Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ahmad Mayes.
Hi Ahmad, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I am lucky to be doing what I’ve loved since I was a kid, bringing great music to the public. I got my start in the school band and after a lot of practice progressed to eventually study music education and arts administration at Florida State.
After transitioning from the classroom and stage to eventually behind the scenes on the administrative staff, I was thrilled to go to work helping share the same great classical music that inspired me as a kid with the public on the staff of various orchestras from Sarasota, to Atlanta (my home town orchestra) to Cincinnati, and eventually to my current role as ED with the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The road has had its ups and downs for sure. The arts, and classical music in particular, are a volatile field due to fluctuations in funding, lower staff and artist wages, high turnover, and numerous other issues. These are all significant challenges, but I think the biggest challenge has been classical music’s struggle to evolve our guest experiences to be competitive for the attention of today’s consumer while also staying true to the art form.
Attracting new audiences is crucial for our future. We are starting to see a more concerted effort across the field to cater more to the preferences of potential concert-goers. These can be driven by small changes like simplifying the language used to talk about and market classical music, introducing pieces from the stage, or shortening concerts, to more substantial ideas like creating social experiences around concerts, introducing more familiar musical styles, embracing cultures that have been historically excluded from classical music, and creating opportunities for audience interaction during concerts.
Like anything else, classical music must adapt to the times and actively seek relevance for the future audiences we hope to gain. I hope the recent momentum around this continues to grow, and if it does, I think we will see a thriving future for chamber music, orchestras, operas, and more.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the Executive Director of the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach. We are a quickly growing presenter of world-class chamber music concerts performed in and around Palm Beach. It is a huge thrill to connect audiences in the area with some of the brightest and most talented artistic minds in the world.
The intimacy of chamber music – typically just 2-8 musicians and 200 to 300 audience members exploring a range of classical music masterpieces – is special and allows audiences to feel in touch with the artists on stage. Listeners are always in close proximity and can observe body language, witness the nonverbal interplay and chemistry between musicians, and, through their response to the artists, play a crucial role in creating a living work of extraordinary art.
I am incredibly proud of the quality of work we bring to our community, which truly is the best you can find anywhere in the world. I want the public to know that it can be accessed by anyone and that it is an enriching experience that turns common stigmas about classical music on their head. You will be engaged, impressed, curious, uplifted, and entertained all in an 85-minute experience at the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
I have learned that the arts are resilient as hell and that in the face of crisis, artists, arts organizations, and arts supporters rise to the occasion. I think the pandemic showed us how much people value creativity and human expression. While it was a struggle and many contributors to our arts ecosystem suffered it was impressive to see how many came through on the other side with a renewed enthusiasm for the role and importance of the arts in today’s society.
We saw the power of the arts and creativity to keep us connected at a time when we could not be physically together. I remember the sights and sounds of musicians (professional and amateur) and neighbors performing on their balconies around the world. It was a beautiful reminder of our fundamental humanity and an example of how music brings us together.
Pricing:
- Tickets start at $35
- 24-25 season subscriptions are also available.
- Students and school educators are always free. Call 561.379.6773 to inquire.
- Visit ChamberMusicPalmBeach.org
Contact Info:
- Website: ChamberMusicPalmBeach.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmspb/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chambermusicsocietypalmbeach
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd28iyUEHF5dEdAjMzMsfpA
Image Credits
Brian Larrabee
