Greenwich Adult Continuing Education Information

Since its beginning The Chamber Players has presented a cumulative repertoire of well over 300 works, an impressive accomplishment. They began their first season with vim and vigor, presenting a three-concert series on Sunday afternoons at the Greenwich Library. The inaugural concert took place on November 4, 1971, with a program of quartets by Fauré, Telemann, and Mozart. The musicians were Gretchen Belknap, cello; Dorothy Happel and Helen Law, violins; Victor Lionti, viola; and John Nelson, piano. Completing the roster of Players for that 1971-1972 season were Jean Whiton, flute; Donald Bender, oboe; George Mathes, clarinet; Joyce Kelley, bassoon; Joseph Anderer, horn; and Robert Genualdi, bass. Vincent Lionti, Victor's son, who is now a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, recalls the first rehearsal for The Chamber Player's first concert: "I was about ten at the time. I was with my father together with Dorothy, Helen, and Gretchen, and we all went next door to a neighbor's house, because she had a good piano. They were working on the Fauré Quartet in C minor. John Nelson was the pianist. He was Music Director of the Greenwich Philharmonia at the time. They were all very excited about it. Lowell Lacey, Barbara Allen, Wyatt Bennett, Richard Hagen, Mihai Tetel, and Kim Haley became members of the ensemble early on. The Chamber Players were soon invited to perform locally and were sponsored by, among others, the Darien Library and Arts Council, Concordia College, the Hudson Valley Museum, the Silvermine Guild, and Westchester Community College. They also appeared in the music series of several Greenwich churches. In 1983 Mary Radcliffe became president of the Greenwich Symphony. She and her predecessor, Mahlon Perkins, gave special support and encouragement to The Chamber Players. Mary describes them as "superb musicians - unique in their personality and livliness. In 1985 The Chamber Players helped the town of Greenwich celebrate its 350th anniversary by presenting a program of works by Greenwich ...