About Us:
Barbara is an internationally recognized pianist, who as co-founder has served CMW as it’s Artist in Residence and Artistic Director for 22 years. Prior to moving to Wilmington, her international career took her into music festivals and concert halls around the world and she has received many honors and awards including Gold Medal and First Prize in the International Chamber Music Competition, Paris. She toured Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East as a musical ambassador for the US State Department and in that capacity made debuts and led masterclasses in Leningrad and Moscow. In addition to serving as Artistic Director for Chamber Music Wilmington, she also serves as Artistic Director of the American Music Festival in Beaufort, NC, which she co-founded in 1990 and led for 26 seasons.
BARBARA McKENZIE
Artistic Director
​Chamber Music Wilmington creates dynamic classical performance experiences that enrich and engage audiences of the Cape Fear Region. Chamber Music Wilmington promotes enthusiasm for chamber music by providing exceptional performances featuring world-class musicians, and presenting dynamic programming and outreach in a variety of settings. CMW is committed to cultivating community engagement and audience diversity. Chamber Music Wilmington achieves this mission through the following initiatives:
CONCERT SERIES PERFORMANCES - Chamber Music Wilmington’s signature series, this four-concert program is presented in the University of North Carolina – Wilmington’s Beckwith Recital Hall and features award-winning national and international artists performing chamber music from all eras.
SALON PERFORMANCES - Occasionally, Chamber Music Wilmington hosts an event reminiscent of the original chamber music experience – the in-home salon. Members are entitled to discount tickets.
OUTREACH - Chamber Music Wilmington supports young artists by offering free educational enrichment opportunities. The “Art of Listening” program is CMW’s latest outreach series, structured as an interactive forum offering music appreciation sessions for adults and members of the University of North Carolina – Wilmington’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to explore repertoire prior to each of CMW’s Evening Series concerts. These sessions enhance listeners’ appreciation for classical music and enrich their understanding of music history.
ENGAGEMENT - CMW partners with Wilmington’s public radio station, 91.3 WHQR, to present a live interview and ‘informance’ with visiting artists. Live broadcasts includes questions from the audience and artist-guided discussion on the compositions featured in the concert program.
