Sheffield Chamber Players Bringing Live Music To Newton Homes

NEWTON, MA — Sheffield Chamber Players, a nonprofit musical ensemble based in Greater Boston, is bringing classical music to local homes in and around Newton, providing a safe way for locals to enjoy classical music with family, friends, and neighbors.

Founded in 2014 and featuring violinists Sasha Callahan and Megumi Stohs Lewis, cellist Leo Eguchi, violist Alexander Vavilov, and occasional guest artists, Sheffield believes in the importance of experiencing chamber music in the intimate settings in which it was written by bringing the works of Beethoven, Duarte, Mozart, Shostakovich, Shumann, and more right to people's living rooms.

Sheffield collaborates with residents who volunteer to host a performance at their home, allowing homeowners themselves to decide who is in the audience. The organization once saw an average of 20 to 30 people at each show, but due to the pandemic, in-person audiences currently consist of around six to eight people.

"We honestly didn't know if we were going to keep existing," said Vavilov. "We took many measures - masking, testing, virtual hosting, hybrid performances - to make sure we could be together in the same space. We are very fortunate to have a season with six sets."

Recent hosts have described the Sheffield experience as "easy, fun, and painless," with the musicians and other volunteers helping every step of the way to make sure each concert is a successful and memorable experience.

"It's just amazing to hear these musicians in a small setting in someone's home among friends," said Karen Sweet, who has hosted several concerts at her Newton home over the past few months. "It's really a fun experience, and the musicians are so excited and chatty when the concert is over."

"Sheffield is a way to show your art on a musical level," said Patrick Swann, who hosted a show at his Lexington home earlier this month. "You're at your house, a bunch of people come over, it's comfortable, and you're able to share a great experience with people."

In addition to performing pieces from multiple musical periods and sharing details about composers' backgrounds, stories behind the music, and instrumental styles, Sheffield has launched a five-year commissioning project, during which the organization will present annual premieres by some of the country's prominent and rising composers starting in spring 2022.

Commissioning agreements have already been made with several composers, including Kenji Bunch, Kevin Day, Osvaldo Golijov, and Jessie Montgomery. The fifth composer has not yet been announced.

For more information on getting involved with Sheffield Chamber Players or to donate to the organization, contact Executive Director Christina English at [email protected].