Arcady kicks off concert series

As Melba Wilson says, “The name is deceptive. The Arcady Music Society Winter Concert Series is not actually in the winter at all.” So, even though it is certainly still autumn, the Winter Concert Series begins this week. Maine classical music aficionados will have the opportunity to hear two well-recognized ensembles this fall, and another two early next spring, in towns spread across central and eastern Maine from Bar Harbor to Millinocket.

Four different ensembles are planning to play: a quartet featuring soprano, harpsichord and a pair of double-reeded instruments; an all-male choral group made up of former members of St. Olaf’s College Choir; a string trio with piano; and finally, a flute and harp duo.

“This is our 21st season,” said Wilson, who is the Arcady Music Society’s executive director. “I have been involved with Arcady, not exactly from the beginning, but for many of those years.”

Founded by Masanobu Ikemiya, who also acts as Arcady’s artistic director, the organization promotes the appreciation of music through live concerts, programs in area schools, special workshops, youth competitions and summer music camps. Many of the musicians involved with Arcady have been heard performing live in the studio over the stations of Maine Public Radio.

Another long-time favorite for performers and audiences alike is the annual “Arcady Ragtime Review,” celebrating one of America’s best loved indigenous musical forms.

“The remarkable thing about all this, is how much of it is done by volunteers,” said Wilson. “We are definitely a grass-roots music society. And we always need more people to help with pot-luck dinners for the musicians, to provide transportation … oh, there’s always something to do!”

Some of the volunteers help with publicity. Others even house and feed the artists. Wilson pointed out that volunteers were instrumental in finding the various churches and halls in which the musicians perform.

The first concerts in the 2001-2002 Winter Concert Series begin this week, and will feature members of The Bronx Arts Ensemble, consisting of bassoonist and BAE Director William Scribner, oboist Marsha Heller, harpsichordist Irina Rees, and soprano Rachel Rosales.

The BAE was founded in 1972 as a way to meet the cultural and educational needs of the Borough of The Bronx, and in 1981 it was awarded the NYC Arts & Business Council Encore Award for its imaginative programming and service to the people of New York.

A professional performance ensemble with a year-round schedule of chamber music and orchestral concerts, the organization also works to present entertaining special programs for families and a full music and arts-in-education program for schools. The BAE presents 100 concerts annually, which reach an audience of more than 50,000, some of whose numbers will be counted in Maine this year.

Their first appearance as part of this series will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at the Skowhegan Federated Church in Skowhegan. In a change to the original schedule, the ensemble will perform the following evening, Thursday, Nov. 8, at 7 at the Congregational Church in Dover-Foxcroft. The Bangor concert will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

The final two concerts swing out to the coast with an afternoon performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Holy Redeemer Church in Bar Harbor and at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at the St. Vincent De Paul Church in Bucksport.

The program is expected to include “Meine Seele Hort im Sehen” for soprano, oboe and bassoon by George Friedrich Handel, a setting of William Blake’s songs for soprano and oboe by Ralph Vaughan Williams, the ” Suite in E Minor” of Rameau, and a cantata for soprano bassoon, oboe and harpsichord by Boismortier, as well as a “Theme and Variations” for bassoon and harpsichord by P.F. Boddecker.

A special guest at the Bar Harbor concert will be young singer Annie Leonardi, who is a senior at MDI High School. Leonardi is one of Arcady’s Youth Competition performers.

The next set of concerts in the Winter Concert Series, to be held Dec. 2-5, will bring the Cantus Choir to churches in Bar Harbor, Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft and Belfast. This 12-member ensemble consisting of recent graduates of St. Olaf’s College in Minnesota will present a special program of music for the holidays, with traditional favorites, classics and new arrangements. They will be joined during the Bangor performance by young pianist and Arcady Youth Competition performer Caroline Cheng, a fifth grade student from Falmouth.

Later concerts in the series will feature the Jade Trio March 24-29, 2002, and the Ariana Duo April 28-May 3, 2002.

For ticket information or to become an Arcady volunteer, visit the Arcady Web site at www.arcady.org or call 288-2141.