RiverArts® Presents its Annual Chamber Music Benefit at the Newington-Cropsey Foundation Featuring Music of Brahms and Schubert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

October 30, 2023 

 

Contacts:  Gigi Lin, Marketing & Communications Manager; glin@riverarts.org  

Peter Seidenberg, Chamber Music Series Artistic Director; peterbencello@gmail.com 

Josh Suniewick, Executive Director; jsuniewick@riverarts.org 

 

RiverArts® Presents its Annual Chamber Music Benefit at the Newington-Cropsey Foundation Featuring Music of Brahms and Schubert 

   

OCTOBER 30, 2023 – HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, NY:    

RiverArts announces the first of three concerts in their Chamber Music Series. This first concert is the organization’s annual Chamber Music Benefit, hosted by the Newington-Cropsey Foundation on Sunday, November 19 at 1:00pm. Included in the ticket price is a cocktail reception following the concert. 

 

Date – Sunday, November 19 

Venue – Newington Cropsey Foundation; 25 Cropsey Lane, Hastings-On-Hudson, NY 

Time – 1:00pm 

Tickets – $100; 50% of the cost of tickets is a tax-deductible donation to RiverArts; tickets can be purchased at https://riverarts.org/event/chambermusicbenefit/  

 

The concert will feature music by romantic composers Johannes Brahms and Franz Schubert. Pieces include Songs for Voice and Piano Op 70, Cello Sonata in e minor Op. 38, Der Hirt auf dem Felsen D965, and Clarinet Trio in A Minor, Op. 114. The run time will be 90 minutes with a 10-minute intermission. 

Immediately following the concert, the Newington-Cropsey Foundation will host a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres and wine.  

Tickets start at $100, which includes the cocktail reception following the concert. 50% of the ticket cost is a tax-deductible donation to support RiverArts’ efforts to continue to provide world-class, affordable chamber music to Rivertown audiences.  

Doug Coe, RiverArts’ Chamber Music Series Producer, shares, “Brahms’ clarinet trio is, for me, a desert island piece. I’ve been listening to it all my life, and it continues to illuminate my own life in ever remarkable ways. I am so excited to be able to hear this piece, along with the rest of this program, played in the totally amazing setting of the upper gallery of the Cropsey Foundation.” 

 

Chamber Music Series Artistic Director, Peter Seidenberg, says, “Brahms’ deeply personal music resonates with us all because of its breadth of emotion and insight. He not only captures the drama and depth of feeling of the romantic era but also gives light to his most inner thoughts.” 

About the Artists 

For additional information, visit the links to each artists’ website.  

Pascal Archer, clarinetist, is hailed by the New York Times as “outstanding clarinetist”, Pascal Archer leads an active career as a performer and teacher. He has served as Principal Clarinet of the New Jersey Symphony and Princeton Symphony Orchestra. 

Allison Charney, soprano, has performed with opera companies across the United States, including the New York City Opera, Atlanta Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Utah Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Memphis, and more. Ms. Charney is an active recitalist and master teacher and is the artistic and executive director of the innovative classical concert series PREFORMANCES™. 

Bernard Holcom, tenor, hailed for his “delicate and flexible” voice (Opera Wire) and “appealing sweetness and clarity” (New York Times). His recent performances span from Long Beach to Italy, with a background including Carnegie Hall, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, and Chicago Opera Theater to name a few. 

Craig Ketter, pianist, is known for playing with powerhouse sonority combined with long-lined, dulcet lyricism.  Mr. Ketter has performed as soloist with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, the Sacramento Philharmonic, the Oakland East Bay Symphony, the Mobile Symphony, the South Orange Symphony, the Raleigh Symphony, the Garden State Philharmonic, the Durham Symphony, the Rocky Ridge Music Festival Orchestra, and the American Festival for the Arts Orchestra. 

Hui-Mei Lin, pianist, is a native of Taiwan. She made her New York solo debut at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as the winner of the Artists International Competition. She was described by the New York Times as “an excellent pianist throughout” and the Taiwan News as “a sensitive and powerful pianist.” Concert tours have taken her to Italy, Canada, Taiwan, and throughout the United States. 

Peter Seidenberg, cellist and Artistic Director, served as principal cellist with the Century Orchestra of Osaka for four years. He was a founding member of the critically acclaimed Elements Quartet which created groundbreaking commissioning projects involving over 30 composers. 

 

About The Newington-Cropsey Foundation  

The Newington-Cropsey Foundation was founded in 1977 by Barbara and John Newington to collect and promote works of Barbara’s great-grandfather, Hudson River School artist Jasper Cropsey. The Foundation hosts a large collection of paintings and is considered the leading authority on Jasper Cropsey. Along with the Gallery of Art completed in the mid ’90’s, the foundation maintains Cropsey’s final home, Ever Rest, on the property. They graciously host an annual Chamber Music benefit for RiverArts in the gallery.  

 

About RiverArts   

RiverArts inspires Hudson River communities in lower Westchester County to come together through art. RiverArts’ year-round season of events and programming includes our two signature free, multi-village artists’ Studio Tour and Music Tour; an annual dance concert; a three-part Chamber Music series; theater performances; and smaller community events such as Drink & Draw, Salon Sundays, Swing Dance night, artist conversations and pop-up concerts; plus Music Education and its SummerArts camp for kids of all ages.    

    

For 60 years, RiverArts has been the catalyst that connects performers, musicians, and art-makers with Rivertowns audiences. We believe in the power of art to express, transform, and bring joy to our lives and our community.      

    

Please visit RiverArts on-line to read more about its mission, core values and programming calendar.   

    

https://www.riverarts.org