A Message from Our President
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As I greeted members and guests at WMC's February program meeting, I referred to the new decade as one in which the Club will enter a new phase of its existence - the move of most of its operations to the
Center at Belvedere
(formerly the Senior Center), starting in the fall. Also, when the calendar clicked over to 2020, it signified the beginning of my FIFTIETH year as a member of this venerable organization!
Reflecting on this, two adjectives about the Club came to mind: AMAZING and WONDERFUL. These qualities were on full display at two events in January: Musical Interlude 2020 and the Club Competition. They were ably chaired by Cecily Winchell and Mary Vee Connell, respectively, and on behalf of WMC I want to take this opportunity to give a public shout-out to these chairs, to their committees, and to the many dedicated volunteers who helped make these events so successful. Truly the Wednesday Music Club is unique as a non-profit and as ONE organization, with the ability to combine extensive support of young musicians, fun social interaction AND enjoyment of beautiful music!
---Corky Sablinsky, President
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Piano Fund Update
A huge thanks from the WMC to all members who have already donated to the Piano Fund, honoring Content "Corky" Sablinsky. As you know through a good bit of previous publicity, the desired new piano, a 7' concert grand, will be on loan to the
Center at Belvedere
, the club's primary venue beginning this fall.
The fundraising goal is $52,000; this is an increase in the original goal of $45,000, then seemingly a professional and valid one. With our recent extensive "discovery period" looking at the existing suitable options, the goal had to be raised. As of this writing, we have raised over $42,000 and hope to complete our campaign for these funds by March 15.
If you've NOT made your donation to this exciting campaign, please consider a gift of any size - 100% by all WMC members would be simply spectacular! If you HAVE made your donation, please know how truly grateful WMC is for your enthusiasm and generosity.
Contributions may be made by check to The Wednesday Music Club, PO Box 7642, Charlottesville 22906 or online (
click here
). If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact Pat Davis (
click here
to
email
or 434-242-6261). To stay within the committee's timeline for purchasing a piano,
we request donations be made
no later than March 15, 2020
.
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February Program Report
This past Wednesday, 5 February, organist Jonathan Schakel and soprano Megan Sharp transported WMC members across the Atlantic for a capsule musical tour of the City of Light. In a program aptly called
Un Matin
à
Paris
[A Morning in Paris], they presented music by six composers spanning two centuries of French music.
The program was a welcome opportunity for us to hear First Presbyterian's fine Casavant Fr
è
res organ, during this last season for WMC at the church. Having Megan join Jonathan for half of their repertoire choices was an extra bonus.
Jonathan and Megan framed the program delightfully as a "walking tour" of churches and cathedrals in Paris, accompanied by descriptions of them as well as of the composers represented on the program who had served as organists there. Jonathan explained that César Franck had been organist at the church of Ste Clotilde (just a few blocks from Notre Dame which stands at the center of Paris) before performing his opening selection, Franck's
Pastorale
from
Six Pi
è
ces
Op. 19. Megan then joined Jonathan for a lovely setting by Louis Vierne of three poems by Jehan le Povremoyne entitled
Les Ang
élus
.
Vierne had been Notre Dame's organist starting in 1900
.
Then followed Jonathan with
M
é
ditation
by Maurice Durufl
é
, a student of Vierne (and the teacher of beloved WMC member Yvaine Duisit). His church, near the Pantheon, was St-Etienne-du-Monde. Crossing the river to the Seine's Right Bank, we were introduced to organist and composer Jehan Alain, who played regularly at the Notre Dame de Nazareth Synagogue. His work was represented by an ethereal
Ave Maria,
sung by Megan.
The program concluded with Nadia Boulanger's
Three Pieces for Organ
and a final work by a completely unfamiliar living composer, Beirut-born Naji Hakim, a naturalized French citizen. His church is Ste Trinit
é
, and his composition -
Amazing Grace: Variations on an English Hymn
- was amazing indeed and thoroughly enjoyable.
---Laurie Shulman, WMC program chair, and Corky Sablinsky, WMC President
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Musical Interlude 2020, A Great Success!
On Saturday, January 11, 2020, the Wednesday Music Club and guests were entertained at Westminster Canterbury in the Rotunda Room by three accomplished musicians: Stacey Sharpe Virginia Commonwealth University, Robert Carlson, James Madison University, and Tina Hashemi, University of Virginia, who were the recipients of WMC's university music majors scholarships. Stacey enchanted us with solo violin selections by Bach and Eugene Ysa
ÿ
e, followed by "Bobby" Carlson, pianist, performing Beethoven's "Les Adeiux" Sonata. His flying fingers dazzled the audience even further with his encore - Chopin's Revolutionary Etude. Then Tina, jazz vocalist, soothed our souls with various songs that we all knew, from
Tenderly
to
I Get a Kick Out of You,
ably accompanied by Thomas Kehoe
.
The guests in attendance all agreed that the diversity in talents made the afternoon quite a joyful event. There were 90 attendees. Nancy Bertram contacted some UVA friends and associates who sent in donations and also had the event publicized on WTJU, UVA's radio station.
Afterward, guests enjoyed wine and food prepared by our volunteers - Dana Patek, Rae Skinner, Charlotte Burns, Linda Smith, Diane Kingsbury, Anna Farrell, Emily Lehman, Pat Davis, Polly Deck, Anitra Archer, Ann Etchison, Barbara Grzymala, Janet Schwerdt, Kay Parker, Barbara Moore, Linda Hunt, Clara Mincer, Ineke Dickman, Dori Feldman, Betty Natoli, and Cecily Winchell. The center pieces on the food tables were created by our talented Janet Schwerdt.
---Cecily Winchell, Musical Interlude Chair
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The annual WMC Competition, held this year on January 25, included 37 students who competed in four categories: Junior and Senior Camp Scholarships, as well as High School (grades 9, 10, 11) and Senior (grade 12). In addition to piano and string instruments, students performed on trumpet, flute, clarinet, and bassoon. Thanks to WMC members who volunteered on January 25 to ensure a successful competition and especially to Committee members who oversee various aspects of the competition: Rosalyn Preston, volunteers; Dorrit Green, judges; Michele Carrigan, applications/scheduling; Susan Thomas and Anna Farrell, winners recital; and, Cheryl Lewis, camp scholarships. Also, Mary Bournos and her assistants provided a delightful lunch for volunteers and judges. Competition winners and their awards are listed on the
WMC website
. WMC members can see and hear the students perform their award-winning pieces at the Winners Recital on Sunday, March 1st at 2:00 pm in the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary .
Important Reminder
The March 1st Winners Recital IS the WMC March meeting
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A WMC Membership Initiative
This announcement is about a great opportunity to grow our membership and receive free tickets to a
Charlottesville Symphony
spring concert as a "thank you".
As the WMC prepares to move to its new home at
The Center at Belvedere
, we are looking forward to an increase in our membership numbers. The Center's auditorium has a capacity of about 340 with ample free parking, so this is a perfect time to grow our organization!
If a current member brings to WMC a dues-paying new or lapsed member/couple, the current member will receive a voucher for a pair of free tickets to a Sunday afternoon
Charlottesville Symphony
concert of choice. You may use the voucher yourself, share it with your new member, or give the voucher to a friend. This offer is retroactive to January 1, 2020.
Contact Anitra Archer (
click here
to email or 434-973-9921) for more information about how to document the new/lapsed membership and receive your voucher. Sunday concerts this spring are February 16, March 22, and April 26, 3:30, at the
Martin Luther King Performing Arts Center
.
We are grateful to Janet Kaltenbach and the staff of CSO for providing the complimentary ticket vouchers as another way for our two organizations to collaborate.
Click here
for programming information on the Symphony's spring concerts.
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WMC Launches the Alma Huesing Summer Piano Camp
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Some wild excitement is planned for this summer as we launch (2nd time's the charm) the Inaugural Alma Huesing Piano Camp. All Intermediate to Advanced level students, ages 10-13, are invited to apply. The lucky 12 who get in will be treated to outstanding hands-on lessons with Lise Keiter (Mary Baldwin College) and John Mayhood (UVA), fun and games involving theory, composing their own music, and other related activities. For pianists who do most of their work alone, this will be a fun time to network with other pianists. It will take place every morning, 8am - noon during the week of July 13th. If you have students, grandchildren, neighbors or know of anyone who might be interested, please pass the word. See or
email Barbara Moore
for a brochure or go to the
WMC website
for more information.
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MISSION
The Wednesday Music Club promotes and expands quality musical and educational opportunities for its members, for teachers, for music lovers, and for the youth of Central Virginia through regular performances, competitions, shared group experiences, and financial support.
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VISION
The Wednesday Music Club will foster and sustain a vibrant music climate throughout Central Virginia, especially among young people.
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Newsletter Editor - Ann Etchison
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