Ladies’ Morning Musical Club announces its 128th Season of ten outstanding concerts

The only continuously operating club of its kind in North America, LMMC continues to present internationally recognized and award-winning world-class musicians

Founded in 1892 by a group of Montreal women led by Mary Bell, the members of the Ladies’ Morning Musical Club met on a weekly basis to pursue their love of playing their musical instruments. The club continues to thrive; and recently announced the program for 2019-2020, which will be the club’s 128^th season – a remarkable accomplishment. The series of ten concerts attract world-class classical musicians and vocalists. The club has a rich history, and continues to be organized by women with a passion for classical music – all of them musicians themselves.

The initial purpose was for the members to play together, meeting in the homes of the members to explore the works of contemporary composers. Vocalists were occasionally invited to join. As their reputation grew, other ladies asked if they could attend the sessions and enjoy the music. Montreal did not have a symphony orchestra until 1897, and then again from 1917 until 1930. Therefore the ongoing Thursday morning recitals by the Ladies’ Morning Musical Club became popular. As attendance grew, the concerts were moved out of the members’ homes to the YMCA, and then to the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton Hotel from 1918 to 1966; interrupted in ‘57/’58 for construction at the hotel. The concerts moved to several locations in subsequent years before settling in at McGill’s historic Pollack Hall. To accommodate the audience, performances are now on Sunday afternoons.

Since the 1930’s, all concerts have been with professional musicians; with the club being able to present world-class artists, such as the coming season’s November 17 concert with the American String Quartet who have performed together for an astounding forty-five years. Cynthia Phelps, principal violist of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra will perform with the quartet for the first time in a program that features string quintets by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Brahms.

The 128^th season opens with the brilliant pianist Christian Blackshaw and continues from strength to strength throughout the next nine concerts. “We plan and book our concerts two to three years in advance,” noted Committee member and cellist Gillian Stikeman-Delplace. “We bring in such high-calibre musicians that we need to work that far ahead in order to secure dates for them.” The Committee continues to be composed of members who are accomplished musicians.

Each concert is musically important, and the performers have all won awards in prestigious music competitions. Frankly, you’d be hard pressed to see any of the award -winning performers for such modest ticket prices in another setting. For example, Hyeyoon Park was the youngest winner of the ARD International Music Competition in Munich when she was just seventeen in 2009. She’ll be performing with British recital pianist Benjamin Grosvenor on December 8.

Tickets are available on a per concert or subscription basis; and at just $300 for a series of ten concerts, the subscription package is an excellent value.

To reserve tickets or purchase a season subscription, please call: 514-932-6796, E-mail: [email protected]. For more information about the individual concerts, please visit: www.lmmc.ca

LMMC 2019 – 20120 Season

Subscription: $300; Students (26 yrs): $80. Single concert ticket: $50, $20 for students. Prices include taxes. Non-refundable.