About

About

The Friends of Chamber Music of Reading, Inc. (FOCM) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster classical chamber music of the highest caliber, and to make these great achievements of the human spirit accessible to persons throughout the greater Reading community free of charge. From its inception in 1953, the FOCM has presented a series of concerts performed by professional musicians of extremely high stature and expertise, originally offering two such concerts each year.

For the first twenty-five years these concerts featured the Curtis String Quartet, sometimes joined by friends and colleagues, and were supported by voluntary patron contributions. The Quartet chose to apply these funds to the endowment of Philadelphia’s New School of Music, which was founded and administered by Curtis Quartet members.

Now in our 72nd season, we have expanded to present six professional ensembles in 2024-25. We maintain a voluntary, loyal patron base (solicited through our season brochure) as our primary means of support. We are committed to maintaining this unique model, presenting our concerts with no admission fee, truly accessible to everyone in our community. All concerts take place in the historic WCR Center for the Arts, a hall with acoustics perfectly suited for chamber music.

We are fortunate to receive generous grant support from the Reading Musical Foundation, the Presser Foundation, the Judson Foundation, the William Davidson Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (administered through Berks Arts).

The Friends of Chamber Music of Reading is registered with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Charitable Organizations. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

Mission Statement

The Friends of Chamber Music of Reading (FOCM) seeks to foster chamber music of the highest caliber, and to make these achievements of the human spirit accessible to persons young and old throughout the greater Reading community.

Goals (in support of the Mission):

  • Curating compelling concerts by eminent professional ensembles and cultivating ongoing relationships with these extraordinary musicians
  • Offering a series of these concerts in a beautiful, acoustically rewarding space, without charge, to anyone who is interested, and creating the conditions for an informed and intimate dialogue between listeners and performers.
  • Bringing these artists into the schools of Berks County to educate and inspire the rising generation of musicians and music lovers.
  • Presenting and encouraging promising emerging artists to help them further their developing success as professional musicians.
  • Enlisting the passion and support of patrons young and old, great and small, who sustain this Mission.

FOCM’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging: FOCM endeavors to create an inclusive and equitable environment that welcomes all individuals on and off the stage. We advocate for creative and engaging programming, support promising emerging artists, and work to ensure accessibility for all. Through educational initiatives we aspire to reach our community’s youth of diverse backgrounds to introduce and inspire appreciation of this musical art form.

Board of Directors

Suzanne Palmer, Esq.
President

James G. Mathis, M.D.
Vice President

Haia Mazuz
Secretary; Immediate Past President

Glenn Fisher
Treasurer

Chris Heslop

Jacob Leonowitz

Fred Opalinski 

John R. Pankratz, Ph.D.

Penelope P. Proserpi

Ellen Shapiro

Tony Veloz

Neil Hoffman, M.D.
Director emeritus

Thomas B. Souders, M.D.
Artistic Director

Shari Gleason-Mayrhofer
Executive Director

Friends of Chamber Music | PO Box 15205 | Reading, PA 19612

Friends of Chamber Music Reading