September 14, 2016
Reimagining Classical Music in the 21st Century
Marna Seltzer
Director of the Princeton University Concerts
Marge D’Amico, left, and Marna Seltzer
Minutes of the First Meeting of the 75th Year
The first meeting of the Old Guard of Princeton’s 75th year was called to order by President Jock McFarlane at 10:15 a.m. in the Convocation Room of the Friend Center on the Princeton campus. There were 121 attendees. Julia Coale led the Invocation. Russell Marks read the minutes of the previous meeting.
In view of a full house the six guests were asked to stand en masse and given an Old Guard welcome. Registered guests included Anne Seltzer, guest of Mitch Seltzer; Mike Gehret, guest of the speaker, Marna Seltzer; Dan Hudson, guest of John Kelsey; Mary Wisnovsky, guest of Joe Wisnovsky; Connie Hassett, guest of Nancy Beck, and Marsha Levin Rojer, guest of Julie Denny.
The following eight Old Guard members have died since the last meeting: Howard Mele, Carolyn Moseley, Larry Pervin, James Deneen, J. Robert Waltman, Jim Tietjen, Warren Anderson and John Brinster. A moment of silence was offered to honor those late members.
Miquelon Weyeneth and/or Charles Clark will be happy to accept annual dues from members.
There is a new sound system and a newly equipped kitchen.
There are 20 parking permits for Lot 21 available.
Robert Altman, Membership Chair, announced the following six new emeritus members and asked them to pick up their new badges if they have not already done so: Glenn Cullen, Allen Kassof, William Murdoch, Jerry Berkelhammer, Arthur Edelman and Donald Healy.
Altman explained that there is a waiting list of 22 prospective Old Guard members right now. He anticipates welcoming eight new members this fall but warned those who have proposed new members to be patient in view of the fact that it may be as long as another year before they may be admitted.
Marge D’Amico introduced the speaker, Marna Seltzer, director of the Princeton University Concerts. The title of her presentation was “Reimagining Classical Music in the 21st Century.” While she a had humble beginning as a Princeton High School student, she went on to study music history and theory at Boston University, followed by stints with the violinist Itzhak Perlman, the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society and the Chicago Chamber Music Society, where the Chicago Sun Times dubbed her a Chicagoan of the Year, and a shining beacon for Chicago music.” In 2010, she became director of the Princeton University Concert Series.
Ms. Seltzer began her talk by playing an excerpt from the Haydn String Quartet Opus 1, No. 1. She said it was difficult to talk about the power of music and yet it connects with people emotionally, intellectually and socially. When people connect with music, it can be life changing and affirming, she said. “My job is to bring meaning and joy into every life we touch, through the presentation of classical music.”
She described herself as particularly passionate about chamber music, which highlights those very connections. While chamber music technically is music that has one performer to a part, Seltzer prefers to focus on the intimacy of chamber music, where musical conversations take place among composers, performers and listeners. And because there is no conductor, musicians must connect with one another to stay in touch. Performers literally breathe together. Chamber music also provides performers the chance to be singularly expressive. Quartets can adjust on the fly to an emotional surge from one player or even from the audience.
She quoted Arnold Steinhardt, first violinist of the Guarneri String Quartet:
“It is on the concert stage where the moments of true intimacy occur….all four of us enter a zone of magic somewhere between our music stands…we allow ourselves to slip into the music’s spiritual realm.”
Princeton University Concerts fosters artistic collaborations. A dance company, an artist, an actor, a poet and a countertenor have all performed recently with the musicians. Emerging artists as well as renowned string quartets are also part of the mix. Most recently a new series, PUC125, has the audience seated in an intimate circle surrounding the musicians on stage to make connections and create a sense of community.
Princeton University Concerts works to engage and educate Princeton students. Talented undergraduate musicians are showcased in musical previews of the regular concerts. A postconcert gathering place for students is provided, along with the true draw, the requisite food! Princeton University Concerts also is the host of the Creative Reactions Contest, which invites students to respond to a live concert with a creative work of their own, giving students an entirely personal way to relate to the music.
The logistics of putting together the perfect season include financial issues, complicated schedules, visas, tax documents, last-minute changes, demanding agents and picky pianists who don’t like the available instruments. All must be managed!
Since 2010, subscriptions have nearly tripled — to 700 from 250 —concerts have doubled, student attendance is way up and most concerts sell out. Marna Seltzer is clearly doing something right.
In closing, the speaker teased us with a few nontraditional plans she and scheduled musicians were contemplating before reminding us of the mission of Princeton University Concerts “to foster meaningful connections through music.” And she expressed the need to continually explore “as many futures as possible.”
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Denny
In view of a full house the six guests were asked to stand en masse and given an Old Guard welcome. Registered guests included Anne Seltzer, guest of Mitch Seltzer; Mike Gehret, guest of the speaker, Marna Seltzer; Dan Hudson, guest of John Kelsey; Mary Wisnovsky, guest of Joe Wisnovsky; Connie Hassett, guest of Nancy Beck, and Marsha Levin Rojer, guest of Julie Denny.
The following eight Old Guard members have died since the last meeting: Howard Mele, Carolyn Moseley, Larry Pervin, James Deneen, J. Robert Waltman, Jim Tietjen, Warren Anderson and John Brinster. A moment of silence was offered to honor those late members.
Miquelon Weyeneth and/or Charles Clark will be happy to accept annual dues from members.
There is a new sound system and a newly equipped kitchen.
There are 20 parking permits for Lot 21 available.
Robert Altman, Membership Chair, announced the following six new emeritus members and asked them to pick up their new badges if they have not already done so: Glenn Cullen, Allen Kassof, William Murdoch, Jerry Berkelhammer, Arthur Edelman and Donald Healy.
Altman explained that there is a waiting list of 22 prospective Old Guard members right now. He anticipates welcoming eight new members this fall but warned those who have proposed new members to be patient in view of the fact that it may be as long as another year before they may be admitted.
Marge D’Amico introduced the speaker, Marna Seltzer, director of the Princeton University Concerts. The title of her presentation was “Reimagining Classical Music in the 21st Century.” While she a had humble beginning as a Princeton High School student, she went on to study music history and theory at Boston University, followed by stints with the violinist Itzhak Perlman, the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society and the Chicago Chamber Music Society, where the Chicago Sun Times dubbed her a Chicagoan of the Year, and a shining beacon for Chicago music.” In 2010, she became director of the Princeton University Concert Series.
Ms. Seltzer began her talk by playing an excerpt from the Haydn String Quartet Opus 1, No. 1. She said it was difficult to talk about the power of music and yet it connects with people emotionally, intellectually and socially. When people connect with music, it can be life changing and affirming, she said. “My job is to bring meaning and joy into every life we touch, through the presentation of classical music.”
She described herself as particularly passionate about chamber music, which highlights those very connections. While chamber music technically is music that has one performer to a part, Seltzer prefers to focus on the intimacy of chamber music, where musical conversations take place among composers, performers and listeners. And because there is no conductor, musicians must connect with one another to stay in touch. Performers literally breathe together. Chamber music also provides performers the chance to be singularly expressive. Quartets can adjust on the fly to an emotional surge from one player or even from the audience.
She quoted Arnold Steinhardt, first violinist of the Guarneri String Quartet:
“It is on the concert stage where the moments of true intimacy occur….all four of us enter a zone of magic somewhere between our music stands…we allow ourselves to slip into the music’s spiritual realm.”
Princeton University Concerts fosters artistic collaborations. A dance company, an artist, an actor, a poet and a countertenor have all performed recently with the musicians. Emerging artists as well as renowned string quartets are also part of the mix. Most recently a new series, PUC125, has the audience seated in an intimate circle surrounding the musicians on stage to make connections and create a sense of community.
Princeton University Concerts works to engage and educate Princeton students. Talented undergraduate musicians are showcased in musical previews of the regular concerts. A postconcert gathering place for students is provided, along with the true draw, the requisite food! Princeton University Concerts also is the host of the Creative Reactions Contest, which invites students to respond to a live concert with a creative work of their own, giving students an entirely personal way to relate to the music.
The logistics of putting together the perfect season include financial issues, complicated schedules, visas, tax documents, last-minute changes, demanding agents and picky pianists who don’t like the available instruments. All must be managed!
Since 2010, subscriptions have nearly tripled — to 700 from 250 —concerts have doubled, student attendance is way up and most concerts sell out. Marna Seltzer is clearly doing something right.
In closing, the speaker teased us with a few nontraditional plans she and scheduled musicians were contemplating before reminding us of the mission of Princeton University Concerts “to foster meaningful connections through music.” And she expressed the need to continually explore “as many futures as possible.”
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Denny