For questions, contact:
caroline@musiciansofmaalwyck.org
(518) 512-9479

Musicians of Ma’alwyck perform Players’ Choice, the first concert series of their 25th Anniversary Season, on September 21 at Old Saratoga Reformed Church in Schuylerville and September 22 at the First Reformed Church of Scotia. A celebratory dinner at the Turf Tavern will follow on September 22.

Musicians of Ma’alwyck’s first concert series of its 25th Anniversary Season will feature repertory selected from each of the core musicians’ favorite composers: David Amram, José Ximénez, Franz Doppler, and Jean-Baptiste Bréval. Last January, Musicians of Ma’alwyck performed for the first time at the historic Old Saratoga Reformed Church in Schuylerville with resonant acoustics and awe-inspiring stained glass windows. They will return this September and will repeat the program at the First Reformed Church of Scotia, another grand venue.

Linda Greene, founding flutist from 2000–2005, will return to join the ensemble from her position as the Buffalo Philharmonic Assistant Flute for this performance. She and Norman Thibodeau will share a flute duet. In addition, frequent Musicians of Ma’alwyck collaborator Max Caplan has composed a new work, Sketches, commissioned by Judy Edwards in memory of her husband Dr. Keith Edwards, which will premiere during this series.

A very special guest will appear in the audience at the September 22 performance at the First Reformed Church of Scotia: the award-winning composer and multi-instrumentalist David Amram, who will be fresh from his performance the night before on stage with Willie Nelson as part of the Farm Aid concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Born in 1930, Amram, who has been called “the Renaissance man of American music” by the Boston Globe, has performed with all of the greats of 20th-century music in a multitude of genres and is the composer of noted film scores such as Splendor in the Grass (1961) and the Manchurian Candidate (1962). It is an honor to welcome such a titan in the field to join in this musical celebration.

Finally, a special dinner at the renowned Turf Tavern in Scotia will follow the September 22 concert in honor of Musicians of Ma’alwyck instrumentalists, board members, and beloved audience members who have served and supported Musicians of Ma’alwyck since the inception of the group. Doors open at 5 pm; dinner served at 6 pm, and there will be a chance to win a fabulous raffle prize. A cash bar will also be available. Reserve your tickets now and be part of this unforgettable evening!

Free preview: Wednesday, September 18, 12 pm | SUNY-Schenectady | 78 Washington Ave, Schenectady, NY 12305

Saturday, September 21, 3 pm | Old Saratoga Reformed Church, Schuylerville | 48 Pearl St, Schuylerville, NY 12871 | Tickets $20 per person. Old Saratoga Reformed members free.

Note: Bring your program to The Basin Grill in Schuylerville after Saturday's performance for a 10% discount on your meal.

Sunday, September 22, 3 pm | First Reformed Church of Scotia | 224 N Ballston Ave, Scotia, NY 12302 | Tickets $40 per person. First Reformed members free.

Turf Tavern Dinner: Sunday, September 22, 2024 | Doors open at 5 pm; dinner served at 6 pm | 40 Mohawk Ave, Scotia, NY 12302 | Tickets are $80 per person. Discounted combination tickets are also available, which includes admission to both the Players’ Choice concert at the First Reformed Church of Scotia and the dinner, for just $105.

ABOUT MUSICIANS OF MA’ALWYCK

Musicians of Ma’alwyck bring history to life through provocative musical performances in the Greater Capital Region and beyond. Now entering their 25th Anniversary Season, they have made a significant impact on the local arts scene through hundreds of unique classical music performances and projects.

Founded in 2000 by violinist and artistic director Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz, Musicians of Ma’alwyck evolved from performing music that may have been heard in Albany in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to an expanded repertory, including twentieth-century and contemporary works, in addition to commissioning new works from emerging composers.

Based in the Capital Region but performing throughout New York State and beyond, the ensemble serves a diverse audience of music lovers, history enthusiasts, and supporters of the arts. Core musicians include Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz, artistic director, and violin; Norman Thibodeau, flute; Sten Isachsen, guitar; André Laurent O’Neil, cello. The group frequently collaborates with local, national, and international artists and organizations from a diversity of backgrounds and artistic styles.

The ensemble performs five concert programs per season in addition to specially curated events, including wine tastings and galas, at unique venues throughout the region. Performances are almost always multimedia, and each concert series includes a number of run-out shows at museums and historic venues, churches, and community and retirement centers. In addition to public performance, MofM has also explored the world of short film and produces about one film per year.

Musicians of Ma’alwyck have been in residence at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany for twenty-five years, and currently hold a residency at SUNY Schenectady. The ensemble released their first commercial CD in 2016, Music in the Schuyler Mansion, which the Times Union called “elegant and charming,” and their second in 2021, Hyde Hall & the Silver Goddess: Operatic Brilliance of Auber, Bellini, Meyerbeer, and Rossini from the Drawing Room. They have been nominated five times for a Thomas Edison Capital Region Music Award and have been featured on WMHT and WAMC radio stations and in film festivals.