the ritz chamber players is an ensemble comprised of accomplished musicians spanning the African diaspora that brings a fresh, new energy to the classical music genre. The Ritz Chamber Players includes some of the most notable musicians of our time who perform with prestigious musical organizations such as the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and the London Symphony.

 

Founded in 2002 by Artistic Director and Clarinetist Terrance Patterson, the Ritz Chamber Players performs a subscription series at the Times-Union Center for the Performance Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2004, the Ritz Chamber Players made their Carnegie Hall debut to a standing room only crowd, with critics proclaiming the group’s performance “extraordinary”, vital, and fresh.  In 2005, they made their international radio debut with the BBC, and, in 2006, performed before a national television audience on the 37th Annual NAACP Image Awards.

 

Mission

The Ritz Chamber Music Society will foster the appreciation of chamber music through performances featuring preeminent, award-winning African-American musicians and composers in accessible and inviting formats, with an emphasis on diversity of audiences, and through an ongoing education and community outreach program dedicated to artistic excellence and innovation specifically geared towards increasing participation by minorities in the arts. 

 

A brief history of the organization

The Jacksonville-based Ritz Chamber Players is the nation’s first chamber music ensemble comprised solely of accomplished musicians spanning the African diaspora. Its series brings a fresh, new energy to the classical music genre. The Ritz Chamber Players performs a complete concert season that showcases works from African American composers as well as the standard classical repertoire, offering the Jacksonville community the opportunity to witness world-class performances by black chamber musicians as well as experience the thrill of world premieres.

 

From their home base here in Jacksonville and their hall at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts – Terry Theater, they garner continual national recognition of the Ritz Chamber Music Society, Inc., [Ritz Chamber Players]. As they continue to produce acclaimed performances throughout the United States, they serve as ambassadors of the City of Jacksonville and bring recognition to their own community as well strengthen their presence other cities in Florida and the United States, including Ft. Lauderdale, and Orlando, Fl., Atlanta, Ga., and  New York, NY. National publications and media tell with great verve about our unique classical music organization based in Jacksonville, Fl. The RCP has received accolades from The Johns Hopkins Magazine, The International Musician, and National Public Radio shows, “The Tavis Smiley Show,” and WNYC “Soundcheck.”   The Ritz Chamber Players, who also perform throughout the US and Europe, bring positive recognition to the Jacksonville community as well as the African American community as a whole.

 

The Ritz Chamber Players was featured on WNYC [New York City Public Radio] and the BBC World Service in an hour long performance and chat on the “BBC Music Party” show.  The program was broadcast on December 4, 2004, and was heard internationally in over 43 countries on BBC World Service Radio (the English language network) as well as WNYC and through the Internet. This again will take the great message of the Ritz Chamber Players, the Jacksonville community, and the African American communities’ achievements around the world.