Strong showing for inaugural contemporary music concert

MILLERTON — As it turns out, there is a significant audience for contemporary classical music in the Tri-state area, as proved by the success of the inaugural show for the NOW! Concerts series, held Sept. 18 in the annex of the NorthEast-Millerton Library.

Just about at capacity, the show was a good indication of things to come from the NOW! Concerts series, presented by the 3Corners Contemporary Music Project, a recently founded not-for-profit sponsored by the Dutchess County Arts Council.

3Corners was created by Dianne Engleke and Mark Liebergall as an opportunity to build an audience for the contemporary classical genre (the term itself is an oxymoron) as well to provide it for existing fans. At the inaugural show the musicians spoke briefly before their performances, giving the audience some background both of the composer and the pieces they were about to play.

The Sept. 18 concert featured two performers: renowned cellist Sophie Shao and the Kalmia String Quartet, a group of students from the Bard College Conservatory of Music. Pieces from six composers were featured, including Kaija Saariaho and Leon Kirchner, who died last year and to whom the concert was dedicated.

As Engleke and Liebergall acknowledged the following week after the show, they were initially unsure what the reception would be for a local contemporary music concert. Liebergall had taken to posting flyers and pictures of the musicians on the outside of his yellow Range Rover, which was parked around the village in the weeks leading up to the event and certainly piqued curiosity for the show.

But both said that the reception from the musicians and the audience was a vote of confidence for the future of the series.

“I am especially happy to have a chance to play some repertoire that isn’t ‘welcomed,’ at least, more than one in a recital, that I’ve wanted to play for a long time,†Shao said in an e-mail after the show. “The Saariaho, especially, I told her I’d play her music, and I think that was two or three years ago.â€

The inaugural show was assisted by several local businesses, including Harney & Sons Fine Tea and McEnroe Organic Farm, which providing food and drink, Kamilla’s Floral Boutique and Country Garden Florists, for handling ticket sales, and Moore & More Printing for design and printing work on the concert’s program. Audio and video of the performance was also recorded by Todd Merrell for archival purposes.

Ticket sales were $15 for adults and $10 for students; those prices will remain the same for future shows. All sales and donations go to compensate the musicians, who are paid their going rate (an important note for Engleke and Liebergall) as well as to rent space for the shows and other associated concert expenses. Tickets will also be put aside in the future for those who cannot afford the price of admission.

“We hope to be able to get significant donations and sponsorships from local businesses,†Engleke explained, which will justify keeping ticket prices low.

Visit nowconcerts.org for more information on the concert series and upcoming 3Corners Contemporary Music Project presentations. Although this was both the first and last event of 2010 for NOW! Concerts (the Library Annex is closed for the winter because of heating costs), several events are already in the works for next spring.

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