Arnie Black 100th Birthday Anniversary

​The year 2023 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of our founder, Arnold Black, and MTC is throwing a party to commemorate this momentous occasion. Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 23,

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Arnie and Ruth Black discovered the church in 1969. Their friend and neighbor Alice Parker invited Arnie to play the violin at a service one Sunday morning, and he fell in love with the church’s splendid acoustics. In the summer of 1970, under the aegis of a group of dedicated musicians and community members, Mohawk Trail Concerts was born as a summer chamber-music series. Arnie directed MTC until his death in 2000. He was succeeded by Ruth, who directed the series until 2014. Mohawk Trail Concerts continues to this day, as healthy and vibrant as ever.

 

Arnie Black was more than a brilliant concert presenter and a charming entertainer in Western Massachusetts. He was a well established composer in New York City as well. What MTC does best is present chamber music. That’s what we will do on September 23 as we share nuggets from Arnie’s expansive library of delightful musical and poetic creations. Be prepared to hear about Swinging Monkeys, North Sea Ducks, Birthdays, Sloths, and other delights of Arnie’s magical world!

 

Performers will include familiar MTC faces: Maria Ferrante, Mark Fraser,

Jerry Noble, Estela Olevsky, and Masako Yanagita. The music will be followed by a party featuring delicious hors d’oeuvres, wine, and beverages. The suggested donation is $75, but all are welcome with whatever is affordable.  The kindness of your RSVP, directed to info@mohawktrailconcerts.org, would help immeasurably in our planning.

 

We look forward to celebrating Arnie’s legacy of music and community with you ... and to swapping a few stories about a beloved composer and performer.