Essex Chamber Music Players and the Buttonwoods Museum / Haverhill Historical Society ‘Notes’ on Haverhill History visit to the Whittier, Hunking and Nettle Middle schools in Haverhill, MA. 

Teaching Team L-R: Stacey Fraser-deHaan, Michael Finegold, J. Windel Brown, Joannes Sullivan

ECMP 'Notes' on Haverhill History Players and Composers L-R:

Mark Nemeskal - tenor, Elaine Rombola - piano, Robin Cavalear - French horn, Emmanuel Feldman - cello, Michael Finegold - flute, David McMullin - composer, J. Windel Brown - composer

Essex Chamber Music Players and the Buttonwoods Museum / Haverhill Historical Society will visit the John Greenleaf Whittier, Dr. Paul C. Nettle and C. C. Hunking middle schools in Haverhill, MA to present their collaborative educational program, Local Cultural History Through Music: ‘Notes’ on Haverhill History.  The program focuses on music related to the Merrimack River, Haverhill’s shoe industry, and poet John Greenleaf Whittier.

The schedule includes pre-concert presentations September 21 thru October 8, 2010. Eighth grade students will discover Haverhill’s history through the medium of music. The presenters will make local history come alive in the students’ imagination by presenting it in this unique way while introducing them to the sound of classical music being created in their own time. Students will have the opportunity to meet and listen to the composers who wrote the concert works explain how they were inspired by Haverhill and how they translated their inspiration into music.  Four teachers will conduct the class presentations:  Music Performer, ECMP Artistic Director and flutist Michael Finegold (NECC Professor Emeritus); Composer, J. Windel Brown (NECC Professor Emeritus); Haverhill Historical Society and Buttonwoods Museum Teacher Stacey Fraser-deHaan; Historical Consultant, Joanne M. Sullivan, North Shore Community College grant staff, former Executive Director of the Haverhill Historical Society as well as public school teacher.

At the scheduled concerts the Essex Chamber Music Players will perform: (1) June On The Merrimack for Tenor, Flute, Cello and Piano (based on John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem) by Ray Loring, (2) “Shoe City” from Haverhill Sketches for Flute, French horn, Cello and Piano by J. Windel Brown, (3) Queen Slipper Serenade for Flute, French horn, Cello and Piano by David McMullin.  The works will be introduced by their composers.  Ray Loring, composer of June on the Merrimack, recently passed away.  A video of Ray introducing his work will be shown.

Essex Chamber Music Players include Mark Nemeskal - Tenor, Michael Finegold - Flute, Ken Pope - French horn, Emmanuel Feldman - Cello, and David Pihl - Piano

The program is open to the families of the Haverhill Middle School 8th grader's families.

Funding support is from the Haverhill Cultural Council
.http://www.massculturalcouncil.org/

Haverhill Bank

The Pentucket Bank of Haverhill

The Essex Chamber Music Players is in residence at Northern Essex Community College.

The Haverhill Historical Society/ Buttonwoods Museum is at 240 Water St, Haverhill. Visit www.haverhillhistory.org

Essex Chamber Music Players will record "June on the Merrimack" for Tenor, Flute, Cello and Piano (based on John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem) by Ray Loring for our Local Cultural History Through Music initial CD release. The recording is made possible by contributions to the ECMP Ray Loring Memorial Recording Fund
I am thrilled to report that the recording went really well last night. Thanks so much for your thoughts, wishes and prayers for the recording of loved Ray Loring and his music.
The music was absolutely beautiful and imbued with Ray's spirit. The recording engineer said after the complete run through at the beginning 'that's it, done, go home". He thought it sounded that good and beautiful from the start.
ECMP and myself personally feel gratified with having done this for all the relatives and friends of Ray Loring.