ACMP members were among the performers at the first collaborative Chamber Music Recital in the sun-filled Celebration Room at the Center at Maple Grove Cemetery, Kew Gardens, New York, on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at 4pm. A capaicty audience enjoyed an afternoon of chamber music in the beautiful Maple Grove setting.

The two-hour program, which was free to the public, featured a broad selection of works  ranging from solo pieces, sonatas, trios, and arias. ACMP member Franklin Verbsky, cello, and Vivian Chen, piano, opened the concert with the first movement of Brahms Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor. The duo were joined by ACMP member Doug Hoppe, clarinet, for a performance of Beethoven’s Clarinet Trio in B Flat Major, Opus 11 (third movement). ACMP member Patricia Merlucci, piano, was joined by Millie Calistri-Yeh, violin, and Randy Calistri-Yeh, cello, for Schubert’s Piano Trio Op. 99. D898 (Andante un poco mosso). Our host, Celeste Chau (NOAC member), soprano,  performed Reynaldo Hahn’s Ah Chloris, with Toshiko Jones at the piano. See a full list of performers below.  Audience members joined the musicians for a wine and cheese reception following the concert.

Thanks to ACMP member Celeste Chau for organizing the event and for initiating this partnership. The Chamber Music Recitals at the Center at Maple Grove Cemetery have become a popular staple with the local community at this beautiful community resource and we are delighted that ACMP was been invited to participate in the series. We hope to bring future concerts to the series next year.

Due to the success of this event, ACMP has launched a community concert series where members may apply for $100 toward the cost of space rental and refreshments for a concert in their community. More information here. The next concert in the ACMP concert series is  presented by the ACMP Villa Musica Chamber Music Club, San Diego, CA on Sunday afternoon July 9th from 2:30 – 4:00pm at Villa Musica, 10373 Roselle Street, Suite 170, San Diego, CA. 

Performers on June 24: Cheryl Berard, piano; Marco Burmester, shakuhachi; Millie Calistri-Yeh, violin; Randy Calistri-Yeh, cello; Vivian Chen, piano; Ivy Frankel, spinto soprano; Lauren Green, soprano; Doug Han, piano; Douglas S. Hoppe, clarinet; Toshiko Jones, piano; Patricia Merlucci, piano; Tomoko Nago, mezzo soprano; and Franklin Verbsky, cello.

ACMP Executive Director Jennifer Clarke (third from left) with the musicians