Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble, Inc. (MCCE), located on Staten Island and described as  “sonic perfection” (AWE, Staten Island Advance, 8/30/07) and “breaking the rules to bring the love of classical music to the next generation” (Ben Johnson, Staten Island, Advance, 10/4/07), has been contributing to the classical music landscape with concerts that have brought audiences closer to the beauty of chamber music since 2004.

MCCE is one of only a handful of chamber music ensembles on Staten Island, and is the only local organization dedicated to cultivating audiences across Staten Island through residency projects, season series, recording activities, and composer-in-residence initiatives. MCCE is known for eclectic programs that stand classical alongside jazz & broadway together with world music.  Our repertoire includes both classical and contemporary chamber music and regularly features premieres by local and international composers. MCCE’s concert season series on Saturday evenings is a collaborative effort with the Staten Island Museum, where MCCE has been the chamber group in residence since 2004.

MCCE believes in making a connection with our listeners even before a single note is played. Our concerts feature low ticket prices of $0 to $15; a presentation style that features casual cabaret seating, wine, food, and audience interaction; and spoken progam notes and informal panel discussions. Together, these attributes combine to provide audiences with an authentic, enjoyable, artistically excellent and educational chamber music experience. We encourage an open dialogue that has proven successful with audiences, and our style and format have been well received especially amongst young adults and individuals new to chamber music.  MCCE strongly believes in two goals - entertaining our audiences and exposing them to the valuable musical literature that is seldom heard elsewhere.

Since our inception, MCCE has presented over 40 concerts featuring major classical composers, established and emerging contemporary artists, lesser known composers such as Hummel, Beach and Boulanger, and American standard and jazz mavericks including Ellington and Gershwin; created an educational curriculum for children and teens that highlights the intersection between chamber music, literature & visual art; hosted masterclasses for pre-professional students; participated in multiple residencies with organizations across Staten Island; and impacted over 2,500 Staten Island residents.

MCCE 's awards include the Chamber Music America Residency Partnership (2009); Excellence in the Arts Award from COAHSI (2009), AWE Reader’s Poll for “Best Classical Music Act” (2007); inclusion in WNYC's Salute the ARTs initiative (2006); and Chamber Music America’s Artist Member Spotlights (2005), among others. MCCE has performed at locations across Staten Island and Manhattan, including the Solar 1 Music Festival, several branches of the New York Public Library, Julia Music Performing Arts School, Holy Child Church, Staten Island Jewish Community Center and the Staten Island Museum.

Contemporary music is an important element in MCCE’s culture and philosophy.  MCCE has been responsible for the creation of multiple commissions and premieres including from Andrew Sterman (Philip Glass Ensemble), Dr. Mathew Fuerst (DMA Juilliard), Mick Rossi (Carly Simon & Philip Glass Ensemble), Johnnie Valentino, Octavio Vazquez and J. Brunka.  Classical music has always had an illustrious history but few know the equally exciting future that is taking shape with its next generation of artists. MCCE strives for the public to experience the very best of the classical artform - its past, present and future.  Presenting the works of living composers alongside the great masters and those who are less known allows MCCE to showcase how we envision chamber music and exhibit the potential the classical form has to expand.

In 2005, MCCE founder Tamara Keshecki along with writer Nancy Sima conceived wrote and produced the children’s concert series “Molly’s Bird Adventures” which have been performed numerous times throughout the tri-state area.  This series presents original stories with classical music as well as original illustrations drawn live during the performance.  Titles include “Molly’s Bird Adventures Beyond the Big Oak Tree”, “Mother’s Day at the Big Oak Tree” and “Molly’s Rock Opera” as well as the original song “Gotta Be Me”.

MCCE has received support from a variety of Staten Island and New York area organizations and foundations since our inception, including the Independence Community Foundation, Meet The Composer, Chamber Music America, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Council on the Arts and Humanities for Staten Island (COAHSI), JPMorganChase, Richmond County Savings Foundation, Staten Island Bank & Trust Foundation, Staten Island Foundation, Northfield Bank Foundation, Con Edison, Senator John J. Marchi, Senator Andrew Lanza, Assemblymember Janele Hyer-Spencer and Councilman Michael E. McMahon, among others, as well as donations from individuals including a collection of sheet music as well as a music library donation from the S.I. Chamber Music Players.