Hilton Head Symphony League Musicale Performance April 21, 2024
I was invited to give a private concert and talk as part of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra League’s Musicale Series so I a took my 2009 Anne Acker Flemish Double harpsichord to Hilton Head, SC into a lovely private home to give a presentation with talking and performing to a very appreciative and music-loving audience of about 60 members of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra League. A number of them showed up to help bring in the harpsichord, and then take it back to my van as rain started and storm clouds loomed!
Works included ranged from the earliest published, to variations on an Elizabethan bawdy song, to Elizabeth Jacquet, to Scarlatti and more.
While knowledgeable about music, like many such otherwise educated and curious people, they knew little about how harpsichords work and their history. They were most appreciative and we had a good time!
Pre-Concert Lecture for Concert by Jory Vinkour for Bach Ascending April 12, 2024
I was honored to give the pre-concert lecture for my dear friend’s Jory Vinikour’s brilliant performance at the dedicatory concert of the Richard Kingston double manual harpsichord acquired in 2023 for Bach Ascending programming.
Bach Ascending Bach Marathon Judge, February 24, 2024
Anne had the honor and pleasure of serving as a judge for the Annual Bach Marathon organized by Bach Ascending at the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in the historic district of Savannah! A variety of students and professionals played works by Bach on varied instruments and/or vocally, utilizing piano, harpsichord, guitar, flute, and violin. Ages covered the spectrum from very young to in the 80s! It was a pleasure to spend several hours listening. The other judge and myself came to a quick decision for the winners of the various categories: Most Promising Young Artist (17 and under), Most Creative Performance, and Best Performance Overall.
Author’s Note in children’s book about Beethoven and Nannette Streicher by Laurie Lawlor
Back in 2020, I answered an email and then had a long phone conversation with a marvelous award winning children’s book author, Laurie Lawlor answering questions about Nannette Streicher, Beethoven, Nannette’s pianos, my friend Margaret Hood, and Margaret’s last replica of a Streicher piano that I completed.. Much to my surprise, I received an email from Laurie that the book was being published this month and I was in the Author’s Note. She asked for my address so she could send me an advance copy. I was stunned to find an entire page devoted to Margaret and me! The book itself is fantastic! Laurie’s research is up to date and thorough. She amazingly took the wealth of accurate information and made it into a beautifully told book suitable for children with marvelous and period and instrument accurate illustration by Rebecca Statlandler. What Music! The Fifty-Year Friendship Between Beethoven and Nannette Streicher, Who Built His Pianos, for readers age 6 and up, is being released October 23 by Holiday House.
Lecture Recital at Verdier House, Beaufort, SC Nov. 6, 2023
Anne will be presenting a lecture recital at the historic John Marks Verdier House in Beaufort, SC at 3 pm on Nov. 6, 2023. She will be playing the ca. 1826 Robert & William Nunns square piano she restored for Verdier House several years ago. Music featured will be works by English and American composers that are period appropriate to the instrument and the house.
Sustaining Keyboards Conference Sept. 15-16, 2023
Anne was delighted to be an invited speaker at the amazing conference Sustaining Keyboards, Sept. 15-16, 2023 held at Cornell University, hosted by the Cornell Center for Historical Keyboards and the Westfield Center for Historical Keyboards Cornell. She enjoyed being housed in the comfortable guest suite at Bethe House, a student dormitory. Anne’s topic was “It’s a Material World”. The talks were scintillating, the company amazing, and the music sublime, an event to remember!
Concert with Friends on Nantucket July 20, 2023
Anne was delighted to be invited to play a concert with friends and amazing viola da gamba players Marcy Brenner (fellow Savannah Baroque member) and Nantucket native and amazing Mollie Glazer. The performance was held in the lovely sunporch of the Nantucket Community Music Center at 56 Centre St. in the heart of the old town at 7 pm. Works by Bach, Vivaldi, Jacquet, and Marais were played for an enthusiastic audience. 
Concert on Nantucket Island, July 20, 2023
Anne was delighted to join with two viola da gamba professionals; Nantucket resident Mollie Glazer and fellow Savannah Baroque member Marcy Brenner in a concert at the Nantucket Community Music School in the lovely sunporch. Works by Bach, Locke, Jacquet de la Guerre, Boismortier, and Marais were performed. Mollie’s son Isaiah joined in with tambourin in the last couple variations of the Marais Folies d’Espagne.
Spring Concert with The Goliards: The Minstrels of Albion
Anne took great pleasure in playing positive organ and sinfonye in The Minstrels of Albion with The Goliards under the leadership of founder, artistic director, arranger, vielle and rebec player John Hillenbrand along with Marcy Brenner on the tenor viol and singers Emmy Burch and Cuffy Sullivan. The performance was held Sunday, May 28, 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal church, Savannah, Georgia.
The ensemble performed popular songs, dances, hymns and motets from thirteenth and early fourteenth century England.
Evensong at St. John’s Savannah May 7, 2023
Anne was invited to play Prelude music for Eastertide Choral Evensong by the highly esteemed music director Steven Branyon at the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church in beautiful downtown Savannah, Georgia on May 7, 2023. She brought along her AMD French single manual harpsichord and fellow Savannah Baroque member Erika Andres with her baroque flute in solos and as a duo.
