I was excited to be traveling back to the UK after so many years. I not longer play but was eager to meet up with any members since I had my capable pianist Markus Kaitila in tow. He hasn’t played with strangers but was eager to do so on our travels.  I’ve only had wonderful engagements with our members when I use to play viola.  I had contacted the four ACMP members in Oxford, out of which two wrote me back.  

Clarinetist Tamara Frisberg was able to work with our schedule and hosted us. She lives just a 15-minute drive outside of Oxford in a lovely home with a large room with a fine piano. She is an American who moved to England back in the 1960s and has a passion for chamber music.  She had joined ACMP in wanting to meet other musicians to play more chamber music both in Oxford and during her yearly trip to California.  

She had sheet music by a wide range of different composers in a wonderful variety of styles.  I turned pages while she and Markus played for over 2 hours with just a short break.  She had wonderful energy and played skillfully through some challenging pieces.  They ranged from standards like Schubert, Bartók and Handel to music by Johann Wanhal and Gilbert Vinter.  Although she was tired, she powered through in her excitement in playing with a pianist who can sight-read well.  Tamara and Markus had a great time reading through all the pieces and arrangements, even taking time to go back to rework some phrasing.  

After they finished playing, I spoke  to Tamara about all the benefits of ACMP membership and for about half an hour, I walked her through navigating our website to look for other players, find and post events and salons, and show her how to reach out to her local IAC councilor while in the United Kingdom and NAOC councilor during visits to California for any future questions.  She is exactly who ACMP enjoys as a energetic player and member that is looking to engage with others. Learning now that membership is free, she was interested in inviting other players she knows in the area to join.   

Overall, it was so satisfying to hear a member happily play and learn more about our new website and benefits.  A wonderful evening of music on the road.