NouLou Chamber Players

In 2015, a group of Louisville musicians started meeting at each others' houses for "reading parties"- playing through chamber music without rehearsal, just for the fun of it. Soon, though, that wasn't enough- they just had to share this wonderful music with others! 

Voice Tribune, December 2023

When the musicians contacted the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum, they were in for a pleasant surprise- the Museum had been wanting to start a chamber music series themselves! Thus the Parlor Series was born. Since the venue only holds 50-60 people, the experience retains the intimate & joyous atmosphere of those first reading parties. The players can literally reach out and touch the audience. They also get to share their thoughts about the music with the audience between pieces. Each performance is a magical evening where people of all walks of life can come together to share a love of music.

                                               Rehearsal of our commission & premiere of "Suite for Ten Instruments" by Daniel Gilliam at Oxmoor Farm, April 2024.      Violinist & Composer Jack McFadden-Talbot with the Wallis Family after the premiere and commission of “Passage” for Cello Quintet in loving memory of Christian Meriwether Kennedy, February 2024                                                                                     

What started as just a hobby has turned into a part time job for Director & Co-Founder Cecilia Huerta-Lauf. "People keep asking for more," says Cecilia. Since their initial parlor concerts, they've gradually increased the scope of concerts and the number of projects throughout each season. Oxmoor Farm is now a Parlor Series partnering venue, and NouLou has enjoyed collaborations with many local organizations Cave Hill Cemetery, Fête de la Musique Louisville, Filson Historical Society, Gravely Brewing Company, New Lens presented by 90.5 WUOL and 21C Museum Hotel Louisville, the Ogle Center at Indiana University Southeast, Treyton Oak Towers, and Violins of Hope Louisville. NouLou has expanded its educational mission through programs with the Louisville Academy of Music, the University of Louisville School of Music’s Composition Department, and the Louisville Youth Orchestra. For the 24/25 Season, we are collaborating with Louisville Academy of Music’s Chamber Music Program giving our community a unique opportunity for participants of all ages and levels to join. We have also participated in outreach concert opportunities made possible by the Imagine Greater Louisville 2020 Grant through the Louisville Musicians Union and Louisville Youth Orchestra. 

                                         Signature Concert with Emily Albrink & Gabrial Lefkowitz, NouLou/LAM, March 2024     Laura De St. Croix will be at our NouLou/LAM for our Chamber Music Program collaboration for 24/25 Season

In recognition of NouLou stands for, the ensemble received a grant from the Robert & Clarita Whitney Fund to give a special New Year's Eve performance at the Seelbach Hotel's Ratskeller in December 2022. NouLou has continued Louisville’s great tradition of commissioning & recording new works recently with chamber music works by local composers Jack McFadden-Talbot and Daniel Gilliam. After commissioning & premiering three new cello concerti in collaboration with Louisville Orchestra principal cellist Nicholas Finch with support from the Gheens Foundation, NouLou received the prestigious Alice M. Ditson Fund Grant to record them and a grant from the Snowy Owl Foundation to share them with the world. Our album “Nou Edition” will be released in the Spring 2025. In the Spring of 2023, NouLou worked with Leadership Louisville Encore Team to help them continue providing these special chamber music experiences for our city.

Chamber music works by local composers TJ Cole & Rachel Grimes will be featured in our 24/25 Parlor Series.NouLou Director Cecilia Huerta-Lauf speaking to our audience at Oxmoor Farm, March '24

Our 24/25 NouLou Parlor Series at Oxmoor Farm features a wide array of unique chamber music ensembles, displaying a range of instruments & voices from duets to large ensembles! We will be performing a mix of beloved standard repertoire & exciting contemporary pieces, including works from local composers TJ Cole & Rachel Grimes. Our Signature concert, Bach to Cello, will feature an all cello choir including the most famous cello ensemble work of all time - Bachianas Brazilianas No. 1! Tickets and program info are available at http://noulou.org/tickets/ and Eventbrite.com

As always, we are very grateful for any size donation, especially on G4GL Day!  With your donation, you are supporting our art, and giving the gift of music to our amazing community! Thank you!