Summer Music, Summer Camp, Summer Fun!

2016 Season Poster LetterSeason 9 of the Summer Concert Series at Union Church begins this week!

Join the West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts this summer for a fantastic program of music traditions from around the world. All concerts are by donation, and held at the historical Union Church at 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH.

Qais Essar and and Amit Kavthekar
Rabab and Tabla
Saturday, July 9th, 7pm
Discover Afghanistan’s ancient Rabab, in this meditative and exotic blend of old world instrumentation, with a dynamic and contemporary flare.

Yankee Brass Band
Friday, July 29th, 6:30pm
Grab a lawn chair and join us for Quicksteps, gallops, polkas, waltzes, popular overtures of the mid-19th century, and more on period brass instruments. Rain location will be inside Union Church. BBQ dinner and dessert begins at 5:30.

The Modernistics
Saturday, August 6th, 7pm
Join us for a toe-tapping show of Music and Dance from the Great American Songbook. Featuring acclaimed tap dancers and vocalists Ted and Pamela Powers, with Peter H. Bloom on flute and Mark Leighton on guitar.

Melissa Richmond and Angela Biggs
The Passion and Turmoil of German Classical
Saturday, August 20th, 7pm
An exploration of rich German compositions for flute, voice, and chamber ensembles of the Classical and Romantic eras.

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Creative Kids Summer Camp!
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am – 3pm
July 12 – 28th
At Trinity Episcopal Church, Broad St, Claremont
$30/day, $55/week, $150 for all 6 sessions

Join us during the month of July for the Creative Kids Summer Camp. With Art projects at its core, kids will also explore science, music, and culinary arts, and enjoy different topics and activities every day. Snacks will be provided and created by the kids, and all supplies are included. Bring a bag lunch or enjoy free lunch as provided for ages 18 and under through SAU 6 at the Claremont Middle School.

For ages 10 and up, free or reduced tuition scholarships are available. Space is limited, registration is necessary to guarantee a space. Registration info here. Please contact us to arrange cash or check payment, or to request tuition aid.

Coming up: Concerts, Annual Meeting, and Workshop!

Join us for our busiest winter yet!

This week: 

sm2014-01-05 11.24.49 copyHands on Harps

Thursday, January 28th, 6:30pm
Union Church Hall, 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH

Only a couple spaces left! Have you always wanted to play the harp, but don’t know where to start? Learn how to navigate a harp, some harp-y techniques, and play a simple tune. No music experience necessary. Harps are provided; fee is by donation (suggested $10): For more info click here.

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_MG_0006Songs of Grief, Hope, and Love, part 1

Sunday, January 31st, 3:00pm
Union Church, 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH
Admission by donation

Celebrate the the expressive power of music at this performance, featuring Angela Biggs, soprano, half of a two part journey for performer and audience. For more information click here

Events in February:
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Hopstop event in Claremont, New Hampshire on Saturday, November 22, 2014. Copyright 2014 by Rob Strong

Claremont HopStop Free Family Show
Copyright 2014 by Rob Strong

Claremont HopStop: Gerry Grimo and the East Bay Jazz Ensemble & the Dartmouth Swing Dancers

Saturday, February 6th, 3:00pm
CSB Community Center, 152 South St, Claremont, NH
FREE admission

Big Band Swing 
Get “In the Mood” and ready to “Jump, Jive and Wail” with local jazz musicians and swing dancers. While the music swings, dancers demonstrate their moves. Audience members get an introduction to the sounds and steps so they can keep swinging after the show.

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WCCMA Annual Meeting

Thursday, February 11th, 6:30pm
Union Church Hall (upstairs), 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH 03743
Light refreshments will be served

Join us to hear about and celebrate a tremendous 2015, and hear about some exciting projects coming up. Friends and community members are invited to join us and meet members of the board.

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Songs of Grief, Hope, and Love, part 2
Saturday, February 13th, 2:00pm
Union Church, 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH
Admission by donation

Celebrate the the expressive power of music at this performance, featuring Angela Biggs, soprano, half of a two part journey for performer and audience. Featuring music by Schubert, Caplet, and more. For more information click here.

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print-floor-mediumThe Great Arc: Dana Lyn, violin; Kyle Sanna, guitar

Friday, February 19th – 7pm
Union Church, 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH
Admission by donation

Hailed as “ground-breaking” by noted folklorist and NEA Award-recipient Mick Moloney and “bursting with creativity” by renowned fiddler Kevin Burke, Dana Lyn and Kyle Sanna connect the dots between their experience as composers and improvisers in New York City’s rich musical community and their deep admiration for traditional Irish music. For more information click here

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Coming up: Music for Syria benefit, and Hands on Harps

We are diving right in to January, and will have lots of activities this winter to keep you busy (no need for cabin fever!) Want more updates? Like and follow us on Facebook!

_MG_8538Music for Syria: A Benefit for Refugees
Tuesday, January 12th, 7:30pm
Union Church, 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH
Admission by donation

Local Musicians and students come together for this benefit concert for Syrian Refugees in the US and in Turkey. Omar Salem from the Karam Foundation will join us to talk about the work they do, and what is happening currently. Music from Mozart to excepts from our friend, Syrian composer, Kinan Azmeh‘s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (piano reduction by Hugh Keelan). Musicians from Claremont and Brattleboro will come together, including Angela Biggs (voice), Hugh Keelan (piano), Jenna Rae (voice), and Melissa Richmond (flute).

All funds raised at this event will be split between the Karam Foundation (working with refugees in Turkey at the Syrian border), and Catholic Charities resettlement services for Onondaga County NY.

More about the Karam Foundation: karamfoundation.org

More about Catholic Charities resettlement: http://www.ccoc.us/services/refugee-services/refugee-resettlement

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Harper Angela Biggs teaches the beginner harp workshop.

Harper Angela Biggs teaches the beginner harp workshop.

Hands on Harps
Thursday, January 28th, 6:30pm
Union Church Hall, 133 Old Church Rd, Claremont, NH

Have you always wanted to play the harp, but don’t know where to start? Good news: Claremont’s popular Hands on Harps workshop is back! Join the West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts at Union Church hall to learn how to navigate a harp, some harp-y techniques, and play a simple tune.

No music experience necessary. Harps are provided; fee is by donation (suggested $10); class size is limited, and this workshop fills fast. Register by January 26th: contact Angela at 603-558-8174 or [email protected]. Brought to you by the Opus Arts Project through the West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts.

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Hopstop event in Claremont, New Hampshire on Saturday, November 22, 2014.  Copyright 2014 by Rob Strong

Hopstop event in Claremont, New Hampshire. Copyright 2014 by Rob Strong

Claremont HopStop: Gerry Grimo and the East Bay Jazz Ensemble (with Swing Dancers!)
Saturday, February 6, 3pm
CSB Community Center
Free

The tremendously popular HopStop FREE Family Shows return from winter break!

Big Band Swing: Get “In the Mood” and ready to “Jump, Jive and Wail” with local jazz musicians and swing dancers. While the music swings, dancers demonstrate their moves. Audience members get an introduction to the sounds and steps so they can keep swinging after the show.

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Save the Date:

_MG_0006January 31st, 3pm – Winter recital I: Music for Soprano and Flute
Music performed by Angela Biggs, Soprano, and Melissa Richmond, flute
Admission by donation

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Welcome Elected Officials!

We would like to welcome elected officials from our geographical region to our mailing list. Though most of our programs take place in Claremont, and occasionally Charlestown, about 50% of our participants come from outside Claremont and in particular: Newport, Cornish, Windsor, Charlestown, Plainfield, Grantham, and Springfield to name a few. Several of our programs are funded by state and regional grants, including the NH State Council on the Arts and the New England Foundation for the Arts, making our newsletter a great way for you to become familiar with our programs! If you would rather not receive emails, you may unsubscribe through the link at the bottom of your email.