Andover Chamber Music

Founded in 1997, ACM has a dual mission: to offer chamber music of the highest artistic standards to communities north of Boston, and to provide accessible and affordable musical enrichment to children and their families, those of lower incomes, and the elderly and physically disabled, who may not otherwise have an opportunity to hear a live, high-quality performance.

Description:
ACM presents five concerts a year in fall, winter, and spring, with professional musicians from around the world. Each concert presents a unique program of chamber music from different periods linked by a theme; recent examples include "Music, Marriage, and Madness", "Fairy Tales," and "From Russia with Love." The concerts are characterized by informality and a close personal rapport between the audience and musicians. In addition, ACM maintains an active outreach program, Music for All, which brings group instruction in guitar, percussion, and chorus to children at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club.

The ACM is governed by a volunteer board of 10-12 members from the Andover community, with a part-time executive director and administrative assistant, and support from volunteers.

History:
ACM was established in 1997. In its first few years, concerts were held at the West Parish Church in Andover. Attendance quickly grew to fill the 300-seat church, and the organization moved to the Rogers Center for the Arts at Merrimack College. Concerts in Lowell and Cambridge were also added, along with the Music for All program for underprivileged youth in Lawrence. However, the expanded concert schedule proved unsustainable as economic conditions deteriorated, and the organization decided to scale back operations in 2008 without sacrificing the quality or number of concerts. ACM returned to its original home, West Parish Church, for the 2009-2010 season. Currently ACM is operating with a healthy surplus.

Contact people:

Michael Brower, Executive Director, (phone), (email) Jessica Ruda, Administrative Assistant, (phone), (email)

Address:

PO Box 5075 Andover, MA 01810

Web Site: http://www.andoverchambermusic.org/

Last updated on August 12, 2009