Ames Piano Quartet, 1996

The Chamber Music Yellow Springs (CMYS) Records document both the original Yellow Springs chamber music organization (Chamber Music in Yellow Springs, 1957-62) and its successor founded in the early 1980s (Chamber Music Yellow Springs). The CMYS Records are a significant contribution to the local and regional history focus of the Special Collections and Archives, and an especially welcome addition to the subject holdings in the arts. The collection contains extensive and detailed holdings, including concert programs, information on chamber music artists, recordings of performances and competitions, and administrative documentation. Both the organization's early and more recent history is documented in this collection.

Series I, Chamber Music in Yellow Springs (1957-62), is comprised of all the material in the collection relating to Chamber Music Yellow Springs's predecessor organization. This series includes a small number of concert programs, some artist informational materials, and administrative records. Although it documents only the three years of the organization's existence, the series includes a substantial amount of the records and other materials generated by Chamber Music in Yellow Springs.

Series II, Concert Programs, is an extensive collection of promotional materials produced by Chamber Music Yellow Springs in relation to its concert series and annual competition. With some exceptions, each concert season's file contains copies of individual concert programs, publicity materials mailed to subscribers, tickets, and applications for the Annual Competition for Emerging Professional Ensembles. Due to their large size, the concert promotional posters have been separated into a dedicated box apart from their individual concert season folders.

Series III, Chamber Music Artist Information, consists of the promotional materials retained by Chamber Music Yellow Springs on the performers the organization has contracted with to play in its concert series. Sorted by ensemble name, the series includes promotional brochures and photographs, as well as contracts and logistical planning information. The records in this series document the backgrounds of the various performers, providing important information on the standing and accomplishments of the artists CMYS has been able to attract to Yellow Springs.

Series IV, Administrative, documents the governance of the organization and its financial affairs. The series is divided into two subseries. Subseries IVA, General Administrative, includes records of the Chamber Music Yellow Springs board of directors, consisting primarily of board minutes and items such as long range planning materials. It also documents the grant-seeking and grant writing activities of CMYS, as well as the various events the organization has staged as fund-raising activities. Subseries IVB, Financial, consists of the annual budgets and a collection of yearly and monthly financial reports, as well as collections of invoices and receipts.

Series V, Audio, is one of the collection's most important components, documenting both the performances of visiting ensembles and the efforts of primarily local groups at the Annual Competition for Emerging Professional Ensembles. It should be noted that the copyrights on these performances are not owned by the Special Collections and Archives as Chamber Music Yellow Springs does not have the authority to transfer certain copyrights on live recordings and original compositions. In the Collection Inventory the numbers in brackets (example: [2]) indicate the number of CDs in the file.