Mondrian Ensemble Returns to Honor the Fallen from 9/11

AVALON – The Mondrian Ensemble, the original ensemble orchestrated to begin Access to Art’s Summer Chamber Music Festival featured Philadelphia Orchestra Strings, in their early 30s, when Access began to present chamber music in Cape May County, accompanied by Juilliard MM pianist Aurelia Mika Chang. The Ensemble will return Sept. 11, Wednesday, at 7 p.m. to Avalon’s Maris Stella R.C. Church, now rechristened St. Brendan the Navigator, on 5012 Dune Drive, Avalon. Their concert will honor the fallen at 9/11.
The piano quartet, in 1998, featuring Aurelia Mika Chang, piano, Michael Ludwig, violin, John Koen, cello, and Anna Marie Ahn Petersen, viola.
With the exception of Chang, they were young string players with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Although in his early 20’s, Michael Ludwig, without tenure, had tried out for the Associate Concertmaster position, and was awarded it. His father before him, Irving Ludwig, was a violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and taught Michael since he was three years old. His father taught him when he attended Curtis, and when he attended University of the Arts.
Access began the series, at the behest of Philadelphia artist, Sam Maitin, Guggenheim recipient, teacher at most of the art schools in Philadelphia, who exhibited on four continents and whose colorful works dot the city of Philadelphia. He felt that Cape May needed a chamber music festival. He designed Access to Art’s flyers. “Access had already presented Aurelia Mika Chang and Kathryn Krueger in their first year, in 1992, as a fund raiser, before the young women toured Romania. Aurelia Mika Chang and her friends from Juilliard and Curtis had come earlier to perform for the Cape May County Art League, so the only thing new was that we presented a series instead of individual concerts.” Barbara Beitel, Access to Art, Inc. Director said. “And instead of our homegrown flyers, we had a graphic artist of major talents who designed five flyers for us which we have been using ever since.” Beitel said. Initially, the Mondrian Ensemble brought their friends, harpist Elizabeth Hainen, violinist Steven Copes, and others and they performed with each other.
The orchestra, by its nature, performs in Philadelphia, and across the world, summering at the Mann in Philadelphia, and also at Saratoga, NY. Aurelia Mika Chang performs in Vienna, Japan, China, Poland, the UK and the U.S. Michael Ludwig, who spent 20 years with the orchestra, as his father before him, became the concertmaster for the Buffalo Philharmonic and has engaged in a soloist career around the world. Of him, Van Cliburn said: “A musician of profound artistry & consummate integrity, Michael Ludwig possesses a gorgeous sound which he projects with heartfelt passion and intensity.” Michael will be soloing in Kiev this summer following appearances at Saratoga, NY.
For reservations, call Access to Art, Inc. at (609) 465-3963. Tickets are $20. Adults, $15. Seniors, and students. Send checks to Access to Art, Inc., 417 E. Pacific Ave., Cape May Court House, N.J. 08210.
The concerts are underwritten, in part, by the Frank & Lydia Bergen Foundation, Charlotte Bennett Schoen Foundation, and the Kyriakos Tsakopoulos Fund of the Sacramento Community Foundation, honoring Ari Boutris. Additional information on Access events can be found on www.accesstoart.org