Music lovers of all ages were treated to an afternoon of fabulous music in Bard College’s Bito Auditorium.  Music pieces ranged from Brahms Sontas and pieces by Mozart and Schumann to a lively and joyful selection from The Sound of Music! Thank you to Susan Hinkle Lindner for arranging such a wonderful event, and to our extraordinary musicians:  Nicholas Alton Lewis, Susanne Son, Stella Prince, Luba Poliak, Brian Krinke, Daisy Dundas, Lucy Dhegrae, Gretchen Kamm, Ethan Richman, Slava Koblov and Calvin Walker.  Also, a special thanks to Montgomery Orchards for donating apples for the after-concert snack!

A beautiful evening of music was enjoyed by many at the HVCMC Benefit Concert at Tailings, the home of Robert Montgomery.  The program, our third at Tailings, featured a unique selection of music ranging from pieces by Antonín Dvořák to new and original works by the winners of the HVCMC annual Helen Shafer prizes.  Thank you to Robert Montgomery for opening his home to us, as well as Flatiron and Market St. restaurants, and many others, for providing delicious hors d’oeuvres.

Johannes Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 100; Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78; Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108

Franz Joseph Haydn: Quartet in G Major, Op. 76, No. 1
Viktor Ullmann: String Quartet No. 3, Op. 46
Ludwig van Beethoven: Quartet in F Major, Op. 135

Franz Schubert: Sonata in D Major for Violin and Piano, Op. Post. 137, No. 1 (D384)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 5, No. 2
Antonín Dvorák: Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Op. 87

Near Bard’s Blithewood Garden and Hudson River trails, this one-hour program featuring Bard Prep Conservatory students and their teachers captured the hearts of babes in arms, toddlers, teenagers, and classical music devotees alike.  The little ones sat up front, close to the musicians, to enjoy vocals, four-hand piano and strings.  Donations to this free concert supported the Bard Conservatory – Prep Division scholarship fund. Thank you Helena, Barrett, David, Tanya, Yael, Julian, Jordan, Francesca, Willa, Ethan, Isabel, Morgan, Elischka, Maggie, Ani, and Lucy for your wonderful performances!

Illiana van Meeteren hosted a well-attended Annual Benefit for the Circle at her home in Rhinebeck.  Joan Tower, composer and Bard faculty member, arranged an engaging concert of chamber music featuring Bard students, including Scot and Stanley Moore, Adrienne Kantor and Sabrina Tabby.

June 8 – Daedalus Quartet: Works by Haydn, Joan Tower and Dvořák
June 16 – Miami String Quartet:Works by Beethoven, Shostakovich and Mendelssohn
June 29 – The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio: Works by Beethoven, André Previn and Brahms

The Circle and Bard Prep Conservatory presented a special Family Concert on Saturday, November 10, 2012 in the Bard Chapel of the Holy Innocents. The concert featured Prep students and their teachers in a one hour program that included vocals, four-hand piano, and strings. The chapel was full to capacity, and every age group was represented, from babes-in-arms to grandparents. Young children gathered up front, close to the musicians, and a few little ones danced to Chopin’s “Minute Waltz” and Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins”. Afterwards, the audience was invited to meet the performers and see the instruments.

Robert Montgomery and the Board of Directors held an afternoon of music to benefit The Hudson Valley Chamber Music Circle, the second one at Tailings. The Music Program, once again coordinated by prominent composer and Bard faculty member Joan Tower with several talented and amazing Bard students, was followed by wine and hors d’ oeuvres.

June 2 – The Pacifica Quartet: Works by Smetana, Janacek and Beethoven
June 16 – Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio with Michael Tree, violist and Harold Robinson, contrabass: Works by Rossini, Zwilich and Schubert
June 30 – Trio Con Brio Copenhagen: Works by Haydn, Brahms and Tchaikovsky

The Circle’s annual benefit reception and concert was held at Tailings, the home of long-time supporter Robert Montgomery in Germantown. Joan Tower, Grammy-winning composer, concert pianist, conductor and Bard Faculty member, arranged a fascinating program performed by students of Bard College (as well as herself) and featuring student compositions.  Student performers included the Sorx Quartet (Sabrina Tabby, violin, Donfang Ouyang, violin, Xinyi Xu, viola, and Rachel Becker, cello), and pianist Xiao Chen.  Composers were Adam Zuckerman and Max McKee.

June 4 – Daedalus Quartet
June 18 – Carmit Zori, Violin, Beth Guterman, Viola, Sophie Shao, Cello and Reiko, Piano (honoring composer Richard Wilson and his music)
June 25 – Johannes String Quartet

Jamie Laredo and Sharon Robinson performed at a Benefit celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Hudson Valley Chamber Music Circle which was in honor of founder Margaret Creal Shafer. The benefit was held at Rokeby, the residence of Winthrop Aldridge on River Road, Rhinebeck.

June 12 – Sharon Isbin, guitar, with Gaudêncio Thiago De Mello, organic percussion
June 19 – Dolce Suono Trio
June 26 – Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio with Miami String Quartet