Minding Your Business - Chatham Music Club

Chatham Music Club

Celebrating 25 Years!

Promoting the Appreciation of Classical Music

through Performance and Education

1 Seastrand Way, Unit 1

Chatham

ChathamMusicClub.com

“I was thrilled to find the Chatham Music Club,” said Robert “Bob” Williams. “And I could tell Barbara Reed was thrilled to find me too! Before I knew it, I was the publicity chair.” He laughed at that and said, “I’m relatively new to the club, but I’m happy to be a part of this group, doing whatever I can to promote the value of music in our lives.” Williams said the Music Club is a “collection of individuals who all have a love for music, especially classical music. Members are musicians, vocalists or music lovers. Barbara is our membership chairperson, and Carole Maloof is one of our founding members. She performed at the Met!”

On Feb. 4, the Music Club will present its annual keyboard/instrumental program in Chatham’s First Congregational Church at 650 Main St. “The program will feature the church’s Cassavent Freres organ plus piano, violin and flute selections. Members, guests and former CMC scholarship winners will play works by Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin and others,” said Williams. They are asking for a donation of $20 at the door; all proceeds will benefit the CMC Scholarship Fund. “The Fund has given out more than $50,000 in scholarships over our 25 years,” he said.

Along with public programs like the one in February, the club meets for recitals three or four times a year at members’ homes. “Homeowners with music rooms with a grand piano that can hold 20 people are kind enough to sponsor these recitals,” Williams said. “They aren’t necessarily promoted to the community, but musicians or vocalists can inquire about attending.” Williams himself is a vocalist. “I’ve always loved music and had regrets of never taking the time to learn to play an instrument, and even my singing took a back seat to my career.” He said he sang in choirs before he moved to the Cape in 2020, but “now has taken voice lessons and sang an Italian aria at a recent recital!” He has joined the Chatham Chorale, too. “Singing with the Cape Symphony recently was a rich experience.”

The club’s major annual event is a gala in June where the year’s scholarship winners perform, held at St. Christopher’s Church at 625 Main St. in Chatham. “There’s a competition at the end of April each year, where we determine the winner and honorable mentions,” Williams said.

Currently the club has about 100 members from all over the Cape and even a few from off-Cape, “but we will always welcome new members.” Williams said. “Musicians, vocalists and even if you just love music, you are all equally welcome to join us!” Membership information is on the club’s website.