Five times each year, Mostly Music Artistic Director Paul Neubauer performs in Westfield with renowned guest artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and New York Philharmonic as well as with other leading soloists and ensembles from around the world. Misha Dichter, Joseph Kalichstein, David Shifrin, Cho-Liang Lin, Stanley Drucker, and Pamela Frank are among the many outstanding mu
sicians who have performed in the series. A unique musical experience, Mostly Music offers local listeners chamber music performances in a friendly, intimate setting that appeals to the youngest as well as the most seasoned of concertgoers. Before performing each work, the musicians offer musical and historical insights about the composer and his or her intentions and inspirations in creating the work. They also discuss joys and challenges in learning and performing the pieces. Among New Jersey’s finest cultural resources,
Mostly Music offers listeners a world-class chamber music experience
without the inconvenience and expense of traveling to New York City. Mostly Music began in the late 1970s, with informal but fine chamber music performances in the homes of a small group of Westfield residents. The series was named Mostly Music because the evenings also included dessert and conversation. Claire Angel, a Juilliard-trained pianist and Westfield resident, was the moving spirit behind and Artistic Director of Mostly Music until spring 2012. During a visit in the Berkshires, Claire joined musical forces with violinist Robert McDuffie in a performance of Schubert’s Trout Quintet in the historic Searles Castle in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Claire’s husband, Myron, and their Westfield friends, Bernard and Lynn Turiel, delighted in the performance and decided to repeat the experience in Westfield. When they returned home, Claire and the Turiels invited fifteen couples to Claire’s home for chamber music and refreshments. Soon thereafter, Claire invited Robert McDuffie, violist Toby Hoffman, and ‘cellist Michael Goldschlager to perform a series of concerts that became known as Mostly Music. Bernard Turiel, an attorney, oversaw the legal aspects of Mostly Music and was Chairman of the Board until 2012. Initially included by invitation only, the audience soon grew too large to fit in living rooms. Integral to building a strong audience in Union County, the Turiels and Cynthia Singer helped arrange the first public performances for Mostly Music at Union County College in fall 1983. Before long, Mostly Music attracted other outstanding artists such as Cho-Liang Lin, Ruth Laredo, and Ken Noda, who performed repertoire they subsequently presented in prestigious New York City concert halls. With the goal of establishing a second venue in Maplewood, Claire Angel contacted Eleanor and John Winslow, who were highly recommended by the local Chamber of Commerce as active in Maplewood arts circles. In addition to securing a second venue for the series, the Winslows were integral in opening the first Maplewood season in 1984. Over the years, the Winslows have had a significant role in expanding the Mostly Music audience through their personal and professional connections. Ellie Winslow remains loyal to the series today and works diligently to ensure that Mostly Music continues delivering the exceptional performances its listeners have grown to expect. Mostly Music has a long-standing tradition of presenting chamber music repertoire for a variety of instruments. Carter Brey and Ani Kavafian became co-artistic leaders of the series in 1992, and in 2012, they were designated sole artistic directors of the series. Throughout its history, Mostly Music has invited instrumentalists with flourishing solo careers to perform in new and exciting ensembles. For these reasons, the series has become widely known for hosting a kaleidoscope of artists who have become great voices of the present generation. Mostly Music has been critically acclaimed in the Star Ledger and New York Times. Our Board of Trustees
President
Arlene Gardner, Westfield
Secretary
Stephen Barcan, Garwood
Treasurer
Edward Israelow, Westfield
Trustees
Allen Cohen, New Providence
Marylou Facher, Maplewood
Helaine Gersten, Westfield
Roslyn Harrison, Westfield
Beverly Shea, Scotch Plains
Nancy Smith, Mountainside
