Joseph E. Fischoff and the South Bend Chamber Music Society (

South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 United S ...

, USA) founded the

Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition The Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition is the largest and oldest continuous chamber music competition in the United States. In 1973, Joseph E. Fischoff and fellow members of the South Bend Chamber Music Society established a competition to ...

in 1973 as a way of encouraging young people to pursue

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...

study and performance. Today, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association is a

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501(c)3 nonprofit corporation led by a team of staff, supported by members of a National Advisory Council, and governed by a board of directors.

Competition

The

Fischoff Competition The Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition is the largest and oldest continuous chamber music competition in the United States. In 1973, Joseph E. Fischoff and fellow members of the South Bend Chamber Music Society established a competition to ...

grew from 6 ensembles in 1973 to 48 ensembles in both wind and string categories as of 2009. An average of 22 different nationalities are represented each year by foreign nationals from

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, and

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. Fischoff is the only national chamber music competition with both senior and junior divisions (age 18 and younger), and is the largest. Winning a prize at the Fischoff is a coveted honor for young chamber musicians across the nation and around the world. The winners of the Senior Division Gold Medals also participate in the Double Gold Tour The primary focus of the competition has always been education. In this way, it is quite different from most competitions. Written comments and personal critiques from jurors help young emerging chamber musicians better their interpretation and performance. Master classes are also offered to junior division quarterfinalist ensembles.

Educational outreach programs

Fischoff's Residency programs were recognized as "outstanding" and were one of two Indiana programs highlighted in the 2007

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal ...

Annual Report. In May 2009, the State of Indiana General Assembly honored Fischoff for its innovative programs introducing young people to chamber music. In August 2013, Fischoff received the 2014 Leighton Award for Nonprofit Excellence, awarded by the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County."Fischoff Receives 2014 Leighton Award"
Community Foundation of St. Joseph County The ''Mentoring Program'' provides an opportunity for regional high school chamber ensembles to receive coaching by professional area musicians at no charge. Peer Ambassadors for Chamber Music (''PACMan'') pairs Junior Division Fischoff Competition ensembles with younger students, to offer an introduction to chamber music in a kids-teaching-kids model.

External links

Fischoff
- official site

References

{{reflist Music organizations based in the United States South Bend, Indiana Non-profit organizations based in Indiana Education in Indiana