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Date: 8/29/2023
AMHERST — On Sept. 2, the Cushman String Quartet continues the Amherst Historical Society’s Third Annual Strings at the Strong, a Saturday afternoon concert series that runs through late September.
The free performances will take place at the Simeon Strong House, in the historic downtown 19th century garden at 67 Amity St. and are open to the public. The series is designed to feature a range of local classical musicians with a focus on multiple eras of chamber music.
Liz Larson with the Historical Society said the series began when COVID-19 hit and many other venues were left dormant.
“We started it during the pandemic to give artists and musicians an opportunity to perform in front of audiences in a safe and socially distant space, which is our garden, maintained by the Garden Club of Amherst and it’s a beautiful spot,” she said.
This year’s concerts began Aug. 26 with the Oxbow Quartet and will follow on successive Saturdays from 2-3:30 p.m.
The Cushman String Quartet plays Sept. 2 followed by a Sept. 9 performance by the Amethyst String Quartet. The series concludes on Sept. 23 with the Puffer’s Quartet.
Larson said the series is well attended and concertgoers are welcome to spread out, bring picnics and stay as long as they like.
“We’re looking for people to enjoy our space in a way that they feel comfortable, if they’re not comfortable yet coming into the building, we have our ‘Groom Tree’ [a historic sycamore tree planted in 1761 on the property] and we’re just really looking for ways to invite the public to the Historical Society to engage with Amherst history in the way they feel most comfortable and in they way that grounds them,” Larson said.
The events are sponsored by Peoples Bank and are also funded by a grant from the Amherst Cultural Council.