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Date: 3/22/2022
AMHERST – One of Amherst’s finest ensembles is back to in-person concerts with a brand-new director following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
New Artistic Director Andrew Arceci will make his inaugural appearance with the Arcadia Players on April 2 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Hadley in a concert that will “explore the origins of the symphonic genre.” Arcadia Players President Jon Solins said the group can’t wait to exhibit its collection of pieces in front of a live audience once again.
“For his first Arcadia Players concert, he has brought us a fascinating program, illustrating the precursors of what we today call a Symphony,” Solins said of Arceci. “It fits in perfectly with our mission of?presenting music of the past in a fresh light.”
“Sounding Together: Origins of the Symphony” is a performance that is a long time coming for the Arcadia Players. They were forced to cancel their final 2020-21 concert and have since been relegated to a trio of livestreamed concerts that were used to audition three potential new directors.
“From this process we arrived at the choice of Andrew as our new director,” Solins said. “He’s a wonderful musician, thoughtful, energetic, and dedicated to building the organization’s range and impact.”
Arceci has performed around the globe and taught at a multitude of schools including Worcester State University. He has prior experience performing with current members of Arcadia Players and is drawn to their idea of allowing the era and style of a piece to affect how it is presented in a modern setting.
Emphasizing the importance of safety for its members and guests, Arcadia Players said proof of full vaccination and masks will be required for entrance. The program is expected to be approximately one hour, and entrance will be on a “pay what you wish” basis with a $25 recommendation. You can find tickets at the door or at www.arcadiaplayers.org.
“We are all about offering wonderful live musical experiences, and the pandemic meant we had to stop doing what we love for almost two years,” Solins said. “We’re thrilled to be able to share this great music in-person once again. It’s been a long time.”