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Musical Club of Hartford

Musical Club Opening Program and Reception, September 24, 2015

Our opening member program will kick off our 125th Anniversary season with a concert linked to our 10th anniversary. In 1901, Mme Schumann-Heink, accompanied by Mr. Louis Saar, gave a recital of vocal and piano music. Two pieces from that recital, Berceuse from Lyric Pieces for piano by Grieg and Das Echo by Schubert will be performed by David Garrido-Cid and Alice Matteson. David will also play “Fete a Dieu en Seville” from Suite Iberia by Albeniz and he and Alice will perform works by Handel and Robert Schumann. Additionally, the Piano Quartet, Op. 15 by Robert Fuchs will be performed by Michelle Duffy, Ginny Allen, Peg Walker and Herb Walker. This program begins at 9:45 AM and will be followed by an Open House/Reception.

In case you are fiscally minded, in 1901, the Club paid $550 to the performers for that concert. In today’s terms, that amount would be at least $14,000. So, come and hear what some of it was all about!! Also, there are hints of a special fanfare, which you will not want to miss. Come early, so that you get a good seat and have a chance to visit with friends before the program starts.

Admission free.

Following the program, a reception will be held in the Fireside Room. All are welcome.


Alice Matteson, soprano, was born and raised in Orlando, Florida and graduated in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Hartt School. During her time at Hartt, she performed the roles of Eurydice in Offenbach's Orpheus in the Underworld, Ginevra in Händel's Ariodante, and First Witch in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. She was also a featured soloist with the Hartt Baroque Collegium. She has been a member of the Schola Cantorum at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford since 2008, where she frequently presents solos. She also serves as a cantor for the Catholic Communities of East Hartford North, St. John Fisher Church in Marlborough, Connecticut and St. Mary's Parish in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Concert works have included soprano soloist in Mozart's Requiem, Fauré's Requiem, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Benjamin Britten's Missa Brevis and Ceremony of Carols. Chamber works have included soprano soloist in Heinrich Schütz's Müsikalische Exequien, J.S. Bach's Wedding Canata (BWV 202) and Giacomo Carissimi's Jonas. Alice is an active voice instructor. She is on faculty at Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, and Summit Studios in Manchester. Additionally, Alice is a founding member of emerging early music ensemble, Voce Concitato. She also enjoys presenting recitals with her husband, pianist David Garrido-Cid.

Peg Walker has played violin since second grade. Chamber music has been a constant joy and challenge in her life. She began playing the viola fifteen years ago at the request of a friend, and has enjoyed understanding the music she loves from different perspectives – that of the violin and the viola. A founding member of the Con Brio Trio, as well as an active member of the Musical Club of Hartford, Peg is enjoying the additional playing time her retirement affords.

Herb Walker began studying cello in Philadelphia. His love for the instrument and for playing chamber music has stretched over nearly 6 decades. Herb is a founding member of Con Brio, and an active member of the Musical Club of Hartford. In his spare time, he continues to contribute his engineering skills as a consultant for Pratt & Whitney.