This Nonprofit Is Going Medieval On Montclair’s Music Scene

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A Montclair nonprofit is going medieval on the local music scene – literally.

Since forming in 2010, the members of Montclair Early Music (MEM) have been united in their quest to inspire their community with tunes popularized before 1750, largely from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.

The group gives its members a chance to jam together on songs that raised the roof centuries ago. Their instruments of choice are likewise anachronistic: sackbuts, crumhorns, lutes, harps, and of course, the ubiquitous recorder.

Counting both professional and amateur musicians among their ranks, the MEM players have held recent events that include a French Masque, a “Christmas in Italy” concert, a Wassail Celebration, a “Shakespeare and his music” show (October 2018), a “St. George and the Dragon” concert and a “Robin Hood at the May Faire” show.

• See related article: MEM Spearheads Recorder Contest For 3rd Graders In Essex County

Although the group is currently meeting online, the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed them down. Recently, the MEM welcomed four new members to its board:

Markus Gottschlich – “Markus Gottschlich is an Austrian-born pianist, composer and Steinway Artist who has lead a number of nonprofits in the cross section of music and education including the Miami Beach Jazz Festival, Jazz Academy Miami, the New Mexico Jazz Workshop, and most recently Jazz House Kids and the Montclair Jazz Festival. Apart from performing, writing commissioned works and music for film, Markus is a sought-after educator and curator of music series and festivals.”

Bernard Schoenfeld – “A member of the board since 2019, Bernard Schoenfeld has been appointed Chairman of the Board. He is retired from many years working in various capacities for a major New York financial institution. His positions included senior economist, portfolio manager, and investment consultant to major public, corporate and Taft-Hartley pension funds as well as noted foundations. Schoenfeld’s love of the recorder and early music inspired him to join Montclair Early Music. Learning the recorder as a child he went on as an undergraduate to perform as a soloist, accompanied by harpsichord or guitar and as a member of the University of Maryland Madrigal Singers. Over the last several years he has performed with various amateur groups playing Israeli folk music on recorder, guitar, flute or percussion.”

Christopher Bleeke – “Christopher Bleeke works as an elementary music teacher for Belleville Public Schools. He graduated summa cum laude from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, the State University in New Brunswick. Along with conducting his choirs, he enjoys teaching his third and 4th grade students to play recorder and has been a strong supporter of Montclair Early Music’s Elementary School Recorder Contest. Several of his students have been winners of the contest.”

Wilma Hurwitz – “Wilma Hurwitz, a Montclair-based public relations/marketing consultant, was invited to join the board this year after successfully publicizing Montclair Early Music group’s October 2020 outdoor performance of ‘A French Masque’ featuring special performance by four 4th grade medieval recorder students from Montclair and Bloomfield schools. Her ‘French Masque’ publicity program secured MEM’s recognition by key local media, as well as citations in the websites of the Montclair Board of Education and Township of Bloomfield Schools. Wilma brings 15+ years of success leveraging the visibility and expertise of Fortune 500 companies, top universities, community colleges, local governments and nonprofit institutions.”

Take a look at some recent concerts and events featuring MEM musicians, via MontclairTV34.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know about a local organization that should be profiled, contact eric.kiefer@patch.com

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