — Supports the programs of the Chamber Music Conference.
- CDC Government — References CDC guidelines and list of symptoms to inform health policies and testing protocols.
- Colgate University Government — Host institution providing campus facilities for the Conference.
- Colgate University Partner — Hosts the Chamber Music Conference at its campus, providing access to facilities and local activities.
- Colgate University Partner — Hosts the Chamber Music Conference on its campus, providing facilities for the program.
- Colgate University Partner — Hosts the Conference on its campus, providing facilities for housing, dining, rehearsal, coaching, and performance.
- Conference community Partner — Engaged in providing input on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues to inform organizational improvements.
- Dan Grabois Partner — Faculty Representative supporting communication between faculty and board leadership.
- Decoda Winter Retreat Partner — Placed an advertisement in the 2026 program book, supporting the Conference through advertising revenue.
- Donald Crockett Government — Senior Composer-in-Residence at the Chamber Music Conference and Composers’ Forum of the East
- Eastern U.S. Music Camp Partner — Partner summer music program for children held on the Colgate campus during overlapping weeks.
- Facebook Partner — Uses Facebook to share news and announcements from the Conference.
- Katie Peña Partner — Board Vice Chair supporting governance and leadership of the organization.
- Larry Kohorn Partner — Board Chair providing governance and strategic oversight for the organization.
- Laura Metcalf Government — Music Director of the Chamber Music Conference and Composers’ Forum of the East
- Manhattan String Quartet Partner — Placed an advertisement in the 2026 program book, supporting the Conference through advertising revenue.
- Nancy Skolos Partner — Graphic designer and participant who developed the Conference's first logo and visual identity
+ 7 more
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Advance Preparation Enabling Deep Coachingmethodology: advance-preparation modelBy requiring participants to prepare repertoire in advance, the Conference enables focused, in-depth coaching during the program because pre-conference preparation maximizes the quality and efficiency of instructional time.
- Commissioning and Integration of New Music as Pedagogymethodology: integrated composer residencyBy commissioning works from Composers-in-Residence and incorporating them into participant coaching and performance, the Conference advances both repertoire development and musical learning because direct engagement with living composers and new works deepens interpretive skills and fosters contemporary musical dialogue.
- Equity Through Participatory Governancemethodology: participatory-governanceBy involving participants, faculty, staff, and Board members in working groups to assess diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Conference improves organizational equity because shared decision-making structures ensure accountability and embed inclusive values in institutional practice.
- Immersive Musical Engagement Through Integrated Experiencemethodology: integrated_musical_immersionBy integrating structured coaching, faculty performances, seminars, informal playing, and shared residential life, the Conference fosters deep musical engagement and growth because total immersion in a supportive, music-centered environment enhances learning, collaboration, and artistic development.
- Participant-Driven Learning and Collaborationmethodology: peer_mentorshipBy combining self-directed informal music-making, participant-initiated group formation, and peer mentorship, the Conference strengthens musical and social integration because autonomous, community-driven collaboration fosters ownership, inclusion, and sustained engagement.