On Saturday, June 23rd and Sunday, June 24th, HMS pianist Henry Lewers ('08) performed in two chamber music concerts at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music in East Sullivan, NH. With other Apple Hill students, he performed Mozart's Piano Quartet in G Minor and Haydn piano trio. Many other works were performed as well, by other Apple Hill students.
Nicole Perez ('10), a violist and student at HMS, attended some of Apple Hill's August sessions. Here are a few of her reflections on her experience:
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The Apple Hill Summer Music Festival is a chamber music festival in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. It invites people of all ages, cultures, and countries to participate with a vision of playing for peace. The compositions performed range from the Baroque period to the present, including pieces composed by the faculty. Apple Hill is unique in its founding ideas, creating an environment that is rarely found elsewhere.
I believe that the reason that Apple Hill is so special to so many people is because it has succeeded in a way that many other music festivals have failed. Apple Hill has created a completely non-competitive environment, while still attracting amazing musicians from throughout the world. Therefore there is an incredible energy and enthusiasm in all the participants and faculty, and a high level of respect towards everybody.
I had an awesome time at Apple Hill, and returned home with some great memories. Contra dancing in the tiny town of Nelson, with the (very) colorful locals; going crazy on dance nights and going to bed at 6 am; SOCCER at five; the incredible faculty concerts; partying in the kitchen after a long night of taboo, ping pong, and boggle; the ten-minute walk (up a steep incline) to the bathroom every morning; hiking Mount Monadnock without any water or food; eating stale birthday cake; and generaly just chillin' and having a great time with some very cool people.
I played in a Beethoven quartet (opus 18 # 2) and a Bach Brandenburg V. Both groups produced some great music and I'm extremely grateful to both the coaches and members of the groups for their incredible musicianship and inspiration. I would recommend Apple Hill to anybody who is into music, fun loving, and doesn't mind playing under extreme exhaustion! Thanks everyone, and hopefully I'll see you at Apple Hill in the next few summers!
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(pictured: Apple Hill students from the summer of '06)
