Troy, NY – WMHT Public Media, a multichannel public communications organization serving Eastern New York and Western New England, announced today that Friends of Chamber Music will present the world premiere of a piece commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Classical WMHT-FM radio. Andrew Yee’s Something Golden will be performed by the Thalea String Quartet as part of the Livingstone Memorial Concert at 3pm, Saturday February 3rd at the Massry Center in Albany.
Friends of Chamber Music of Troy, NY, won a New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) grant to commission the work by composer and musician Andrew Yee to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Classical WMHT-FM radio. Andrew Yee, a GRAMMY award-winning cellist, trained at the Julliard School and is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Attacca Quartet.
The Thalea String Quartet was formed in 2014 in Medicine Hat, Alberta Canada and is fueled by the belief that chamber music is a powerful force for building community and human connection. They have performed across North America, Europe, and China, and have appeared at the Kennedy Center, Massey Hall, and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall.
“We couldn’t be more delighted to have this extraordinary piece come into existence with us in mind,” said Rob Brown, Music Director of Classical WMHT-FM. “It is only made more special because it comes from our longstanding friends and commemorates WMHT’s commitment to presenting the finest classical music in the region for 5 decades.”
The Friends of Chamber Music of Troy, NY has presented world-class performances featuring groups of national and international repute and breakout performances by up-and-coming ensembles since its founding in 1949.
“WMHT-FM is the showcase for the best local and recorded music in our area,” said Jennifer Laursen of Friends of Chamber Music. “It has been a dream of ours to commission a new work - and this 50th Anniversary for Classical WMHT-FM is the perfect occasion. A NYSCA grant made it possible for Andrew Yee to compose Something Golden for the Thalea String Quartet to say through music, Happy Annive sary WMHT-FM and Thank You to their programmers, announcers, managers, and board.”
Tickets to the Thalea String Quartet – Livingstone Memorial Concert featuring Something Golden are $35 and can be purchased atFriends of Chamber Music of Troy, NY.
Concert details:
Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 3:00pm
Massry Center for the Arts, The College of St. Rose
1002 Madison Ave., Albany, NY 12208
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About WMHT Public Media
Serving Eastern New York and Western New England, WMHT Public Media is the only locally owned, nonprofit, multichannel public communications organization that reaches beyond the traditional broadcasting model to act as a leader by convening arts, culture, learning and civic interests. WMHT focuses on community, culture, and connections by providing entertainment, enrichment and engagement through television, radio, digital media, and educational services. Services include WMHT-DT (17.1), WMHT-Create (17.2), WMHT-World (17.3), WMHT PBS Kids (17.4), WMHT-FM 89.1 & WRHV-FM 88.7 (classical public radio), and WEXT Radio 97.7/106.1 (AAA public radio). WMHT also operates RISE, a radio reading service for the blind and print disabled.