Michael Ludwig to Perform During ‘Bach at the Beach’

CAPE MAY – On Oct. 26, at the Union Park Hotel, in the Macomber Hotel across from the Convention Center, in Cape May, at 5 p.m., Michael Ludwig, violin, former Associate Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who solos with major orchestras like the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish Orchestra, Lithuanian Orchestra, and who is under contract with Columbia Records CAMI, and Naxos Records, will perform some “Bach at the Beach” at a Benefit for Access to Art, Inc. The dinner which consists of a choice of Filet Mignon, Chicken, or Salmon is $70. It benefits Access to Art, Inc. which presents visual and performing arts in Cape May. “We love Union Park Hotel in the Macomber Hotel,” said Barbara Beitel, Access to Art, Inc. Director. The food is gourmet and American, and it is a four star restaurant, but it has a European feel and is very quietly elegant. The food is always exemplary, and we will have salad, the entrée, and dessert. And $35. of the proceeds benefits Access to Art, Inc. to help us to carry on the wonderful music and programming we bring to the area.” Beitel said.
“Michael Ludwig, who in his 20’s was chosen Associate Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra , very unusual for someone his age, chose, after 14 years in that position, to leave the orchestra and to strike out for a soloist career. He was featured in a conversation on WTTI, National Public Radio, last year, and the chronicled his soaring international career. When he was at the Orchestra, he did all the recording for the orchestra. And he appears often on NPR. He wanted to be a concertmaster, and he wanted to solo across the world. He has done both. He is currently Concertmaster for the Buffalo Orchestra in NY, and he works with JoAnn Falletta, who directs three orchestras including one in Ulster, Ireland, the Buffalo and the Virginia Symphony. Ludwig will perform with all three of them this year as a soloist. JoAnn Falletta is a graduate of Juilliard. With her, he soloed at the London Philharmonic, where Ken Fuchs wrote a concerto for him to perform in. It was recorded at Abbey Rd., London. Both Ken Fuchs, whose style is akin to Aaron Copeland, and whose works are often written for and recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra, and David Amram, who composed the music for Splendor in the Grass and the Manchurian Candidate, who was friends with Peter Seeger and Arthur Miller, and Joseph Papp, composed for Broadway, Opera, and the NY Philharmonic where he was composer in residence. Both composers want to create a concerto for Michael in memory of his father, Irving Ludwig. “All we need to do is find the funders who underwrite original compositions.” said Barbara Beitel, Access to Art, Inc., Director. Michael serves on our advisory board, and he has performed for us with the Mondrian Ensemble since 1998. He is such a lyrical and gifted musician, and he has such a distinct sound. He has been soloing on four continents for major orchestras like the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish Orchestra, the Lithuanian Orchestra, and Orchestras in Korea, China, and Japan, Poland, Germany, Kiev, etc. “ He also plays for the Boston Pops, the Philly Pops under Peter Nero, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Buffalo Symphony, the Virginia Symphony, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He has served on our artistic advisory board for years.” Beitel said.
Please send checks to Access to Art, Inc., 417 E. Pacific Ave., Cape May Court House, N.J. 08210. Please indicate your choice of entrée: filet mignon, salmon or chicken. We need the answers in soon, so we can order the entrees and give Union Park the count.” Beitel said. “Michael gave us a wonderful concert last year, and we expect this year to be just as wonderful. We invite you to join us at this gala event…wonderful food, wonderful music, wonderful company.” Beitel said.