About Mountainside Baroque

 

In only a few short years, Mountainside Baroque, Cumberland’s early music collective has established itself as a staple of the cultural scene in the mid-Atlantic region, known for its excellent performances of music written before 1800. Established in 2011 by co-directors Ryan Mullaney and Lyle Nordstrom, Mountainside Baroque performances feature some of the finest professional musicians and specialists from across the country that come to play for a love of the music as well as for the beauty of the mountains.

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In 2018, "Early and Idyllic," a feature article on Mountainside and its founders appeared in EMAg, the magazine published by the major North American early music organization, Early Music America.

 

Performances generally have taken place in Cumberland, Maryland, in churches and institutions that have links to the rich heritage of the region, though run-out concerts to Baltimore and West Virginia have been features of recent seasons. 

 

The current series includes faculty from some of the most prestigious music schools in the United States, including The Julliard School, The Oberlin School of Music, Indiana University and The University of North Texas. We early anticipate our 2021-2022 concert season: A Joyous Reunion | A Year of Festive Weekends. We return again to live performance after the pandemic closures, with three weekend experiences as we add new Saturday concerts.

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One of the hallmarks of Mountainside Baroque concerts is a consistent commitment to historically informed performance and the use of reproductions of instruments of the time, including lute, theorbo, recorder, viola da gamba, harpsichord, Baroque oboe, flute and bassoon, and Baroque violin, viola and cello. It is Mountainside Baroque’s hope that exposure to musical treasures from the past, presented in an expressive performance style that convey the music’s intense emotions, will excite and inspire a new generation of musicians and music lovers.

 

Beyond the music, Mountainside Baroque places a premium on the local sense of “community” and collaboration within the region. By fostering partnerships with WFWM radio, the Allegany Museum, Shepherd University, and Frostburg State University, among others, Mountainside is able to present additional educational opportunities and programs to area residents. Donations to Mountainside Baroque, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, may be made at "Support Us." Our dynamic Board of Directors is aiding in leading the organization into the future.

 

“Like” Mountainside Baroque at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mountainside-Baroque.