HMRS doesn’t have formal activities in July. There are so many activities for musicians in July and many HMRS members have an abundance of gigs with a variety of groups large and small. School kids may attend music camps and clinics but adult members of musical groups get in on the summer action as well. One of the premier annual “camps”, Amherst Early Music, went on the road to Union College in Schenectady early in July and presented its fabulous array of classes, concerts and fun with music from the medieval to today with an emphasis on early. Attendees played lots of sizes of recorders and viols in addition to singing and dancing. There were opportunities to study the history of early music as well as early systems of musical notation in addition to specialized instrumental and vocal techniques with outstanding performers.
Five members of HMRS, Linda Botimer, Judy Pardee, Janith Mason, Deb Segal and Kathy Kuhrt attended at least one of the two weeks of camp.
Our musicians presented concerts culminating in a presentation on the final Saturday morning. A large group of mixed instruments and a double choir presented three pieces by some lions of the Renaisance in the Nott Memorial, a high-ceilinged circular building with a lively and rich sound. The performance was quite impressive.
