A Four-Part Lecture presented by Dr. Samuel Adler
Livestream Only, 3:30 PM
January 13, 2024—Part 1 (The Early Years–Escape from Germany) Watch Here
March 2, 2024—Part 2 (The Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra to the Texas Years) Watch Here
April 27, 2024—Part 3 (The Eastman and Juilliard Years)
September 28, 2024—Part 4 (Music Concepts & Philosophy…For Future Musicians)

About this Four-Part Lecture
At age ten Samuel Adler narrowly escaped Nazi Germany during Kristallnacht, the “night of broken glass.” As he and his father collected sheet music in the loft of the synagogue, saving all that they could on that terrifying night, soldiers heard them from down below. It was the sudden collapse of the pipe organ that allowed Adler and his father to run and escape through an underground tunnel. His family took the last train out of Germany with their bags full of sheet music, paving the way for Adler to study and nurture his musical gifts in America. At age ninety-five, he continues to compose, sharing his prolific musical gifts. Known for building bridges through the international language of music, as well as his optimism and “life-affirming spirit,” he is uniquely positioned TO SPEAK TO OUR TIME.

About Dr. Samuel Adler
The risk-taking composer of 400 published works taught for sixty-three years at Juilliard, and Eastman, and has given masterclasses and workshops at over 300 universities world-wide. Having studied with Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, Randall Thompson, and more, he knows just about everyone on the twentieth-century American music scene and has received numerous awards including ASCAP’s “Aaron Copland Lifetime Achievement Award.” He believes that one should compose in the “energy of his time” and he is without doubt one of the greatest living composers and conductors Language of music, as well as his optimism and “life-affirming spirit,” he is uniquely positioned TO SPEAK TO OUR TIME.

Presented by M.T. Anderson

About the Lecture
National Book Award-winning author M. T. Anderson will tell the story of how Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich, trapped inside the city of Leningrad during the brutal siege by the Germans in World War II, wrote his Seventh Symphony (“Leningrad”) as an act of defiance while he was serving as a roof-top fireman watching for incendiary bombs. Incredibly, it was performed by a starving orchestra within the city — and then was smuggled out via the Middle East to be performed in the United States to promote the war effort. Shostakovich’s story is not only an inspiring tale of the power of music — it’s also an important example of how hope can transform spirits and almost miraculously save lives in tempestuous times.

About M. T. Anderson
M. T. Anderson writes books for young people and adults. His Gothic novel of the American Revolution, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, won the National Book Award in 2006. He has been a Finalist for the same award for The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge (written with artist Eugene Yelchin) and for the satirical science-fiction novel Feed. His nonfiction book Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad, revealed new facts about the fate of Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony (“Leningrad”) in the USA. He has published short nonfiction pieces in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Slate, and Salon. He lives in Vermont.

About the Lecture Recital
NOR Trio, which is New Trio in Armenian, is based on a traditional piano trio with a violin, a cello and a piano. In this unique trio, the cello is replaced by a saxophone. Experience the depth and beauty of this rich musical tradition—color, rhythm, melody, nuance brought to life!

About the NOR Trio
NOR Trio was formed by a fortuitous coming together of three instrumentalists. Nor Trio, which is New Trio in Armenian, is based on a traditional piano trio with a violin, a cello and a piano. In this unique trio, the cello is replaced by a saxophone. After originally playing a French composition written for violin, piano, and saxophone, the three musicians noticed that the tone quality of an alto saxophone brought a new perspective to the traditional ensemble. From then on, Nor Trio continued to adapt compositions written for traditional piano trios. An alto saxophone’s range is far shorter than a cello’s, therefore some string techniques cannot be transposed to a wind instrument. NOR Trio produces music that is distinctive, while still retaining the traditional aspects of a piano trio. The Trio is composed of Andrei Sobchenko, alto saxophone, Sargis Karapetyan, violin and Nunè Hakobyan, piano. Their particular focus is on Armenian and Russian music.

Presented by Maria Finkelmeier

About the Lecture
Named a “one-woman dynamo” by the Boston Globe, Maria Finkelmeier is a percussionist, composer, and digital media artist who will perform a 40 minute set of her own music featuring marimba, electronics and voice off of her upcoming album. Find out about her compositional practice when fusing acoustic sounds with electronic capabilities, and stories behind each work. Don’t miss this show, augmented with digital art projected in the hall, generated from Finkelmeeier’s movement as she performs. Experience this vibrant and energetic immersive experience, encouraging questions, joy and new possibilities.

About Maria Finkelmeier
Named a “one-woman dynamo” by the Boston Globe, Maria is a percussionist, composer, and digital media artist. Whether it’s scoring conceptual art films or serving as director, composer, and performer in multi-sensory performances and installations, her work continually transcends both genre and medium.

Empowered by sonic exploration, she’s transformed Fenway Park into a percussive playground, turned the Roebling bridge into a MIDI instrument, illuminated an an outdoor amphitheater as pandemic relief, used AI to investigate gender bias, flipped a bus into mobile electronic bucket drumming program, and performed at iconic global venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Smithsonian, and Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. Her cutting-edge work has been featured in the Boston Globe, National Parks Magazine, Boston Magazine, Vulture, SunSentinel, and on WGBH, WBUR, CBS, and I Care if you Listen.

Presented by Ian Hale

Morning Workshop for All Ages!
Evening Lecture/Concert
Performing Arts Center
95 Southern Eagle Cartway, Brewster, MA

About Ian Hale
Ian Hale received degrees in percussion performance from the University of Calgary and the University of Massachusetts Amherst where his teachers included Dr. Glenn Price, Eduardo Leandro, and DCI Hall of Fame member and Professor Emeritus at UMass, Thom Hannum. He has studied marimba with Leigh Howard Stevens, Gordon Stout, and She-e Wu. He was a member of the music faculty at UMass from 2007-2008 and is currently the Associate Director of the Minuteman Marching Band. He was the Assistant Director of Bands for the Calgary Stampede Showband from 2009-2011 and has served as Percussion Director for Spirit Winter Percussion from Orleans, Massachusetts since 2012.

Ian has worked with many national and international ensembles including the Calgary Stampede Showband, Spirit of America, Thomas Jefferson High School, Dartmouth Indoor Percussion, United Percussion where he has served as front ensemble arranger since 2017, Boston University, the Brazilian Vanguard, and the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. He was a member of the percussion staff for the Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, and the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently on the percussion staff for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps where he has served since 2017.

Ian is endorsed by Pearl/Adams musical instruments, Vic Firth Inc., Zildjian Corporation, and Remo Inc.