Call it the icing on the cake, or the bright chord topping off the scale, but be sure to call it Merrimack Music, a special program planned for March 2013 which seeks your suggestions now.
For 82 years, the Concord Community Concert Association has presented the capital area’s only series of concerts by nationally renowned professional musicians. This season’s series includes concerts by international virtuosi from the United States, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, Israel and Mexico.
To that list, now add our Capital area, as the Merrimack Music series plans to showcase New Hampshire’s own musical artists at the Concord City Auditorium. The program is patterned after the four-season Page to Stage project, which filled the Audi Reception lobby with readings of new works for the stage, serving as a springboard for New Hampshire playwrights.
The program will run for four Sundays in March 2013 (March 3, 10, 17 and 24) in the Concord City Auditorium Reception Lobby, a salon setting for musical performances with audiences up to 100, from 3 to 5 p.m.
The purpose of the program is to A) showcase the talent of area musicians, enabling them to increase their audiences and develop wide-ranging possibilities for future bookings. A stipend will be paid to all participating artists; B) Promote the Community Concert Association’s outreach to area musicians and broaden its base, especially among younger audiences; and C) Develop the Association’s student outreach efforts, which have been a basic aim since its founding in 1930.
In an open call for artists, the Concord Community Concert Association issues the following request for proposals:
Artists: professional, recreational, and students – performing all types of music – are encouraged to submit proposals to be part of this series. Information should include 1) Name (of group and musicians), 2) Description of their music, 3) Availability on listed dates, and 4) Samples of their work (mp3 , YouTube, CD, website link, etc.)
Musicians’ proposals should be sent by Dec. 20 to the Merrimack Music Chair Eric Reingold at cccanhmusic@gmail.com or delivered to him at Endicott Furniture, 12 S. Main St.
“Being a performer and part of the area’s musical community myself, I see this as a unique shot at more expanded musical opportunities for all the artists in the area,” Reingold said. As a CCCA Director, he’ll head up the committee which will select up to eight performances for the four Sunday afternoons. “We’re hoping for a large response so we can develop a schedule which benefits the musicians and provides four exciting performances.”
