Free Concert Celebrating the Great Composer Felix Mendelssohn's 200th Birthday

To honor the bicentennial of composer Felix Mendelssohn's birth, the Mendelssohn Club of Albany will perform a free concert with the Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York City on Saturday, June 6 at 3:00 p.m. in Memorial Chapel on the campus of Union College in Schenectady, NY. In addition to honoring the birth of Felix Mendelssohn in 1809, the concert is part of the Mendelssohn Club of Albany's continuing celebration of its centennial season.

"We are thrilled to have the Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York City join us to celebrate the work of Felix Mendelssohn and the bicentennial of his birth," said Mendelssohn Club of Albany president Michael Palumbo. "The concert will be a great experience for both clubs, and an opportunity for residents of the Capital District to hear some outstanding choral music."

Felix Mendelssohn inspired the creation of many choral clubs -- amateur and professional -- including the Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York City, founded in 1866, and the Mendelssohn Club of Albany, established in 1909. The Mendelssohn name was adopted in recognition of the composer's important role in choral music.

The concert will feature three sets, with each chorus performing six selections on their own. The third set will feature both clubs performing four songs together. Each set will feature the works of Felix Mendelssohn, as well as works from other great composers, including Schubert, Brahms, and Gilbert and Sullivan. Both clubs will be accompanied by pianist Michael Clement, who serves as the Mendelssohn Club of Albany's regular accompanist.

Admission to the concert in Memorial Chapel at Union College is free.

About The Mendelssohn Club: A Capital Region tradition since 1909, the 75-voice male chorus is the area's longest continuously performing arts group. The Club is composed of men from the Capital District, Hudson Valley and Berkshire regions, and performs a full range of male choral selections from around the world. The Mendelssohn Club is conducted by Dr. Victor Klimash. A faculty member at Union College, Dr. Klimash holds a Doctor of Music in Voice from Florida State University, and a Master's and Bachelor's degree in Voice from The Eastman School of Music. Pianist Michael Clement serves as the Club's accompanist. Mr. Clement was trained at the Eastman School of Music, the University of Arizona, and the University of Southern California. For more information about The Mendelssohn Club and the June 6 concert, please visit www.mendelssohn.org or contact David Flanagan at (518)-813-9246.

About The Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York City: Founded is 1866, The Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York City is the oldest performing non-college male chorus in the country. The club's conductor, Gene Wisoff, was born, raised, and educated in New York City. He received a bachelor of music degree from Brooklyn College and sang for years in the college chorus under Robert Hickok, who Gene feels had the most profound effect on his conducting style. Gene has also studied conducting at Mannes with Rudolph Palmer. Visit www.mgcnyc.org for more information on the Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York City and the June 6 concert.