Seattle Chamber Music Society Announces Partnership with Alaska Airlines

Performances from SCMS’s 2024 Summer Festival are now available to view on Alaska Airlines’ inflight entertainment system

Seattle, April 25, 2025 — Seattle Chamber Music Society announces a new content partnership with Alaska Airlines, offering archival recordings of SCMS performances on the airline’s inflight entertainment system, free for passengers on most Alaska Airlines flights. The first set of broadcasts is available now and comprises performances from SCMS’s 2024 Summer Festival: the World’s Largest Chamber Music Party. On June 1, 2025, three additional videos will be added to the platform, for a total of six broadcasts.

“We’re excited about bringing Seattle Chamber Music Society’s world class festival performances to Alaska Airlines fliers, and this partnership is a fantastic addition to our mission to make classical music more accessible to all,” said John Holloway, SCMS Executive Director. “With our Virtual Concert Hall performances currently enjoyed by fans in 12 countries and 40 states, we love that we can now add ‘above 30,000 feet’ to that list as well!”

All three broadcasts currently available feature SCMS Artistic Director, violinist James Ehnes, playing alongside other fantastic musicians on the SCMS roster. The recordings are sourced from SCMS’s Virtual Concert Hall, an unrivaled concert streaming platform that recreates the energy of a live performance through six HD camera angles and crystal-clear audio. Full details are below; information on the broadcasts to be released on June 1 will be announced at a later date.

Episode 1: Dvořák Bagatelles, Shostakovich Quartet No. 8; Mozart Divertimento

James Ehnes, violin; Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin; Edward Arron, cello; Andrew Armstrong, piano; Karen Gomyo, violin; Alexander Kerr, violin; Meredith Kufchak, viola; Efe Baltacıgil, cello; Jonathan Vinocour, viola; Ani Aznavoorian, cello

Dvořák’s Bagatelles charm with folk tunes, while Shostakovich’s Quartet and Mozart’s Divertimento dive into deep personal and emotional expression.

Episode 2: Babajanian Piano Trio; Dvořák Piano Quintet No. 2 

James Ehnes, violin; Andrew Armstrong, piano; Stella Chen, violin; Sterling Elliott, cello; Andrew Armstrong, piano; Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin; Che-Yen Chen, viola; Edward Arron, cello

Babajanian’s Trio burns with rhythmic drama, while Dvořák’s Quintet fuses Czech passion and classical grace in vibrant, heartfelt themes.

Episode 3: Beethoven Septet

James Ehnes, violin; Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola; Paul Watkins, cello; Timothy Cobb, bass; Anthony McGill, clarinet; Stéphane Lévesque, bassoon; Radovan Vlatković, horn

Beethoven’s Septet blends elegance and energy, with playful themes and variations, marking the composer's rise as a major musical force.

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