Millennium Chamber Players (originally Millennium Chamber Symphony, MCS) was initially conceived in 1999 with the vision of an autonomous ensemble, where all members were new performers of the highest caliber, and equally committed to developing non-artistic skills of each member for the maintenance and growth of the ensemble as an autonomous organization. All members, selected by audition, were guaranteed a solo concerto appearance. An innovative component of the self-governing mission was to establish a financial support system using a novel financial tool designed by one of the founding MCS advisors. A prospectus for a Charitable Trust was created to attract donors. However based and developed in the 2nd of the twin towers, the project was inevitably suspended and made dormant since the events of 9/11.

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The founding season of MCS 1999-2000 included performances, with additional chamber music performances from ensembles within MCS, in the New York City metro area such as Saint Patricks Cathedral, Leonia Methodist Church, The Church for All Nations, Riverside Church. Distinguished inaugural season highlights include presentations of works by Richard Danielpour, Katherine Hoover and Daniel Shore, programmed with well-received debuts of traditional concertos by members of MCS. The founders gratefully acknowledge the support of ASCAP, Meet The Composer, and The Field of New York. Instrumental to the realization of these presentations is Yamaha Piano Artist and co-founder Alexander Wu; with the production of performances of MCS and its chamber groups into his established Ground Base Artists Series in NYC.

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Fifteen years post 9/11, Mr. Wu has reassembled MCS in extraordinary effort with new and forthcoming talent and programming. The ‘renaissance’ Inaugural Concert of MCS on November 21st, 2015 at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center, NYC, featured American composer David Amram conducting his work “ VVariations on Red River Valley” for flute and strings with guest soloist Marco Granados, Guest Daniela Candillari conducting “ Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber and George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with Alexander Wu, solo piano. With the partnership of co-founding advisor Anna Maria Manalo, the vision of an autonomous ensemble without artistic compromise continues; with an updated financial support model that builds relationships through crowdfunding, co-charitable partnerships, volunteerism, and private funding.

 

In keeping with the theme of A Return to the Human Spirit, the MCS provides opportunities for people of all ages to realize their musical ambitions, in an accessible, inclusive and supportive environment, within a community of like-minded classical music enthusiasts, whilst bringing joy to those who are most in need… There are few other organisations in the metropolitan New York / tri-state area which have as wide as reach in offering the gift of music as the MCS – for both performers and audiences alike.

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As MCS has continued to grow and change throughout the years, it was decided in 2020 to change the name of the organization to Millennium Chamber Players (MCP). MCP continues to bring music to the world.