ALIVEmusica, a collaborative series of livestream concerts born of the coronavirus pandemic, will present its seventh chamber music performance March 21 with the Schroeder Umansky Duo.
The concert, which begins at 8 p.m., will be streamed from St. George’s Church in Newburgh, the venue of Newburgh Chamber Music, one of ALIVEmusica’s co-presenters.
Earlier concerts have been streamed from the Howland Cultural Center in Beacon, home of the Howland Chamber Music Circle, which spearheaded the ALIVEmusica series. Other co-presenters include the Pawling Concert Series and classical WMHT FM.
Musicians have had few opportunities to perform since the beginning of the pandemic, with many furloughed as concert schedules shut down.
The ALIVEmusica series has given up-and-coming artists with ties to the Hudson Valley opportunities to perform, while helping chamber music organizations to maintain a connection with their audiences.
“In this year of such unparalleled challenges, we are thrilled to be partnering with our fellow Hudson Valley music presenters to offer exceptional music to our audiences,” said Akiko Sasaki, music director of the Howland Chamber Music Circle.
For 20 years, Newburgh Chamber Music has presented concerts at St. George’s, on Grand Street, which dates back more than 200 years. The Sunday afternoon concerts highlight young performers and a rich repertoire of classical and modern music. Musicians have praised the church for its acoustics, and audiences have enjoyed the post-concert receptions. The pandemic changed all that last spring.
“It is heartbreaking that so many fine young musicians have lost opportunities to perform and to develop their careers this year,” said Carole Cowan, Newburgh Chamber Music’s founder and director. “These ALIVEmusica concerts showcase these artists and bring comfort to our audiences as well.”
Cowan said the concerts have drawn listeners from many countries around the world, as well as throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley. And several have written to express support for the series.
Said one: “We so much enjoyed the selections, and even more the musicians of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra [the sixth concert in the series.] “Their explanations were terrific and engaged the audience!”
Cowan, who is Concertmaster with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic, added:
“As a musician myself, I am happy that Newburgh Chamber Music has been able to support these ensembles during the pandemic.
“I have enjoyed the wonderful videography, and love that I can see the performers up close and enjoy their interactions.”
Violinist Amy Schroeder and cellist Felix Umansky, who perform a wide range of compositions, from classical to contemporary, formed their ensemble in 2014 shortly before they were married.
Their March 21 concert will feature Arthur Honegger’s enchanting Sonatine for Violin and Cello and the Hungarian folk music of Zoltàn Kodàly’s Duo for Violin and Cello.
Schroeder is a founding member of the Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet and is on the faculty of Vassar College. Umansky is a member of the Grammy-winning Harlem Quartet and has had appointments as artist-in-residence at Yale University, from which he graduated, and the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah. They have performed with orchestras and ensembles throughout the world and won numerous awards and accolades.
The March 21 concert can be streamed on the websites of the co-presenters, including newburghchambermusic.org and howlandmusic.org/ALIVEmusica. It will be available for two weeks following its debut. A donation of $20 is suggested.