ACMP’s newest grant program Just Play has awarded its first grant to ACMP member Wayne M. King (trumpet), Canton, MA. The grant was awarded for a concert by the Brockton Symphony Chamber Players at Christ Congregation Church, Brockton, MA, on January 28, 2018 at 3pm. The concert will feature works for brass and wind ensemble by Saint Saens, Solveig, and Piangero and is the latest in the group’s annual chamber music concert series. 

The Just Play concert grants, small grants to support venue rental costs and refreshments for community-based concerts, create opportunities for ACMP members and their fellow amateur chamber musicians to showcase work in their communities. The program contrasts to ACMP’s annual Worldwide Play-In weekend each March, which focuses on reading music together in informal settings.

ACMP also hopes the program will introduce new audiences to chamber music. The Brockton Symphony Chamber Players include a description of the essence of chamber music in the program as an introduction to those who may be less familiar with the form: “The challenge and joy is to communicate together as a team, expressing the changing emotions and feelings, blending the sounds, adding the dynamics (loud and soft), and coordinating the tempos (speed) and rhythms. Sometimes the entire ensemble will play the same rhythm, each player adding harmonic diversity. At other times, the players play independently of each other, creating a tapestry of melody, countermelodies, and rhythms.”

We look forwad to supporting many more community-based concerts by adult amateur players through the Just Play program. More information can be found here. Note that the applicant must be an ACMP member. Membership details are here.