The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble's mission is to provide Schuylkill County and surrounding communities with classical and contemporary chamber music of the highest professional standards, foster growth in local chamber music appreciation and encourage young people in their attendance, and involvement with this important musical form.
The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble, now celebrating its 17th season in Schuylkill County, is a Non-Profit Organization, dedicated to present high quality performances of chamber music repertoire. Although its basic formation is a piano quartet, professional guest artists frequently join the Ensemble in order to offer a wide selection of chamber music masterpieces. GCE delights its audiences with its informative and fun presentations, its quality of performance, and its informality. All concerts are followed by a reception in the lobby, where the audience can meet the GCE members and discuss the evening.
The GCE has been successfully received in Maryland, New Jersey and Vermont, and Atlanta, Georgia. Each summer, the Ensemble is also the quartet-in-residence at the Vermont Music and Arts Center.
In addition to its artistic achievements, GCE has initiated community and educational outreach programs to develop chamber music audiences and the musicians of the future. Since 1997, its elementary school program "Chamber Music for Children", based on Haydn's life, has reached over 7000 children in the County. Every year GCE also presents special classes to the music students of Penn State Schuylkill Campus.