Associated Chamber Music Players

The Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP) is an international organization of musicians - mostly amateur but also some professionals - devoted to playing chamber music. The organization publishes a directory of musicians worldwide; traveling members can contact members at their destinations and arrange chamber music sessions.[1] The ACMP publishes a guide to chamber music workshops around the world, and has a fund to support chamber music programs.

History

The ACMP was founded in 1947 by American businessman Leonard Strauss and Helen B. Rice, both amateur violinists who traveled often and sought partners for chamber music evenings in travel destinations, as described in the book Helen Rice, The Great Lady of Chamber Music by Rustin McIntosh.[2] Ms. Rice took the initiative to organize the first directory of chamber music players, and managed the directory and the organization until her death in 1980. Today, the directory, available both in printed form and at the ACMP website, lists more than 5,000 musicians from 57 countries.[3][4]

In 1993, Clinton B. Ford, a businessman, amateur violinist and amateur astronomer, bequeathed an endowment of about four million dollars to ACMP. With the money, ACMP set up a foundation for supporting chamber music programs and workshops. Since 1994, the ACMP Foundation has given out over 3.6 million dollars in grants to chamber music schools, workshops, home coaching and other programs.

ACMP sponsors Worldwide Play-in Weekend, an international event where musicians gather all over the world to play chamber music on the same weekend. During a typical Play-in, more than 100 groups participate worldwide[5]

In November 2016, Jennifer Clarke, an arts administration consultant and founder of Melodia Women's Choir of NYC, was named Executive Director. [6]

ACMP maintains a website, "The Chamber Music Network", which provides information to ACMP members and the public.

The ACMP Foundation

The ACMP Foundation provides grants to encourage chamber music. According to the ACMP website, the objective of the fund is to "foster the playing of chamber music for people of all ages and skill levels".[3] The foundation offers grants to community music schools, for members who want to invite a professional coach to their chamber music sessions and special initiatives. Recipients have included music education programs, youth orchestras and workshop organizers in the United States, Europe, Israel, and elsewhere. Also included are grants to individual amateur ensembles who seek lessons from professional players.

References

  1. ↑ "Reports from Member Organizations", National Music Bulletin 1987
  2. ↑ "70 Years of ACMP - A Nod to Our Founder, Helen B. Rice". ACMP Website. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  3. 1 2 ACMP website - About Us
  4. ↑ "Teachers and Students", Strings Magazine, Volume 8, Issues 4=6.
  5. ↑ Liz Robbins (March 7, 2014). "Musicians Old and Young, Experienced and Not, Join a Global Play-In". New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Associated Chamber Music Players (ACMP) appoints Jennifer Clarke as Executive Director" (PDF). ACMP Press. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
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