Announcing the Wallach Artists Fund and the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Artists Chair

With an extraordinary gift to the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Susan and Kenneth Wallach’s visionary philanthropy promises to support and recognize the great artistry of CMS musicians. This generous gift has established the Wallach Artists Fund to support increased fees for artists. It has also created the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Chair, an honor presented to a distinguished CMS artist every three years. CMS is pleased to announce that the first artist to receive this title is violist Matthew Lipman, an artist who is well known to CMS audiences and an alumnus of CMS’s Bowers Program. The Wallach Chair includes a monetary award.

The Wallach’s innovative and generous philanthropy enhances CMS’s ability to continue to attract and compensate its world class artists.

“We have had the privilege of experiencing many thrilling performances by the incredible CMS artists and wanted to celebrate their talent and dedication,” said Susan and Ken Wallach. “We are delighted that Matthew Lipman will be the inaugural recipient of the Wallach Chair, and we hope that others who share our appreciation will consider establishing their own Artists Funds and Chairs.”

“Musicians are the heart and soul of CMS, and this gift is a vitally important recognition of their role in this organization. These magnificent artists are the key to the future of this beautiful art form,” say Artistic Directors Wu Han and David Finckel, and Executive Director Suzanne Davidson. “We are deeply grateful to Vice Chair Susan Wallach and her husband Ken, a member of the Lincoln Center Board. We are so happy for this honor for Matt whose artistry has flourished during his years with CMS.”

Matthew Lipman is well known to the CMS audiences—an American violist who has been praised by the New York Times for his “rich tone and elegant phrasing” and by the Chicago Tribune for a “splendid technique and musical sensitivity.” He is an alumnus of CMS’s Bowers Program, a highly selective program committed to developing extraordinary chamber music leaders. Notable performances include appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Minnesota Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and the Juilliard Orchestra. Furthermore, Matthew has been a featured soloist at the Aspen Music Festival, Carnegie Hall, New World Symphony, Wigmore Hall, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. He performs regularly at the Marlboro, Music@Menlo, Ravinia, and Rheingau festivals. His debut album Ascent, released in 2019 by Cedille Records, was praised by The Strad as “most impressive.” Matthew was featured on the recording of Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with violinist Rachel Barton Pine and Sir Neville Marriner on the Avie label; a recording that topped the Billboard Classical Charts. A former artist-in-residence for the American Viola Society, he was featured on WFMT Chicago’s list “30 Under 30” of the world’s top classical musicians. Additionally, Matthew has appeared multiple times on PBS’s Now Hear This and Live from Lincoln Center, and is a published contributor to The Strad, Strings, and BBC Music magazines. He received the 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant, a Kovner Fellowship, the Jack Kent Cooke Award, and was a major prize winner in the Primrose, Tertis, Washington, Johansen, and Stulberg International Competitions. Matthew completed his studies at The Juilliard School with Heidi Castleman and was further mentored by Tabea Zimmerman at the Kronberg Academy. Matthew is on faculty at Stony Brook University and performs on a 1700 Matteo Goffriller viola on generous loan from the Rachel Barton Pine Foundation.