Schneider Concerts

Outstanding young artists from the United States and abroad join the ranks of the illustrious musicians who performed in the series early in their careers—artists including Peter Serkin, Yo-Yo Ma, and the Guarneri String Quartet.

Alexander Schneider, founder and music director (1957–1993)

Music advisors: John Dalley, Pamela Frank,* Jaime Laredo, Cho-Liang Lin,* Anthony McGill,* Kurt Muroki,* Tara O'Connor, Arnold Steinhardt

Advisory committee members: Ben Cadwallader, Mark Epstein, Fiona Fein, Vanyah Harrigan, Elisabeth Lorin, Frank Salomon, Zachary Smith, Linda Strommen,* Jani Tree

*Alum of the New York String Orchestra Seminar.

2026–2027 Chamber Music Season

Expanding on a theme developed in conversation with 2026–2027 curating ensemble, the Balourdet Quartet, the current Schneider Concerts chamber music season explores the places we carry. Composers and chamber musicians bring nature into cities, transform urban rhythms into music, and weave memories, family histories, and migration stories into their work, reflecting and engaging with cultural identity as vital members of their communities.

We are thrilled to announce that during the upcoming year's renovation of our traditional home on 12th street, The New School is providing a wonderful, temporary new home for our six mainstage concerts:

The New School's Tishman Auditorium at 63 5th Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets)

The season will include a talk before each concert, all performances at The New School will be livestreamed and later made available for on-demand replay, and we'll be partnering with other organizations around the city—offering three free short concerts to bring the music to new audiences in unexpected places.

Schneider Concerts season subscriptions, single tickets, and pre-concert talks go on sale July 1, 2026—save the dates!

Sunday, October 4, 2026, 2:00 p.m.

Erinys Quartet

Lembit Beecher: String Quartet "Juniper and Birch" (2025)—New York Premiere
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartet in D Minor, K. 421 (1783)
Lotta Wennäkoski: Pige, movement one (2022)
Franz Schubert: Death and the Maiden (1824)

This concert will be approximately two hours including intermission.

• Location: The New School's Tishman Auditorium at 63 Fifth Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets)
• 12:30 p.m.: One-hour preconcert talk (separate $5 entry fee)

Sunday, November 15, 2026, 2:00 p.m.

Prometheus Quartet—New York Debut

Vivian Fung: String Quartet No. 2 (2009)
Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet Op. 33, No. 3, “The Bird” (1781)
Lei Liang: Gobi Gloria (2006)
Johannes Brahms: String Quartet in C Minor, Op. 51, No. 1 (1873)

This concert will be approximately one hour and 30 minutes, including intermission.

• Location: The New School's Tishman Auditorium at 63 Fifth Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets)
• 12:30 p.m.: One-hour preconcert talk (separate $5 entry fee)

Sunday, December 6, 2026, 2:00 p.m.

Pandan Quartet—New York Debut
with Kirsten Docter, viola

Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 76, No. 4 (1796–1797)
Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate: Pisachi (Reveal) (2013)
Antonín Dvořák: String Quintet in E-flat Major, Op 97 (1893), with Kirsten Docter, viola

This concert will be approximately one hour and 30 minutes, including intermission

• Location: The New School's Tishman Auditorium at 63 Fifth Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets)
• 12:30 p.m.: One-hour preconcert talk (separate $5 entry fee) Sunday, January 31, 2027, 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 31, 2027, 2:00 p.m.

Balourdet Quartet—first of three concerts featuring the 2026–2027 curating ensemble

Eric Nathan: World premiere of a Schneider Concerts co-commissioned quartet
Béla Bartók: String Quartet No. 6, Sz. 114 (1939) 
Ludwig van Beethoven: String Quartet, Op. 132 (1825) 

This concert will be approximately one hour and 40 minutes, including intermission.

• Location: The New School's Tishman Auditorium at 63 Fifth Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets)
• 12:30 p.m.: One-hour-long preconcert talk (separate $5 entry fee)

Sunday, March 14, 2027, 2:00 p.m.

Balourdet Quartet
with Astrid Schween, cello

Giancomo Puccini: Crisantemi (Chrysanthemums) (1890)
Nicky Sohn: Galaxy Back to You (2024)
Amy Beach: String Quartet in 1 Movement, Op. 89 (1929)
Franz Schubert: String Quintet in C Major (1828), with Astrid Schween, cello

The concert will be approximately one hour and 40 minutes, including intermission.

• Location: The New School's Tishman Auditorium at 63 Fifth Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets)
• 12:30 p.m.: One-hour preconcert talk (separate $5 entry fee)

Sunday, April 25, 2027, 2:00 p.m.

Fiammetta String Quartet

Shih-Hui Chen: Fantasia on the Theme of Plum Blossoms (2007)
Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in G Major, Op. 54, No. 1 (1788)
Osvaldo Golijov: Octet Ever Yours (2022)—with the Balourdet Quartet

This concert will be approximately one hour and ten minutes, including intermission.

• Location: The New School's Tishman Auditorium at 63 Fifth Avenue (between 13th and 14th Streets)
• 12:30 p.m.: One-hour preconcert talk (separate $5 entry fee)

Programs are subject to change.

Season subscriptions and single tickets for all six concerts are available by mail and will be available for on-line order beginning July 1, 2026.

Watch Performances from Past Seasons

Including the Abeo, Balourdet, Calidore, Erinys, Isidore, Ivalas, PUBLIQuartet, and Viano string quartets; the Kenari Saxophone Quartet; Umama Womama; Windsync; and Trio Gaia

Visit our YouTube channel

The Schneider Concerts Is Committed to Accessibility

• Accessible and early seating, large-print programs, and assistive listening devices are available at all our concerts events—no advance request needed.
• Additional supports may be requested at time of ticket purchase, or contact us at nsc@newschool.edu.
• Streamed events include captions and voiceover of any information provided only by text on video.
• The performance location, 63 5th Avenue, is accessible to Access-a-Ride.
• Please contact us if you see something we could improve.

Information for Ensembles Interested in Appearing in the Series

The Schneider Concerts focuses on presenting outstanding emerging chamber ensembles. If you would like us to consider your ensemble for an upcoming series, please note that our season of Sunday afternoon concerts runs from October to April. Please submit the following materials by email to nsc@newschool.edu or by mail to New School Concerts, 55 West 13th Street, room 929, New York, NY 10011:

• Downloadable recordings of, or links to, three to four complete works; please include Classical or Romantic repertoire as at least two of the works. We request submissions of contemporary and modern works for the remainder.
• Repertoire proposals for the upcoming season. Please give us a few options and include timings.
• Ensemble biography and website URL.

Please make sure that all components of your submission are clearly labeled with your ensemble's name and that you have included contact information with your submission.

We look forward to hearing from you!

History of the Schneider Concerts

Founded at The New School in 1957 as New School Concerts, this series was renamed the Schneider Concerts in 1993 in honor of founding artistic director Alexander “Sasha” Schneider, a conductor, violinist, and member of the famed Budapest String Quartet. Established with the aim of offering access to chamber music performance at an exceptionally high level to all (tickets at that time cost only $1), the series has expanded its goals in the past 60-plus years to include:

• Offering affordable tickets
• Supporting emerging chamber artists
• Serving older New Yorkers
• Going beyond ADA compliance
• Broadening our vision to include multiple approaches to chamber music
• Continually reviewing our work through the lens of equity, inclusion, and social justice to ensure that we are welcoming to and supportive of audiences and artists from all backgrounds

The series has been led by Rohana Elias-Reyes since 2001. Founding director Frank Salomon remains involved. Guided by music advisors John Dalley, Pamela Frank, Jaime Laredo, Cho-Liang Lin, Anthony McGill, Kurt Muroki, Tara O’Connor, and Arnold Steinhardt, the series carries forward Schneider’s commitment to providing early career exposure to exceptional young artists and ensembles and offering outstanding concerts at modest ticket prices to ensure access for all. Pianist Peter Serkin and cellist Yo-Yo Ma received early career exposure on the series, and the Guarneri, Dover, Calidore, Viano, Balourdet, and Isidore string quartets are among the many ensembles to receive their New York debuts in the series.

The 2026–2027 Schneider Concerts Season is supported by the Alexander Schneider Foundation and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

January–December 2026 concerts are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.