| Date | Event |
| 6/6/2026 | Many of the ARS member benefits are right at your fingertips, only a few keystrokes away. In an ongoing effort to make these perks as accessible as possible, we are in the process of simplifying our website menu. Join us on Saturday, June 6, at 2 pm Eastern Time for a tour of the website, an orientation of our redesigned menu, and an overview of the member benefits that help you take advantage of all we have to offer. ARS President Jody Miller will lead the tour, assisted by Board member Phil Hollar, who will also lead an online playing session using music from our online music library. more info... |
| 3/9/2026 -3/9/2027 | Start your day practicing with a supportive and fun warm-up class community! The first half of the class is appropriate for all levels, with additional challenges offered for more advanced players. The second half focuses on playing and analyzing a Baroque duet, using it to identify places to work on tone, coordination, articulation, and more. My approach is to first determine what we want to say musically, and then find the technique needed to express it. Music-minus-one videos are provided to support your practice. To register, e-mail Cantornote@icloud.com For more information visit: http://www.cantornote.com more info... |
| 5/7/2026 -5/10/2026 | The Newberry Consort, a classical music group in Chicago, is pleased to present: "Revolution! Early American Music from the signing of the Declaration of Independence to the Civil War" May 7-10 in Chicago and Milwaukee. Using early American instruments such as the square piano, keyed bugle, fiddle, percussion, as well as an ensemble of vocal specialists, this concert connects America's musical past and present through early American styles and composers. The program also features a world premiere of an original composition for American period instruments and voices written by composer and bass-baritone Jonathan Woody. Can't come in person? There will also be a virtual version of this concert online from June 1-22. Get tickets today! https://www.newberryconsort.org/revolution |
| 5/9/2026 | How is a Pavane danced? What made the Branle such a popular dance during the Renaissance? Why aren’t all the Sarabandes played at the same tempo? What makes dance music so present in the repertoire of the Renaissance and Baroque eras? How can you use the recorder techniques and extended techniques to add movement and energy to your playing? The members of Flûte Alors! tackle these questions and more in an all-day workshop for recorders focused on the intrinsic link between music and movement. more info... |
| 5/9/2026 | Join us in person for a rare chance to experience the rich, resonant sound of a large recorder ensemble—featuring far more voices than the familiar SATB arrangements many of us know and love. Recorder orchestras are growing in popularity across North America and Europe, yet here in Canada, the only established group is the venerable Okanagan Recorder Orchestra. Now, we finally have the opportunity to discover what all the excitement is all about. Recorderist, orchestra member, and conductor Marea Chernoff will lead this full-day workshop, guiding participants into the vibrant world of the recorder orchestra. The selected repertoire includes works by Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Satie and more, offering something for everyone. more info... |
| 5/9/2026 | Join us for a series of Consort Studio Workshops in central New Jersey, monthly sessions in ensemble playing for intermediate to advanced level recorder players to learn to play with one another and other instruments under a skilled conductor, with professional accompaniment. These events will be led by conductor, recorder player, and harpsichordist, Steven Russell (see below). It is an opportunity to play a variety of Baroque literature for small ensembles, through rehearsal, instruction, and demonstration, in a supportive environment, with a focus on ensemble playing, and end with the option to play the lead alto part with a professional ensemble. We will have opportunities to warm up on Renaissance music with SATB recorders, so bring all sizes. Register early to receive the music well in advance. Auditors welcome to attend. Sessions culminate in a performance. Dates: One Saturday of the month, 1:00 – 5:00 P.M. w/ a 15-min. break Nov. 8, 2025 Open for General Registration. A Taste of Things to Come Jan. 10, 2026 Feb. 28, 2026 March 14, 2026 April 25, 2026 May 9, 2026 Workshop-Rehearsal June 13 Oct. 10 Nov. 14, 2026 Location: Reformed Church of Highland Park, 19-21 South Second Avenue, Highland Park, NJ. There is plenty of parking at the location, which is a 30-minute walk or 5-minute taxi ride from the New Brunswick NJT train station. To register, Visit https://hprecorder.org/events/2026-consort-studio/. For more information contact recorderdonna@gmail.com |
| 5/9/2026 | On May 9, we will hold our final session of the season. Led by David Hurd, the afternoon will conclude with a casual recital for friends and family of the repertoire we have worked on throughout the season. DATE: Saturday, May 9 SCHEDULE: 1:00 p.m.: Doors open for musicians 1:30 p.m.: Rehearsal 2:50 p.m.: Doors open for guests 3:00 p.m.: Recital LOCATION: Church of St. Mary the Virgin, 145 West 46th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. MEETING FEE: $20 for NYRG members. $30 for non-members. It is free for friends and family to attend the recital. |
| 5/9/2026 | Recorder players at all levels are welcome. Beginners should be comfortable with either the C fingerings of the soprano and tenor or the F fingerings of the alto and bass. Eventually, beginners should learn both C and F fingerings so that they can enjoy playing different parts of a musical piece. Bring any size of soprano, alto, tenor, or bass recorder that you have. You will have a chance to explore more than one part of each piece. Both plastic and wooden instruments are welcome. Pitch is A=440. Please bring a music stand. We recommend that you bring a stand light to supplement the ceiling light. More info: https://www.nyrg.org/ --- The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin at 145 West 46th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues in Manhattan. Meetings are held in St. Joseph’s Hall, a side chapel of St. Mary's. Located in a brick building to the left of the main church, the entranceway is distinguished by the street number 145 displayed on the door. 1:30-3:30 PM. Doors open at 1PM. --- Meeting Fees: $20 per meeting for members $30 per meeting for non-members ----- FULL SEASON PREPAYMENT OPTION: $180. Includes annual membership dues and meeting fees for the entire 2025-26 season. ----- Send payment using Zelle to NYRG treasurer Judith Wink at jwink@nyc.rr.com. Please put your email address in the Notes field. Alternatively, send checks to New York Recorder Guild, 145 West 93rd Street, Apt. 2, New York, NY 10025. |
| 5/9/2026 | Please join the Mid-Peninsula Recorder Orchestra for its 2026 Spring Concert in Redwood City. Established in 1962, MPRO was the first recorder orchestra in the United States, and has been directed by Frederic Palmer since 1988. (NB: This performance will be conducted by assistant director, Greta Haug-Hryciw.) Selections will include Vivaldi's Recorder Concerto in C (RV443), works by Schmelzer, Dufay, Josquin, Vejvanovsky, and more. Other instruments joining the recorders are bassoon, oboe, baroque rackett, krumhorns, and keyboard. The program also features a very special appearance by local recorder quartet DJLD performing J.S. Bach's Lobet den Herrn (BWV230) Admission is FREE! https://www.mpro-online.org/ more info... |
| 5/10/2026 |
“Murmurations” are snatches of speech in a low voice or the spectacular groupings of birds in flight. The brilliant Montreal recorder ensemble Flûte Alors! brings together some of the most beautiful vocal and instrumental works of the Renaissance, as well as baroque and contemporary pieces, referencing birds, to offer a concert where poetry and wonder come together. Works by J. Arcadelt, C. Janequin, G. F. Händel, G. P. Telemann, A. Vivaldi, M. Maute, and others. more info... |
| 5/10/2026 |
At its peak in the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire encompassed a vast territory, from Southeast Europe to the gates of Vienna, across North Africa to Algeria, and throughout the Middle East and Arabian Peninsula. In this class, we will explore the incredibly rich musical tradition of Classical Ottoman music exploring instrumental forms as well as dances. While this incredibly detailed music was originally passed down through oral tradition, over the centuries scholars and enthusiasts have transcribed it into written form. We will work from these notated versions in class and play along with recorded tracks on traditional Turkish instruments created especially for this class. Open to players intermediate and up. |
| 5/12/2026 | Tuesdays, April 21 – May 12, 2026 (4 weeks) $25/class or $100 for each 4-week session. Classes are recorded and made available for one month. Bach on the Bass: Two- and Three-Part Inventions 10:00 am - 11:15 am Pacific/11:00 am - 12:15 pm Mountain/12:00 pm - 1:15 pm Central/1:00 pm - 2:15 pm Eastern Johann Sebastian Bach's two-part inventions and three-part sinfonias provide recorder players and other non-keyboard instrumentalists with a wonderful collection of pieces to play. Over these four weeks we'll work on two of the two-part inventions (new pieces for those who took this class in January) and two of the three-part sinfonias on our bass recorders. Part of our work will involve making decisions on how to deal with parts that go out of our range, learning how to make changes that retain the beauty of the line, and making decisions on articulation and phrasing based on an understanding of the melodic and harmonic underpinnings of the piece. We'll also exercise our skills on switching from bass clef to treble clef by playing all parts of the inventions. Along the way we'll continue to work on good bass technique. Geared toward bass recorder players who are familiar with bass clef and fingerings for a chromatic scale from the low F to the F two octaves higher. To register, email tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. |
| 5/12/2026 | Tuesdays, April 21 – May 12, 2026 (4 weeks) $25/class or $100 for each 4-week session. Classes are recorded and made available for one month. An All-Zoom Practice Challenge: Developing Your Friendship with French Baroque Music 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm Pacific/2:15 pm - 3:30 pm Mountain/3:15 pm - 4:30 pm Central/4:15 pm - 5:30 pm Eastern This class will build on my January Making Friends with French Baroque Music class. Familiarity with French Baroque ornaments as found in Hotteterre's ornament chart and as seen in music by Hotteterre will be helpful for new participants. Boismortier, Hotteterre, Dieupart, and others who were composing and performing in French aristocratic circles in the 18th century offer a wealth of beautiful music for us to discover. We'll continue our study of the French agréments - trills, the port de voix, battement, flattement, tour de chant, and tour de gosier - in context so they become second nature. We'll listen to recordings to hear the music that charmed Louis XIV and XV and their courts. We'll go deeper into learning how to adorn movements from suites by Boismortier and Hotteterre with beautiful ornaments! Geared toward upper intermediate to advanced alto recorder players. To register, email tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. |
| 5/12/2026 | SHORT COURSE: Tuning Tune-Up with Anne Timberlake Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, and 26 at 4 PM, CT Playing in tune on the recorder can feel like a tightrope act! The recorder is an exquisitely sensitive instrument, and learning to play it in tune is among its most challenging and frustrating aspects. In this live, four-week small group short course, we’ll do a deep dive into recorder tuning, learning and practicing strategies for improving our tuning and supporting one another as we go! To register, visit my website. Cost: $99 |
| 5/15/2026 | Firstly, I hope you are all doing well and have enjoyed a relaxing summer. As the teachers of the world and I get ready to kick off school again, I'm excited to give you some information regarding the 2025-2026 season of the Brandywine Chapter of the American Recorder Society. The dates and clinicians for our meetings this year will be: September 12, 2025 - TBA November 21, 2025 - Joan Kimball January 16, 2026 - Gwyn Roberts March 13, 2026 - Bob Wiemken May 15, 2026 - TBA Music, when provided by the clinician, will be available digitally before the meetings. If anyone requires or desires a print copy for the meeting, please let me know. I'm more than happy to make as many physical copies as needed, but don't want to waste paper on unneeded copies. Our meetings will be held from 7:30-9:30 pm at: New Ark UCC Church 300 East Main Street Newark, DE 19711 The fee for our meetings will be $15 per meeting or $60 for an annual membership (covers all 5 meetings). Fees help support the chapter by providing honorariums to our guest clinicians as well as an honorarium for New Ark UCC for allowing us to use the space. You can bring payment with you to the first meeting or send a check made to "Brandywine ARS" to our treasurer, Fred Litcofsky. Fred can be reached fredlitcofsky@gmail or 19 Savoy Rd., Newark, DE 19702 As always, guests are free on their first visit, so please feel free to invite a friend (or 2 or 3)! |
| 5/16/2026 | Gather on Zoom with Phil Hollar and have a chat with your fellow leaders about what's happening in your chapter, brainstorm with other chapter reps, and share ideas. more info... |
| 5/16/2026 |  Got Rhythm? Playing in 5s, 7s, 11s, and anything else! Have you ever wanted to brush up your rhythm skills and play in any kind of groove, but aren’t sure how? We will tackle irregular time signatures in this practical and fun playing meeting, packed with examples to try out together as well as helpful tips. This will start you on your path to not only demystifying rhythm, but helping it to feel easy and natural! Suitable for all levels. Bring any size of recorder.more info... |
| 5/19/2026 | SHORT COURSE: Tuning Tune-Up with Anne Timberlake Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, and 26 at 4 PM, CT Playing in tune on the recorder can feel like a tightrope act! The recorder is an exquisitely sensitive instrument, and learning to play it in tune is among its most challenging and frustrating aspects. In this live, four-week small group short course, we’ll do a deep dive into recorder tuning, learning and practicing strategies for improving our tuning and supporting one another as we go! To register, visit my website. Cost: $99 |
| 5/26/2026 | SHORT COURSE: Tuning Tune-Up with Anne Timberlake Tuesdays, May 5, 12, 19, and 26 at 4 PM, CT Playing in tune on the recorder can feel like a tightrope act! The recorder is an exquisitely sensitive instrument, and learning to play it in tune is among its most challenging and frustrating aspects. In this live, four-week small group short course, we’ll do a deep dive into recorder tuning, learning and practicing strategies for improving our tuning and supporting one another as we go! To register, visit my website. Cost: $99 |
| 5/27/2026 | Wednesdays, May 27 - June 17 (4 weeks) 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Pacific/4:00 pm - 5:15 pm Mountain/5:00 pm - 6:15 pm Central/6:00 pm - 7:15 pm Eastern Warm-Up for Workshops! Getting in Shape for the Summer Whether you're new to a week-long workshop, or a bit rusty in your skills, this class will help you gain confidence in your ensemble playing and prepare you for whatever awaits you this summer in the music world. We'll drill changing sizes of recorder and clefs at the drop of a hat, playing alto and tenor up an octave, tenor in bass clef, and bass in treble clef. We'll practice counting (and feeling!) the half note, and even the whole note, as the beat. Our repertoire will include music from the late 15th century up to the end of the Renaissance. Bring your questions, banish your fears! You'll get more out of your summer workshop experience if you come prepared. Geared toward recorder players who are at the low intermediate level and others who need to polish their skills. To register, email tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. |
| 6/3/2026 | Wednesdays, May 27 - June 17 (4 weeks) 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Pacific/4:00 pm - 5:15 pm Mountain/5:00 pm - 6:15 pm Central/6:00 pm - 7:15 pm Eastern Warm-Up for Workshops! Getting in Shape for the Summer Whether you're new to a week-long workshop, or a bit rusty in your skills, this class will help you gain confidence in your ensemble playing and prepare you for whatever awaits you this summer in the music world. We'll drill changing sizes of recorder and clefs at the drop of a hat, playing alto and tenor up an octave, tenor in bass clef, and bass in treble clef. We'll practice counting (and feeling!) the half note, and even the whole note, as the beat. Our repertoire will include music from the late 15th century up to the end of the Renaissance. Bring your questions, banish your fears! You'll get more out of your summer workshop experience if you come prepared. Geared toward recorder players who are at the low intermediate level and others who need to polish their skills. To register, email tishberlin@sbcglobal.net. |
| 6/6/2026 -6/14/2026 | Welcome to the 19th biennial Berkeley Festival and Exhibition—or as we like to refer to it, BFX! Founded in 1990 and produced by the San Francisco Early Music Society (SFEMS), the Festival has become one of the world’s largest and most important early music conclaves, deemed “a remarkable institution on the American musical scene” by The New York Times. This summer, enjoy 21 main stage concerts—including two in Palo Alto and San Francisco—as well as special events, a three-day exhibition, community workshops, and dozens of Fringe presentations. There is truly something for everyone! From Boethius and Bach to gamelan and Gershwin, this year’s lineup promises to entice and enthrall. As part of the Festival, ARS will host the Recorder Relay, a BFX Fringe Concert that gives skilled recorder players an opportunity to perform for one another. Up to 11 performing ensembles (or soloists) may perform on the Relay. Each performance is limited to 15 minutes, which also includes any set-up time. Mixed ensembles are welcomed, but the recorder must be the star! To register to play in the Relay, please complete this application. ARS Recorder Relay information: Monday, June 8, 2026, 2 - 5 PM, PT |
| 6/7/2026 |  So, you want to add some ornaments to a baroque sonata movement. Where to start? Using Eric Haas’s recently updated and expanded The Grammar of Ornament as our text, we’ll break it all down. What are the main types of ornaments and where should you use them? How do you pace your ornamentation so that it flows well and enhances the original piece? What are the keys to making your ornamentation seem cohesive and distinctive? Do you have to be original, or can formulas help? For alto recorders at A=440, Intermediate and up.(Please note: It is not necessary for participants to purchase Eric Haas' book ahead of this workshop, as Eric has graciously agreed to having select excerpts from The Grammar of Ornament be used for this occasion. However, anyone wanting to dive more deeply into Baroque ornamentation will benefit from owning their own copy of this invaluable resource! The book can be purchased via the Von Huene webstore at https://www.vonhuene.com/.) more info... |
| 6/8/2026 | The Barbary Coast Recorder Orchestra (BCRO), co-directed by Greta Haug-Hryciw and Glen Shannon, will present their BFX reprise of the 15th season concert “Moodscapes” on Monday June 8 at from 12:30-1:30pm, in the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley (FPCC) sanctuary, 2407 Dana St. at Channing Way in Berkeley. Music will span the centuries from Dufay through the Beatles and featuring the US premier of Glen Shannon’s “Alpine Moods” arranged specially for BCRO. Other selections include recorder arrangements of pieces by Elgar, Gounod, Shostakovich, Andrew Challinger and a mid-Renaissance keyboard work by Martin Peerson (1571-1651). BCRO has recorders from TINY to TITAN creating a wonderful rich sound! Donations gratefully accepted at the door. BCRO is an Educational Outreach program of Voices of Music, voicesofmusic.org. Visit the American Recorder Society's table at the Exhibition from June 11-13 in Unity Hall of the Festival's headquarters: First Church, Dana St. between Channing Way and Durant St. more info... |
| 6/8/2026 | Join the celebration! Come and go as you please during the continuous "relay-style" performances by local amateur and professional ensembles. You will hear diverse music from the Middle Ages to the 21st century that celebrates the recorder and its players. At the start of this year's Relay, ARS Board member Jody Miller will detail the special recognition of Mark Davenport as this year’s recipient of the ARS Presidential Honor Award for his extraordinary contribution to the North American recorder community. The ever-popular ARS Recorder Relay is is held on alternate years at the the Berkeley Festival and the Boston Early Music Festival to showcase the versatility of this historically important and highly relevant instrument. The Relay will be held in the Mears Room of Westminster Hall at First Presbyterian Church The Relay is free to the public! Visit the American Recorder Society's table at the Exhibition from June 11-13 in Unity Hall of the Festival's headquarters: First Church, Dana St. between Channing Way and Durant St. more info... |
| 6/8/2026 | Presented by Rainer Beckmann This seminar offers a historical exploration of Italian secular music in the 16th century, a period marked by significant musical innovation. We will contrast the lively, straightforward frottole of the early 1500s with the more expressive and refined madrigals of the century’s later decades. In addition, we will examine virtuosic instrumental works based on popular tunes (capricci) alongside pieces inspired by the polyphonic tradition of Franco-Flemish chansons (canzoni). The session will conclude with a selection of ensemble dances drawn from a range of sources, rounding out this rich musical journey. All are welcome! SATB Recorders, A=440hz more info... |
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Echoes of the Crescent: Music of the Ottoman World