Candler Concert Series History

As a result of the vision and gifts of Flora Glenn Candler and Donna and Marvin Schwartz, the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts became a reality.

Old Flora Glenn Candler Series logo

The series opened under its current name in 1970 with performances at Glenn Memorial Auditorium, and then moved to the newly constructed Schwartz Center for Performing Arts on February 8, 2003, with a concert by the New York Philharmonic. The Candler Concert Series has been at full tilt ever since, with season after season featuring the best of classical, contemporary, jazz, and world music.

2020–2021 Candler Concert Series

Junction Trio by Shervin Lainez
Critically acclaimed pianist and composer Conrad Tao joined with violinist Stefan Jackiw and cellist Jay Campbell to form the eclectic new ensemble Junction Trio. Each internationally recognized on their own, these visionary artists came together to share their poetic interpretations and impeccable technique. In a virtual concert produced exclusively for Schwartz Center audiences, the performance began with John Zorn’s Ghost—inspired by the slow movement of Beethoven’s “Ghost” Trio—and closed with Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B-flat Major, op. 97, “Archduke.”

Jane Bunnett and Maqueque
Internationally acclaimed flutist and saxophonist Jane Bunnett has devoted much of her professional life to an exploration of how Afro-Cuban melodies express the universality of music. Joined by the brilliant Cuban female musicians of Maqueque, this award-winning jazz ensemble performed a virtual concert exclusively for Schwartz Center audiences. The concert was recorded in both Toronto, Canada and Havana, Cuba, then streamed as part of the Candler Concert Series.

In addition to the concert, audiences enjoyed a conversation with Jane Bunnett and Emory Director of Jazz Studies Gary Motley.

Third Coast Percussion
A Grammy Award–winning Chicago-based percussion quartet, Third Coast Percussion has created exciting and unexpected performances that constantly redefine the classical music experience. In this exclusive livestream concert from Chicago, the ensemble performed works from composer Philip Glass including Perpetulum, a Glass score the Chicago Tribunecalls so “rich in musical incident, its meters and textures constantly changing, its embrace of pitched and non-pitched instrumentation immensely appealing to hear.”

In addition to the concert, this residency with Third Coast Percussion included an Arts Entrepreneurship Discussion with Professor Katherine Young and a Master Class with percussion students.

Review of the concert from The Emory Wheel

Jeremy Denk at the piano
Jeremy Denk is one of America’s foremost pianists. Winner of a MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship, the Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America’s Instrumentalist of the Year award, he was also recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Denk has performed in recent seasons with the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Cleveland Orchestra, as well as on tour with Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms.

Audiences were given the opportunity to step inside the artist's living room for "Bach as Storyteller." Through conversation and performance, Denk took the audience through some of the preludes and fugues of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I.

Discussion and review of the concert and master class from EarRelevant

Danish String Quartet by Caroline Bittencourt
Among today’s many exceptional chamber music groups, the Danish String Quartet’s playing reflects impeccable musicianship and sophisticated artistry. Bringing a rare musical spontaneity that gives audiences the sense of hearing even treasured canon repertoire as if for the first time, the Danish String Quartet exudes a palpable joy in music-making that has made them in-demand on concert stages throughout the world.

A selection from the concert featuring a traditional Nordic folk tune is available to watch here.

Review of the concert from EarRelevant

Gabriela Montero at the piano
Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero’s visionary interpretations and unique improvisational gifts have won her a devoted following around the world. Montero is a virtuoso in a class of her own: a pianist whose flair for improvisation puts creativity back at the heart of classical performance, and whose music-making is about infinitely more than just the notes on the page.

In addition to the concert, Gabriela Montero also spoke with students in Emory's Freshman Music Seminar and led a Master Class with Emory students.

Review of the concert from EarRelevant

Camille Thomas with cello on top of a building
The first cellist to be signed by the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label in more than 40 years, Franco-Belgian cellist Camille Thomas blends a brilliant command of her instrument with a rare musicality. Thomas’s fascinating recital program with pianist Julien Brocal streamed from Brussels, Belgium, offering traditional and underplayed repertoire and themes—all conceived to stimulate the audience, as well as the artist.

Camille Thomas also led a virtual Master Class with Emory cello students.

Review of the concert from EarRelevant

2003–2020 Candler Concert Series

Kronos Quartet with vocalist Mahsa Vahdat | Saturday, Sep. 14, 2019

Brad Mehldau, piano and Ian Bostridge, tenor | Friday, Oct. 18, 2019

Joyce DiDonato: In War and Peace: Harmony Through Music, with Il Pomo d'Oro under the direction of Maxim Emelyanychev | Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Khatia Buniatishvili, piano | Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2019

Pablo Sáinz Villegas and Americano Trio | Saturday, Feb. 29, 2019

  • Jane Bunnett and Maqueque—rescheduled due to COVID-19 pandemic
  • Robert McDuffie, violin and Robert Spano, piano—canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic

Max Richter with American Contemporary Music Ensemble | Friday, Sep. 28, 2018
Review of the concert from the Emory Wheel

Jerusalem Quartet with Pinchas Zukerman and Amanda Forsyth | Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018

Daniel Hope: Air—A Baroque Journey | Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018

Lise de la Salle, piano | Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018

Ray Chen, violin, with Riko Higuma, piano | Friday, Jan. 25, 2019
Student interview on the master class with Ray Chen from Arts ATL

Czech National Symphony Orchestra with Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano, under the direction of John Mauceri and Steven Mercurio | Friday, Feb. 15, 2019
Review of the concert from EarRelevant

Eric Owens and Lawrence Brownlee | Friday, Mar. 22, 2019
Interview with Lawrence Brownlee on WABE 90.1 FM

2017 November concerts flyer

Alessio Bax, piano and Chee-Yun, violin

Vienna Boys Choir

Crosscurrents featuring Zakir Hussain, tabla and Dave Holland, bass

Irma Thomas, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and The Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet

Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano

Peter Serkin, piano

Sarah Chang, violin

Branford Marsalis Quartet with special guest, Kurt Elling

Robert McDuffie, violin and REM's Mike Mills, electric bass and piano: Concerto for Violin, Rock Band, and String Orchestra with Wordless Music Orchestra

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Renée Fleming, soprano

Katia and Marielle Labèque, piano duet

St. Lawrence String Quartet with Pedja Muzijevic, piano

Chick Corea, piano and Béla Fleck, banjo      

Conrad Tao, piano     

An Evening with Bassists Edgar Meyer and Christian McBride         

David Finckel, Wu Han, and Philip Setzer Piano Trio

Julian Bliss Septet: A Tribute to Benny Goodman

The Knights with Gil Shaham, violin  

Nathan Gunn, baritone          

Garrick Ohlsson flyer

Garrick Ohlsson, piano

Brentano String Quartet with composer and pianist Vijay Iyer

Anne-Sophie Mutter and Mutter Virtuosi

Irvin Mayfield and New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

Daniel Roumain, violin

Sharon Isbin, guitar and Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano

The Tallis Scholars

An Evening of Chamber Music featuring Philip Glass and Tim Fain

Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano

Chris Thile, mandolin

Estonian National Symphony Orchestra with Narek Hakhnazaryan, cello

yMusic Ensemble

Newport Jazz Festival: Now 60, featuring Anat Cohen clarinet

Lang Lang, piano

Inon Barnatan, piano, and Alisa Weilerstein, cello

An Evening with Branford Marsalis flyer

An Evening with Branford Marsalis

Gil Shaham, violin

Warsaw Philharmonic with Antoni Wit, conductor, and Yulianna Avdeeva, piano

Sérgio and Odair Assad, guitars

Yefim Bronfman, piano

Daniel Bernard Roumain presents Filter, featuring members of the Sphinx Orchestra

Lawrence Brownlee, tenor

Brooklyn Rider

Australian Chamber Orchestra flyer

Hilary Hahn, violin, and Valentina Lisitsa, piano

Schola Cantorum de Venezuela: Aqua and Fiesta

Kronos Quartet with Qasimovs and Homayun Sakhi

Christopher O'Riley, piano

Dawn Upshaw, soprano

Australian Chamber Orchestra

Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Piotr Anderszewksi, piano

Venice Baroque Orchestra with Robert McDuffie, violin

Taipei Chinese Orchestra with Wu Man, pipa

Nicola Benedetti, violin

SFJAZZ Collective

Simone Dinnerstein, piano

2009-2010 Candler postcard

Canadian Brass

Sharon Isbin, Thiago de Mello, and Paul Winter: Journey to the Amazon,

Esperanza Spalding, jazz vocals and bass

Bang on a Can All-Stars with Glenn Kotche, percussion

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Thomas Hampson, baritone: Song of America

L.A. Guitar Quartet

Lynn Harrell, cello

Warsaw Philharmonic with Antoni Wit, conductor, and Valentina Lisitsa, piano

The Atlanta Opera performs Philip Glass's Akhnaten

New York Philharmonic with Loein Maazel, conductor

Guarneri String Quartet

Lionheart with Vega String Quartet

Yellow Jackets

Midori, violin, and Robert McDonald, piano

Bergen Philharmonic with Andre Watts

Deborah Voigt, soprano, and Brian Zeger, piano

Kronos Quartet with Wu Man, pipa

Leif Ove Andsnes

David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness

The English Concert with Andrew Manze, violin

Edgar Meyer, double-bass, and Chris Thile, mandolin

Joshua Bell, violin

Frederica von Stade, mezzo soprano, and Samuel Ramey, bass

National Philharmonic of Russia with Vladimir Spivakov, conductor, and Olga Kern, piano

King Singers and Sarband: Sacred Bridges

Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio

Evelyn Glennie, percussion

Denyce Graves, mezzo soprano

Rotterdam Philharmonic with Valery Gergiev, conductor, and Vladimir Feltsman, piano

Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman, violins

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Schola Cantorum de Venezuela: Golijov's La Pasion segun San Marcos

Turtle Island String Quartet and Ying String Quartet

Branford Marsalis Quartet

Thomas Hampson, baritone

Hélène Grimaud, piano

French National Orchestra with Kurt Mazur, conductor, and Jean Yves Thibaudet, piano

Nadja Salemo-Sonnenberg, violin, and Assad Brothers, guitars

2003 Schwartz dedication cover

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with Robert Spano, conductor, and Christopher Martin, trumpet

Ravi and Anoushka Shankar: Full Circle

Les Arts Florissants

Bang on a Can All Stars

Susanne Mentzer, mezzo-soprano

Wayne Shorter Quartet

Murray Perahia, piano

New York Philharmonic opening concert program

New York Philharmonic—Opening Candler Concert

Eighth Blackbird: Soundscapes

Sarah Chang, violin, and Lars Vogt, piano