February 2026
First Looks: CMS’s 2026–27 Season
Every season at CMS coalesces around a theme or concept. In the case of the upcoming 2026–27 season, where there is so much to celebrate in the world of chamber music, CMS programming will explore three distinct ideas!
From the rare genius of Mozart to a “kaleidoscopic view of American music” in recognition of the United States’ 250th birthday to CMS’s first-ever presentation of the full cycle of Beethoven Piano Sonatas performed by Gilles Vonsattel, CMS Co-Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han are creating a space “to focus on good things, on the wonderful accomplishments of human beings, on collegiality, beauty, and hopefulness.”
Read the full interview with David Finckel and Wu Han for a peek into their vision for the 2026–27 season.
__________________________________________________________________________
Donor Spotlight: Fred Jacobson
For Fred Jacobson, the decision to include the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in his estate plans was an extension of a life spent seeking beauty—both on the concert stage and in the mountains.
A charter subscriber to CMS, and a member of the Global Council since 2019, Fred’s connection to CMS is deeply personal. For Fred, the music is inseparable from the community of musicians, fellow enthusiasts, and staff he now calls friends. “CMS humanized music for me,” he says. “It is the most wonderful people’s organization—artists, administration, and audience—I’ve ever known.“ It is this profound sense of belonging that amplifies his love of the music and his deep faith in the CMS mission.
This sense of trust and connection is what led Fred to think seriously about his long-term legacy. Inspired by his father’s belief in leaving the world with as many musical opportunities as—or more than—one found it, Fred likes to imagine that his children and grandchildren will one day enjoy the same things that have brought him joy throughout his life. By providing unrestricted support through his estate, Fred is confident that CMS will be able to direct his gift where it is most needed, sustaining future generations of artists and audiences alike.
Fred’s passion for music is closely intertwined with his life’s work. For 46 years, he led guided hiking and climbing trips in the Austrian, French, Italian, and Swiss Alps. His profound love for the natural world draws him especially to the Romantic period, whose composers—from Mendelssohn to Mahler—created music inspired by nature, reflecting the same sense of awe that Fred experienced on the mountain peaks he spent decades exploring.
While becoming a member of the Alice Tully Circle and including CMS in his will, Fred is helping ensure that the music he loves will continue to inspire others for generations. We are deeply grateful to Fred for his generosity and the essential role he plays in our community.
The Alice Tully Circle: Carrying the Music Forward
The Alice Tully Circle recognizes those who have turned their passion for chamber music into a lasting legacy by including CMS in their estate plans, whether through a bequest in their will or by naming CMS as a beneficiary of an IRA, life insurance policy, or donor-advised fund.
In addition to ensuring that world-class chamber music remains vibrant for future generations, members of the Alice Tully Circle enjoy special benefits, including recognition in Playbill, access to the Hauser Patron Salon for intermission receptions*, and invitations to our annual Brandenburg Holiday Celebration.*
Learn more about the Alice Tully Circle and planned giving here.
*with the purchase of a concert ticket
__________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your support of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
We are grateful to have you as part of our community. Learn more about your membership benefits below:
