GraceMusic

About GraceMusic

40 Years of Great Music in a Great Space

GraceMusic is a non-profit organization that presents concerts at affordable prices. Musical variety a central feature of the programs—familiar favorites as well as new styles, sounds, and composers. Performances are by professional musicians; Rockland-based performers are often featured along with nationally and internationally known musicians. All admission fees are used to defray concert costs, but the primary financial support of Grace Music is the generous contributions of the Friends of GraceMusic. While GraceMusic has no religious affiliation or agenda, its concerts take place at Grace Episcopal Church in Nyack through the generosity of the parish and include both secular and sacred music.

With the 2009-20010 season GraceMusic marks its 40^th year. Past concerts have included the early music group Anonymous 4, the contemporary “downtown” string quartet Ethel, cellists David Geber and Julia Lichten, British organist David Briggs, the Princeton Singers, and the percussion ensemble Talujon.

GraceMusic began in 1969 with its first Messiah Sing, a holiday tradition and the only Messiah Sing in RocklandCounty, where professional singers perform the arias of Handel’s classic and an audience of amateurs sing out in the magnificent choruses, especially the rousing Hallelujah.  The 40th Annual Messiah Sing is scheduled for December 6, 2009 at 4 p.m.

2010 concerts include Steppes Song, music by Russian composers (Prokofiev, Tschaikovsky, & more) performed by Katherine Fink, Laura McGinnis, & Christopher Oldfather on January 17; ETA, Juilliard-trained chamber group performing Debussy, Bartok, Khachturian, & more on  February 28; Happy Birthday Birthday, Johann!, music of Sebastian Bach & his mentors performed by the Grace Church Choir & Orchestra conducted by Robert Barrows to celebrate Bach's 325th birthday.