BELFAST — Belfast Chamber Music (BCM) will hold its the closing concert of its second season, Strings Attached, featuring cellist Nora Willauer and pianist Marlene McCarthy. 

The concert will be presented Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at 3 p.m., at the First Church in Belfast, 8 Court Street. Admission is free, with donations encouraged to support the performers.

Strings Attached celebrates the sparks of creativity born out of close artistic relationships, accordin to BCM, in a news release.

"The brilliant and virtuosic program will feature Benjamin Britten’s Suite No. 1 for Solo Cello, Maurice Ravel’s Miroirs, and Henriëtte Bosmans’ rarely heard Sonata for Cello and Piano," said BCM. "Nora and Marlene weave storytelling throughout this program and invite audiences to experience each work through the lens of the friendships and romances that sparked its creation. Great works of art and human connection are often deeply intertwined, and Strings Attached gives audiences a chance to learn the fascinating history that led to this beautifully emotional music."  

Cellist Nora Willauer, originally from Hope, is a Cleveland-based performer and educator. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Melissa Kraut and Mark Kosower. Her doctoral lecture recital—examining the relationship between groove and classical cello pedagogy—received the Kaplow Prize for Uncommon Creativity. Willauer has served on faculty at the University of Akron and Interlochen Center for the Arts and currently maintains a private studio in Shaker Heights. She also performs with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and CityMusic Cleveland and curates intimate chamber music experiences throughout Northeast Ohio.

Pianist Marlene McCarthy is known for a multifaceted career shaped by wide-ranging musical interests. She received her DMA from Stony Brook University, where she studied with Christina Dahl and served as an adjunct instructor. McCarthy earned her undergraduate degree at Mannes College of Music, studying with Victor Rosenbaum, and her master’s degree at New York University with Alexander Kobrin. Beyond her classical work, she performs with her husband, Bobby Katz, in the folk-pop duo Bobbylene, whose music has surpassed 8 million streams and has been featured in Starbucks locations worldwide. Her solo project, Marlene T, which reimagines pop songs for solo piano, has attracted more than 200,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Before relocating to Maine in April 2024, McCarthy enjoyed educating her private students in New York City for over a decade. McCarthy is excited to continue her work as an educator, performer, and collaborator in her home state. 

Founded in 2024 by local artists, Belfast Chamber Music is dedicated to enriching the community through the transformative power of chamber music. BCM’s mission is to provide accessible, high-quality musical experiences that inspire, educate, and connect diverse audiences — fostering collaboration among local musicians, supporting emerging talent, and featuring touring artists.

For press inquiries, interviews, or more information about the event, please contact Philipp Elssner at (828) 712-4129 or email belfastchambermusic@gmail.com, and visit: www.philippelssnerviolin.com/belfast-chamber-music/