Since its founding in 2009, The Garmany Chamber Music Series (now the Garmany Concert Series) has established itself as one of The Hartt School's signature activities. The series is recognized as one of Connecticut's premier live music attractions, presenting four concerts annually, and is dedicated to bringing the widest possible range of distinguished small ensembles and recitalists to the UHart campus. The series is generously supported by the Richard P. Garmany Fund at the Greater Hartford Gives Foundation.
The series has routinely played to capacity houses in Hartt's Millard Auditorium, and has attracted national attention for the quality and diversity of its offerings. One critic hailed the series as a "who's who of American chamber music."
The founding curator of the concert series, Steve Metcalf, oversaw the series for the first seven seasons. The series was then passed to Larry Alan Smith, who took the reins in 2016 and held them until his retirement at the end of the 2021 academic year. In 2022, Steve stepped into the role of curator for the series and was joined by Hartt faculty member Gilda Lyons, who served as executive director. For the 2025-26 series, the reins were then passed from Steve to Gilda, who is now the artistic and executive director, while Steve is the artistic advisor for the season. Gilda Lyons remains the artistic and executive director for the current 2026-27 series.
The 2026-27 Garmany Concert Series will be announced in late August or early September. Tickets for the 2026-27 Garmany Concert Series will be available in early September.
Past Garmany Series
2025-2026
- Verona String Quartet Featuring Saxophonist Steven Banks, Performing a New Piece by Grammy-Nominated Composer Christopher Theofanidis
- CONCORA - Connecticut Choral Artists & Baroklyn String Ensemble
- Duo YUMENO
- The Dalí Quartet
2024-2025
- Denyce Graves, Mezzo-Soprano and Laura Ward, Piano
- Hub New Music Featuring Guest Artist Kojiro Umezaki
- Verona String Quartet* Featuring Saxophonist Steven Banks, Performing a New Piece by Grammy-Nominated Composer Christopher Theofanidis
- Sandbox Percussion Performing a Multi-Media Piece by Composer Andy Akiho
*postponed due to weather
2023-2024
- Javier Colon
- The Juilliard String Quartet
- Rhythm & Brass
- Melissa White
2022-2023
- Bang on a Can All-Stars
- Aizuri Quartet
- Merz Trio
- Phillip Boykin '95
2021-2022
- David Finckel & Wu Han
- PUBLIQuartet
- Shane Shanahan M'98 and Friends
- Ryan Speedo Green '08
2019-2020
- Joshua Roman and the Verona Quartet
- Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble: Cellular Songs in Concert
- Sirena Huang
2018-19
- Kate Lindsey and Baptiste Trotignon
- St. Lawrence String Quartet
- The Handel and Hayden Society
- Cuarteto Latinoamericano
2017-18
- The Heath Quartet
- Trio Latitude 41
- Emmanuel Pahud, flute & Alessio Bax, piano
- Attacca Quartet
2016-17
- PRISM Quartet
- Juilliard String Quartet
- Chiara String Quartet
- Decoda – The Affiliate Ensemble of Carnegie Hall
2015-16
- Dawn Upshaw and Gilbert Kalish
- Dover Quartet
- Brooklyn Rider w/Gabriel Kahane
- Steven Isserlis and Stephen Hough
2014-15
- JACK Quartet
- Calder Quartet
- Roomful of Teeth
- International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
2013-14
- Jaime Laredo and Joseph Kalichstein, with Hartt Faculty Quartet
- Andy Narell, steel pans
- Sybarite5 string quintet
- Cantus
2012-13
- Tempesta di Mare (Philadelphia Chamber Orch.)
- eighth blackbird
- Imani Winds
- Miro Quartet/Colin Curie
2011-12
- Emerson String Quartet
- Regina Carter & Ensemble
- ECCO (East Coast Chamber Orchestra)
- Chris O’Riley and Carter Brey
2010-11
- Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society
- Bang on a Can All-Stars
- Brentano Quartet
- New York Woodwind Quintet
2009-10
- American Brass Quintet
- Bolcom and Morris
- David Finckel and Wu Han
- St. Lawrence Quartet