Fischoff National Chamber Music Association
Encyclopedia
Joseph E. Fischoff and the South Bend Chamber Music Society (South Bend, Indiana
, USA) founded the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
in 1973 as a way of encouraging young people to pursue chamber music
study and performance. Today, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association is a United States
501(c)3 nonprofit corporation led by a team of dedicated staff, supported by members of a National Advisory Council, and governed by a board of directors.
, Asia
, and Europe
. 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. Winners of the Fischoff Grand Prize also participate in an international Winner's 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.
and Southwestern Michigan
each year. Through free Arts-in-Education Residency programs at schools, libraries and community centers, Fischoff’s outreach programs have reached more than 43,700 children and youth since 1995.
Fischoff's Residency programs were recognized as "outstanding" and were one of two Indiana programs highlighted in the 2007 National Endowment for the Arts
Annual Report.
In May, 2009, the State of Indiana General Assembly honored Fischoff for its innovative programs introducing young people to chamber music.
S.A.M. I Am, Fischoff's Stories & Music Program, reinforces the importance of reading through the power of music. S.A.M. I Am programs allow children, ages 4-9, to hear books transformed with flair and imagination by nationally recognized musicians.
Fischoff's Artist-of-the-Month program recognizes the achievements of outstanding high school musicians within the Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan region.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Jam family concerts provide a fun, nontraditional approach to chamber music where children are encouraged to dance, touch the instruments and interact with the musicians.
The Mentoring Project 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 a friendly introduction to chamber music in a kids-teaching-kids model.
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, USA) founded the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition
Begun in South Bend, Indiana, USA in 1973, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition is the largest chamber music competition in the world, and the only with separate Junior and Senior Divisions...
in 1973 as a way of encouraging young people to pursue chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
study and performance. Today, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Association is a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
501(c)3 nonprofit corporation led by a team of dedicated staff, supported by members of a National Advisory Council, and governed by a board of directors.
Competition
The Fischoff Competition has grown from 6 to an average of 48 participating ensembles in both wind and string categories of three to six performers. An average of 22 different nationalities are represented each year by foreign nationals from South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. 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. Winners of the Fischoff Grand Prize also participate in an international Winner's 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
In addition to the competition, Fischoff is dedicated to enrichment opportunities for regional community children. Fischoff is uniquely able to engage its national pool of Fischoff musicians in reaching more than 6,000 children throughout Northern IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and Southwestern Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
each year. Through free Arts-in-Education Residency programs at schools, libraries and community centers, Fischoff’s outreach programs have reached more than 43,700 children and youth since 1995.
Fischoff's Residency programs were recognized as "outstanding" and were one of two Indiana programs highlighted in the 2007 National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
Annual Report.
In May, 2009, the State of Indiana General Assembly honored Fischoff for its innovative programs introducing young people to chamber music.
S.A.M. I Am, Fischoff's Stories & Music Program, reinforces the importance of reading through the power of music. S.A.M. I Am programs allow children, ages 4-9, to hear books transformed with flair and imagination by nationally recognized musicians.
Fischoff's Artist-of-the-Month program recognizes the achievements of outstanding high school musicians within the Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan region.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Jam family concerts provide a fun, nontraditional approach to chamber music where children are encouraged to dance, touch the instruments and interact with the musicians.
The Mentoring Project 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 a friendly introduction to chamber music in a kids-teaching-kids model.