ABOUT FAMS

The Fine Arts Music Society was founded in 2002 and formally incorporated as an NFP in 2004. The idea came from the artistic vision of its founder and artistic director David Yonan.

The name of the organization originated from Mr. Yonan’s long association with the Chicago landmark, the Fine Arts Building. The historical Building has long been associated with arts and culture of an international standard. Musicians painters and artists of other mediums that occupy the space inspire the mission of the Fine Arts Music Society.
Most of our concerts and events are held at the extraordinary Showroom Elizabeth Stein Company at the Fine Arts Building with an exceptional view of Lake Michigan and Buckingham Fountain.
The Fine Arts Music Society (FAMS) has since 2002 produced over 200 concerts, events, outreach concerts in schools in the Chicagoland area and master classes, in the historic Fine Arts Building of Chicago, as well as at many venues and private homes of our donors.

Our outreach concerts in Schools have received much acclaim for educating the audiences of tomorrow. Educating and bringing young people together to enjoy the music and the fine arts is one of the foremost missions of FAMS. FAMS has collaborated and co-produced concerts and events with major companies, foundations and schools, such as Elizabeth Stein Company, the A.U.A. Foundation, The University Club of Chicago, The Tower Club of Chicago, The Cliff Dwellers Club of Chicago, Bein & Fushi, Machold Rare Violins Chicago, PianoForte Chicago, The Music Institute of Chicago, the MERIT School of Music, Northwestern University New Music, The McHenry County Music Center, Oak Park/River Forest High School, Gallery Bremer Berlin and others.

FINE ARTS MUSIC SALON concerts, are inspired by the European Salon of the 19th century, and are typically held in private homes of our donors. They have been an inspirational medium for bringing good music, combined with literature and art together in an intimate setting and for bringing lovers of the fine arts together.Become a member open your home for an unforgettable event, or have an intimate chamber music recital in a private salon setting or a concert in an art gallery, the Fine Arts Music Society can provide you with musicians and artists of an international calibre. We work with painters, sculptors, photographers, poets, writers for interdisciplinary events, making the Fine Arts Music Society a truly unique artistic forum and bringing the lovers of the fine arts together

Since 2002 we have invited the following guest artists (selection):
violinists Almita Vamos, Minghuang Xu and Sang Mee Lee, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Mathias Tacke of the Vermeer Quartet, Charles Pikler, principal violist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and other musicians of the CSO, cellists Anna Burden, Jeffrey White, flutist Kim Sopata, pianists Stuart Leitch, Sergiy Komirenko, Christine Yoshikawa, Kay Kim, Katie Hamada, Mabel Kwan and deserving students of Northwestern University and other Universities in the Chicagoland area.

In addition we promote actively new music and have premiered many works by young and emerging composers, such as Kirsten Broberg, Michael McBride and Gilbert Gallindo, as well as by well established composers of our time, such as Arvo Part, Augusta Read Thomas, John Adams and Steve Reich

Future FAMS objectives are:

  • A permanent space in the Fine Arts Building Chicago
  • A permanent hall for our annual Summer Festival
  • The Development and Growth of a dedicated and enthusiastic team of administrative volunteers from diverse backgrounds; especially, development, legal, public relations, finance and management
  


After the inaugural FAMS Master Class in Chicago at Elizabeth Stein Company, December 9th, 2007. With distinguished violin and viola professors Roland and Almita Vamos, Elizabeth Stein and young violinists Lisa Chertok, Cara Schlecker Farley Kelly-Masterton (Students of FAMS Founder and Artistic Director David Yonan) and Emily Nash (Student of Simin Ganatra, UIC Champaign Urbana)


FAMS MISSION STATEMENT

The Fine Arts Music Society is dedicated to enriching our community culturally  through music and the arts in an interdisciplinary and creative environment, featuring  both Chicago-based or internationally established and emerging musicians and artists. 

The Society is committed in providing especially young and exceptionally gifted musicians the opportunity and exposure to learn from internationally renowned musicians of our day through concerts, master classes, festivals and Salon concerts in private residences. Furthermore FAMS is dedicated to it's outreach programs in schools, thus inspiring the audiences of tomorrow. Bringing  people of all backgrounds and ages together to enjoy music and the fine arts is our foremost goal.

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Honorary Advisory Board

  • Shmuel Ashkenasi, Roosevelt University, Curtis Institute of Music
  • Hans J. Jensen, Northwestern University
  • John J. Nimrod, Sen. Ret., President AUA Foundation
  • Arvo Part, Composer
  • Charles Pikler, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
  • Ruggiero Ricci, Legendary Concert Violinist
  • Augusta Reed Thomas, Composer
  • Ronald Sergis, Vice President RBC Dain Rauscher
  • Roland & Almita Vamos, Northwestern University

Executive Board

  • David Yonan, Founder & Chairman
  • Saab Shamoon, Treasurer
  • Carol Kyros Walker
  • Tanya Evanov
  • Justin Ranney
  • Michael McBride
  • Lynn Orman-Weiss, PR and Marketing
 
 
2008 © Fine Arts Music Society. All rights reserved.