Eclectica: February 24, 2023

The Marlborough Arts Center welcomes the group Eclectica for the 4th Friday @ the Arts Center on February 24th, 2023. They are a very interesting and talented group, as is each one of them individually. Eclectica performs original arrangements of music from the Middle Ages to the present on an eclectic variety of instruments, including recorders, harp, violin, viola da gamba, hammered dulcimer, and more. Each program is a time-travel adventure, with historical commentary about the music. To learn more, continue reading below, and be sure to visit their Facebook page.

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Kasha Breau (harp, percussion) plays original music and folk songs from around the world on modern reconstructions of medieval and renaissance harps, as well as the modern concert harp. A graduate of the Hartt School of Music, Kasha has taught harp, kantele, voice, piano, and organ, in addition to performing and conducting workshops in harp-playing technique throughout the United States. Music groups with which Kasha has played and/or sung include Wild Notes, CitySingers, Celtic Sessions, and Tree of Life (with Carrie Crompton). Kasha fills her life with more music as organist and music director at the Congregational Church in Portland, Connecticut. Kasha was an environmental teacher and educator for over 35 years, and is a state and federally licensed rehabilitator for injured and orphaned songbirds, raptors, various waterfowl, and bats.

Carrie Crompton (hammered dulcimer, bass viola da gamba, accordion) fell in love with the sound of the dulcimer in the 1970s at the beginning of a revival of the instrument in the United States. The dulcimer has been used in European folk music since the late Middle Ages, but it has no literature of its own – players create their own repertoire and arrangements. Carrie has explored many styles of music, from Medieval to pop, while finding ways to adapt the dulcimer to tunes written for other instruments. She has published numerous CDs and books for the dulcimer. An avid quilter, landscape designer and gardener, Carrie is also a Master Naturalist.

Monika Kinstler (bass viola da gamba, violin, viola, percussion) studied at the University of Cincinnati, receiving a Bachelor of Music in Music History and a Master of Science in Metallurgical Engineering. She is proficient on a variety of historical instruments and has performed with early music ensembles in Cincinnati, Phoenix, Hartford, and Buxtehude, Germany. Also a modern violinist, she has performed with orchestras in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Huntsville, Alabama, and is currently a member of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra. As a metallurgical engineer, she is employed as a manager in Pratt & Whitney’s Engineering department. Her musical and engineering interests collide in a passion for woodworking, and she has built several historical musical instruments, including a set of virginals and two vielles.

Deborah Robin (recorders) has played recorder with musical consorts around New England since the 1970s, including the Aston Magna Festival Orchestra, with whom she was featured recorder soloist in the first American recording on “original” instruments of Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 (Smithsonian Collection, 1978). Deborah performs regularly on programs with Eclectica and fellow members of the Musical Club of Hartford.

Eclectica will perform in the Charles W. Hall Gallery at 7:30 p.m. with the doors opening at 7:00 p.m. Admission remains $10 at the door. Masks are suggested but not required. The facility is fully accessible and there is ample parking.

Driving Route 9: January 27, 2023

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Driving Route 9

The Marlborough Arts Center is pleased to open this new year’s season of 4th Fridays @ the Arts Café with Driving Route 9, an original band from East Haddam who last performed in one of our summer concerts on the lawn at 231 North Main Street in Marlborough. They will play on Friday, January 27th, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. inside the beautiful Charles W. Hall Art Gallery.

The group met at an open mic event and from various connections in the music community here in the river valley area. The music experience of Driving Route 9 fits the description of modern folk/pop with a Celtic twist. Fronting are Becca Gripp of Wilmington, Delaware and Barry O’Doherty, of Donegal County, Ireland, who have been a song-writing duo since 2017. They are accompanied by Paul Emmerling of East Haddam, CT on bass guitar and Dana Takaki of California on violin. Berry also brings his rhythm guitar to their sound. Barry’s Irish heritage and Becca’s poetic stories bring listeners to a place you simply can’t find anywhere else, so join in for a rousing evening of song and laughter.

The Concert will begin at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 7:00. Admission at the door is $10/person. Masks are a personal choice. The Arts Center is fully accessible and provides ample parking.

Click the videos below to get a feel for Driving Route 9’s music before you come see them!

“Matter of Time”

“Home”

“Sunshine”

Exciting News & Upcoming Events

2023 is starting off with a bang here at MAC!

The Marlborough Arts Center is pleased to announce a new exhibit at the Marlborough Town Hall. Featured is artwork by artists who are members of the Arts Center’s Board of Directors. There are watercolors by Audrey Carroll, acrylic paintings by Roy Wrenn, wire sculpture by Neal Alderman, mixed media and acrylic paintings by Laurie Gelston Alt, and watercolors by Mary Horrigan. The exhibit is open to the public during business hours at the Town Hall: Monday through Thursday, 8AM – 5PM, and Fridays from 8AM to Noon.

Mary Horrigan will be starting her excellent series of Watercolor Classes in March. If you are a beginner or you want to sharpen up your painting skills, definitely consider attending! Registration information will be posted on the website in the near future, but feel free to click here to learn more about Mary’s previous classes.

Finally, MAC will be hosting a Members’ Show just after Easter. Please keep an eye out for a prospectus and printable entry forms – both coming soon!

Winter Tag Sale: February 4, 2023

Time to clean out the OLDies and the GOODies! Bring over past treasures of working household goods (BUT no books, TVs, or clothes) for our Winter Tag Sale on Saturday, February 4th from 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM. In the event of inclement weather, the tag sale’s snow date will be Saturday, February 11th.

If you would like to drop off items for our Winter Tag Sale, please come to MAC at 231 North Main Street, Marlborough, CT during the following dates/times:

DateTime
TUESDAYS:
January 10th, 17th, 24th
February 1st
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
SATURDAYS:
January 14th, 21st, 28th
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM

*ITEMS MAY BE LEFT AT THE LOWER LEVEL NEXT TO THE DOOR*