ASHUELOT CONCERTS
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Mission Statement
Ashuelot Concerts promotes live, classical music as a powerful force in the community. Using concerts, school performances, talks & outreach, Ashuelot Concerts seeks to inspire learning, achievement and well-being in our local community while growing an enthusiastic audience for classical music.
About This Cause
Ashuelot Concerts brings live chamber music from the world's leading concert halls to rural venues and schools in the Monadnock Region. By bringing large numbers of people together to share a uniquely beautiful and uplifting experience, Ashuelot Concerts strives to be an inspirational force during challenging times. Our young organization is growing fast and has already attracted interest from some of the world’s leading chamber music ensembles for future seasons. Our programs strive to remove the geographical and economic barriers that prevent large numbers of people in the Monadnock Region from experiencing the many benefits that live classical music can bring. During the 2023-24 Season, Ashuelot Concerts will connect with around 2500 adults and over 5000 children in Southwest New Hampshire through two different programs: 1. International Concert Series - from September to June, Ashuelot Concerts presents 17 affordable concerts featuring internationally touring concert artists at Stonewall Farm in Keene, Alyson's Orchard in Walpole and the Park Theatre in Jaffrey. 2. Schools Program - ahead of each concert, our musicians visit local schools to perform in classrooms and talk to the children about success, overcoming adversity and how to learn more effectively. We also offer this program to homeschool families several times throughout the year. Our board and staff passionately believe that live music can have a viscerally positive impact on those that hear it. Ashuelot Concerts was founded by British Concert Musicians Nicholas Burns & Louisa Stonehill who have recorded multiple, critically-acclaimed albums for Nimbus & Lyrita Records and have performed in concert halls all over the world. Nick & Louisa now work full-time for Ashuelot Concerts as Artistic & Executive Director and Program & Artistic Director (respectively) and are passionate about bringing their international connections to rural New Hampshire to participate in our program. Classical music has come under existential pressure over the last few years: In the US, classical music makes up only 1% of all the music that is streamed or purchased each year. In concert-halls, the average age of those attending has risen significantly over the last few decades. Taken together, the sad reality is that fewer and fewer members of the general public have any experience or concept of how incredible this music feels when it is experienced live. It is imperative to develop a younger audience to secure the future of this amazing art-form and preserve its many benefits for future generations. It is up to us, the classical artists and advocates to reach out to the 99% and convince them that live classical music has a valuable role to play in our community. Live Classical Music has so much to offer, especially when it involves artists at the very top of the profession. In recent times division and political polarization has increased, mental health has deteriorated significantly, and social-media and screen usage has increased - degrading our collective ability to focus, make real connections and enjoy real-life experiences. Live music has a unique and scientifically proven ability to help mitigate these issues in our community as we gradually recover from the strains of the last few years. Ashuelot Concerts’ goal is to provide joy, inspiration and unity through our international concert series. Our aim is very simple: to uplift and inspire as many people as possible through our program. We bring together diverse audiences of young and old people from different backgrounds, with varied political beliefs and religions, we gather in three beautiful venues in Keene, Walpole and Jaffrey, and together we share the unique experience of beautiful music, performed live at the highest level possible. After such an experience, there is suddenly more reason to be optimistic; where there is division, the concert-setting offers the perfect opportunity to talk only about the unique, positive musical experience that the concert provided, leaving any differences at the door. International Artists involved in our program this year include Artistic Directors Louisa Stonehill (Violin) & Nicholas Burns (Piano), Masumi Per Rostad (Viola), Guy Johnston (Cello), Francisco Vila (Cello), Tommy Mesa (Cello) and the Heath Quartet. These performers regularly appear at leading concert halls around the world including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, London’s Wigmore Hall and Vienna’s Musikverein. All have recorded multiple critically acclaimed albums and are Internationally renowned. In local schools, our program is uniquely designed to support teachers by using live music to inspire all children to strive. Music helps them understand that what feels difficult or impossible today, can quickly become achievable and even enjoyable with the right attitude, work, determination and learning techniques. The program brings internationally-renowned musicians into classrooms to share with children their own stories of overcoming seemingly impossible difficulties to succeed in pursuing their passion at the highest level. This program is unique in bringing the concert experience from leading concert halls in major cities into rural classrooms in New Hampshire. Ashuelot Concerts provides children with unique access to performers at the top of the profession, from all different backgrounds and nationalities, who are passionate about their work. Children as young as 5 have the opportunity to sit just a few feet away from rare and historic string instruments made by Stradivarius or Amati 400 years ago. This academic year, Ashuelot Concerts is presenting 40 school performances featuring selections of Violin Sonatas, Piano Trios, Piano Quartets, String Quartets and larger chamber works by the Great Composers. The children typically sit in rapt attention and the shock of hearing this music live and so close for the first time fully captures their attention. In between each performance, our musicians talk to the children about the learning process and how to continually improve. Each school visit follows a theme that is designed to inspire the children to overcome their every day challenges at school, for example: - How daily habits can change what we think we are capable of: Exploring how all of us are a product of our daily habits (both good and bad) and how small changes can lead to big gains over time. - Is something difficult in class, or is it just new? Exploring how the brain reacts negatively to something unfamiliar and how after a few days it can feel so much easier with the right learning techniques. - Talent does not exist! Exploring how there is no scientific evidence that explains extraordinary ability but there are many things that high achievers of all disciplines have in common. - What music tells us about how to communicate: Exploring how to utilize the four basic elements of music - pitch, rhythm, dynamics and articulation - in our own speech to make the world a kinder place. - Contrast and Variety. Using the music as an example, we explore why our brains need variety, contrast and balance to stay healthy and happy. All schools within a 45minute drive of our base in Keene NH are offered the opportunity to participate in this program.