Many venerable Delaware arts organizations have their roots in our past.
Our notable Delaware Symphony grew out of a small organization, the Tankopanikum Orchestra, a group of amateur players that has matured into the magnificent ensemble we know today.
Similarly, in 1972 the First & Central Presbyterian Church in Wilmington – across the street from the Hotel du Pont – started a modest series of community music programs. No one could have predicted that 50 years later, there would still be music emanating from those same buildings at the corner of 11th and Market streets, with no end in sight!
In 2009, we founded Market Street Music, an independent nonprofit organization with a mission to continue and expand those original music programs, and we’ve been proud to serve and inspire Delawareans with our wide-ranging offerings for the past 13 years.
Today, Market Street Music presents two concert series. Our popular free walk-up Thursday Noontime Concerts in the fall and spring feature a wide variety of music. We also have a series of full-length ticketed weekend Festival Concerts oriented toward the classical realm.
All in all, these concerts – 25 to 30 each year – offer audiences an enormous variety, from jazz ensembles and world music to string quartets, from solo artists to choirs with orchestra.
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We are also home to two choral ensembles that perform in our concerts. Center City Chorale – begun in 1978 – is a community choir of enthusiastic amateur singers that rehearses on Tuesdays at noontime. There is no audition or fee to sing, and everyone is welcome. Mastersingers of Wilmington, one of the region’s finest auditioned choirs, is a half-and-half mix of skilled amateurs and professional singers.
Our newest program serving northern Delaware is Market Street Music’s free choral lending library. We maintain a catalog of about 1,000 titles, all available on loan to area community, school and church choirs. This welcome service saves each musical organization that utilizes it hundreds of dollars in music purchases each year.
The pandemic has been a difficult time for arts organizations. Many ceased operations for a time, but by making a series of adjustments, we were fortunate to continue our programs. We presented six full-length concerts, from jazz to early music, spirituals to Bach, each attended by a small group of invited patrons and streamed online for free. You can still see them on YouTube.
Now that things are normalizing, Market Street Music is grateful to be in the midst of a busy spring season. Over the next few weeks, we’re presenting ten free weekly Thursday Noontime Concerts and three Saturday Festival Concerts. Both Center City Chorale and Mastersingers of Wilmington are rehearsing for upcoming performances, and our choral lending library is once again in full swing.
Of note are two upcoming Festival concerts: On April 30 we’ll present Pyxis Piano Trio, a thrilling and virtuosic ensemble that has graced our stage for many years. And on May 21 Mastersingers of Wilmington sings music of Bach and Haydn with orchestra.
Thursday Noontime Concerts – known for their variety – will feature jazz, classical chamber ensembles, great singers (with our partner OperaDelaware), and even a program of Bach and Piazzolla played on the accordion.
Check out www.MarketStreetMusicDE.org for all the details.
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During our entire history – through our concerts, choral ensembles, and music lending – Market Street Music has served over 35,000 people, giving them (often free of charge) the experience and thrill of live music. We’re proud to inspire Delawareans through that universal language.
With the return of so many varied offerings from which to choose, the future again looks bright for the arts in Wilmington.
I invite you to experience our contribution by attending an upcoming Market Street Music event. I’ll be there to greet you!
David Schelat is president of Market Street Music.
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