Barry Shiffman will continue to serve as the Artistic Director of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival and contribute to its growth and success until the year 2028. Since assuming his role at Massachusetts' Rockport Music in 2018, Barry Shiffman has been responsible for the establishment of the Fellows program for emerging artists, the introduction of Classical Cabarets, and the organization of numerous community events, including film screenings and lectures. He has also hosted renowned composers-in-residence such as Mark Applebaum and Osvaldo Golijov.
Throughout his tenure, Shiffman has collaborated with the Festival to feature a wide range of talented artists, including Jan Lisiecki, Yefim Bronfman, and Stewart Goodyear, as well as Gidon Kremer, Ray Chen, and Stefan Jackiw. He has worked with various quartets and ensembles like the Dover, Parker, and St. Lawrence quartets, the Zukerman Trio, Mahan Esfahani, Anthony McGill, David Finckel and Wu Han, and Marc-André Hamelin, among others.
Other notable achievements during his time as Artistic Director include incorporating theatrical elements and thematic programming, showcasing competition winners like pianists Sae Yoon Chon and Yekwon Sunwoo, and violinists Danny Koo and Boson Mo. Shiffman has also championed works by contemporary composers such as Jessie Montgomery, Caroline Shaw, Florence Price, Osvaldo Golijov, Mark Applebaum, Tan Dun, and Steve Reich.
In addition to his role at the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Barry Shiffman continues to serve as the executive director of the Banff International String Quartet Competition, a position he will maintain until 2028. He holds teaching and leadership positions at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Glenn Gould School, and the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists. His impressive list of accolades includes the Nadia Boulanger Prize for Excellence in the Art of Teaching and an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary.
Furthermore, Shiffman has played a significant role in various international music competitions and organizations, having served on the juries of the Tchaikovsky and Montreal Violin Competitions, as well as competitions related to string quartets in London's Wigmore Hall, Geneva, Banff, and Lyon.
The Board of Trustees expressed their enthusiasm for Barry Shiffman's continued leadership, emphasizing his extraordinary vision, strong belief in the power of music, extensive connections in the classical music community, and dedication to the organization. Barry Shiffman also expressed his delight at continuing in his role and working with the talented staff and devoted board members of Rockport Music, all while delivering exceptional musical experiences to the community.
The Rockport Music organization, founded in 1981, now offers year-round presentations spanning various music genres, including jazz, folk, pop, and global music, as well as high-definition broadcasts featuring the Metropolitan Opera, London's National Theatre, and special film screenings. Additionally, their educational and community outreach initiatives impact nearly 10,000 students and adults throughout Cape Ann and the North Shore each year.
