News briefs: Emory Chamber’s 31st season; Marcus Book Fest announces authors

The Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta has announced its 31st season of free concerts, which is highlighted with appearances by Mark O’Connor, the Juilliard String Quartet, humorist Garrison Keillor, Grammy Award-winning cellist Zuill Bailey and classical/jazz pianist Matt Herskowitz.

The concerts will be at venues across the city: the Emory University campus, the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, the High Museum of Art, the Breman Museum, the Fernbank Museum and Science Center and KAI LIN ART.

The Vega Quartet, Emory’s quartet-in-residence, will perform January 30 at the Oxford campus’ Williams Hall and then March 30, premiering a new quartet composed for the group by Atlanta native Joel Thompson.

O’Connor, who is considered one the greatest violinists of his generation and has a history that extends from country music to classical, will begin the season on September 9 at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts with a program titled “Bach & Bluegrass.” O’Connor will perform with his wife, Maggie, along with the Vega Quartet’s Jessica Wu and Emily Smith.

Keillor performs his solo show November 11 at the Schwartz Center.

The season will also include the Cooke Noontime Series, the Bach’s Lunch Series and the Family Series. The full schedule is HERE.

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The Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta has announced its lineup of authors who will be in town for the 32nd year of the center’s book festival.

The festival takes place from October 28 through November 19 and is considered the largest in the Southeast.

This year’s lineup of authors includes actors John Stamos, Henry Winkler and Millie Bobby Brown; Georgia politician and activist Stacey Abrams; former CNN CEO Walter Isaacson; former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger and comedian/actor Judy Gold.

“The 2023 book festival lineup not only doubles programming opportunities from years past but showcases an inspiring diversity of voices and subjects,” co-chair Artie Gumer said in a press release. “This year’s festival embodies a vibrant spectrum of culture, creativity and community dialogue. Our commitment to providing something fascinating for everyone is reflected in every speaker, every topic and every event.”

The festival will be held at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta facility in Dunwoody.