San Antonio, August 10, 2012 – The Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio announces the first concert of its Inaugural 2012-2013 Season. COSA will perform The Perennial Contest, a program featuring great but rarely-experienced pieces that address the continuing debates over tonality in music and the essence of being. The works will span five centuries and seven artistic movements in musical and philosophical histories that have addressed these questions. Dr. Kathleen Higgins, Professor of Philosophy at The University of Texas-Austin and degreed in music, will record a radio interview with Ron Moore at KPAC (San Antonio’s classical music station) to discuss the connections between philosophy and music on these issues. The program airs the week of the concert.

Venezuelan-born conductor, Carlos Izcaray, will travel from his home in Berlin to perform as COSA Guest Conductor, bringing to the program his fresh interpretations and experience presenting wide-ranging repertoire to all audiences, including children. Maestro Izcaray’s appearance is being sponsored by the Bank of San Antonio and the concert itself is being underwritten by Robert Oliver, Founder and Board Chair of the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum. The Pearl Brewery, a COSA partner, has generously offered to host the performance on October 26, 2012, 7:30pm, at the Pearl Stable, as part of its repurposing of the area.

“This collaboration with so many partners and sponsors creates a great opportunity to realize an important aspect of our mission—taking classical music to people where they live to create a shared experience,” said Lori Skinner, Executive Director of the Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio.

The Chamber Orchestra of San Antonio is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and opens its first season in Fall 2012. It is devoted to cultivating the realm of classical music for new and versed music lovers through education, performances, and festivals that present rarely experienced as well as timeless works. In addition to the ‘typical’ concertgoer, COSA hopes to reach children and adults with special needs, the elderly, the underprivileged and underserved populations, as well as minorities.