Instrument Societies - Renaissance Musicians

Instrument Societies


(local, regional, and national; see also Early Instruments)

American Recorder Society


Founded in 1939, the ARS has provided service and support to recorder players worldwide for over 60 years.  The network of chapters provides a structure for finding many opportunities to: play great music from past and present in groups; attend workshops; find out what other recorderists and groups are doing throughout the world; receive information about state-of-the-art recorders and recorder products; and give and receive support and encouragement as you teach, learn, and play the recorder.

American Recorder Teachers Association


ARTA is a organization that provides a support network for recorder teachers and acts as an advocate and source of information for recorder pedagogy.  ARTA encourages professionalism in recorder education by making available current research and ideas to those in the teaching profession, and by enlarging the circle of recorder teachers who have access to such information.  Publisher of the Recorder Education Journal.

Chicago Chapter of the American Recorder Society


Ann Masur (recorder) Meets the third Sunday of every month, September through May, 2:00 PM.  At St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1500 Belmont Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.  Enter at door west of main entrance to sanctuary, then proceed to Founders Hall in the basement below the sanctuary.
2008-2009 season CARS early music concert(s) on:  12/21/2008.
2008-2009 season CARS workshops on: 4/25/2009.
Photos of the Chicago ARS Chapter here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Galpin Society


The Society was formed in October 1946 for the publication of original research into the history, construction, development and use of musical instruments.  Its name commemorates the pioneer work of Canon Francis W. Galpin (1858-1945), who had spent a lifetime in the practical study of old instruments, in collecting them, and recording their history.

Historic Brass Society


The Historic Brass Society is an international music organization concerned with the entire range of early brass music, from Ancient Antiquity and the Biblical period through to the 20th century.  The history, music, literature and performance practice of early brass instruments such as natural trumpet, natural horn, early trombone, cornetto, serpent, keyed bugle, keyed trumpet, early valve horn, and 19th century brass instruments are some of the main issues of concern to the HBS.

Historical Harp Society


The purposes of The Historical Harp Society are:  to cultivate, foster, sponsor and develop love and appreciation of the art, history, literature and uses of historical harps; to promote appreciation of and to raise the level of proficiency in the performance and use of historical harps; to keep historical harp makers and performers, as well as interested friends, informed about literature and activities pertaining to historical harps, and to provide occasions for them to meet; to promote the use of historical harps as a professional instrument and to encourage their use among amateurs; to encourage the reconstruction of historical harps; to collect and disseminate information regarding the construction of and performance upon historical harps.

Kalamazoo Recorder Players

 
Meets 7:25-9:30 PM, the fourth Tuesday of the month, from September through May.  At First Reformed Church, Fellowship Hall, 302 Academy, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
For more info:  call Charles Vreeland, 269-342-8069.

Lute Society of America


The Lute Society of America is devoted to the lute and its music.  Each year, the Lute Society of America holds a seminar where lute players can get together for classes, workshops, performances, and just to socialize with other enthusiasts.

Lyre Association of North America



Midwestern Historical Keyboard Society


The Midwestern Historical Keyboard Society is a regional (Midwestern United States) non-profit organization comprised of members who love and promote early keyboard instruments and the music written for them.  MHKS members include instrument builders, players, teachers, and scholars, as well as many who merely love the looks and sounds of these beautiful instruments.

Milwaukee Chapter of the American Recorder Society

 
Meets the second Sunday of every month, 1:30 PM.  At Mount Mary College, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
For more info:  call Diane Kuntzelman, 262-654-6685.

Oak Park Recorder Society

 
Oak Park Recorder Society (young recorder player) Meets 8:00-10:00 PM, every Tuesday, all year round, at Pilgrim Congregational Church, Lake and Scoville Streets, Oak Park, Illinois.  (Go to the rear of the church and ring the back doorbell.)  Has been meeting regularly for nearly 50 years.  Open to all.  Has very active public performance schedule.  Despite the group's name, it attracts players from the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs.
For more info:  call Nancy Chabala at 708-442-6053.
Photos of the Oak Park Recorder Society here, here, here, and here.

Organ Historical Society


An international organization that seeks members from all levels of interest in the organ.  The Society promotes a widespread musical and historical interest in American organbuilding through collection, preservation, and publication of historical information, and through recordings and public concerts.

Park Ridge Recorder Society

 
Offers ongoing individual and group instructional and performance classes for all ages.  Private instruction is scheduled on a personal basis.  Children ages 5-17 rehearse Monday afternoons and evenings.  Adults meet 7-8 PM on the third Sunday of every month at 1105 N. Delphia (near Greenwood & Oakton Avenues), Park Ridge, Illinois.
For more info:  call Jeanne O. Besetzny at 847-698-4590; or e-mail jobmusic@ix.netcom.com.

Southeastern Historical Keyboard Society


The Southeastern Historical Keyboard Society, founded in 1980, is a non-profit, regional organization committed to the promotion of interest in and the study of early keyboard instruments, principally harpsichord, clavichord, fortepiano, and organ prior to 1860, and the music intended for these instruments.

Southern Wisconsin Chapter of the American Recorder Society

 
Winds of Southern Wisconsin Organizes two 8-10 week workshops per year.  Each workshop is followed by an informal public performance in the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda.  Single-day workshops are also offered a couple of times a year.  Informal group playing meetings are held on Monday nights from 7:30 to 9:30 throughout the year when formal workshops are not scheduled.  These gatherings are devoted to sight-reading an assortment of music.
For more info:  e-mail info@windsofsouthernwisconsin.org; or visit www.windsofsouthernwisconsin.org.

Viola da Gamba Society of America


Incorporated in 1962, the Viola da Gamba Society of America (VdGSA) is a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to the support of activities relating to the viola da gamba in the United States and abroad.  It is a society of players, builders, publishers, distributors, restorers and others sharing a serious interest in music for viols and other early bowed string instruments.

Viola da Gamba Society Third Coast


Viola da Gamba Society Third Coast Workshop May 2008 The VdGS Third Coast is the Chicago-area chapter of the VdGSA.  Provides gambists play-ins and other performance opportunities.  Sponsors an Annual Memorial Day Weekend Workshop.
For more info:  call 847-722-2093; e-mail Phillip Serna at phillip@phillipwserna.com; or visit www.vdgsa.org/3rdCoast/.
Photos of the Viola da Gamba Society Third Coast here.

Western Michigan Chapter of the American Recorder Society

 
Meets the third Monday of every month at 6:30 PM at St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, 1200 Seminole Road, Muskegon, Michigan, and two Fridays a month, 9:30 AM, usually at the Hume Home.  Please call ahead for the Friday meetings, since the location might vary.
For more info:  call Jocelyn Shaw, 231-744-8248; or e-mail jshaw@hackleylibrary.org.

West Suburban Early Music Society

 
Meets the second Sunday of every month, September through April, first Sunday of May, 2:00-4:30 PM.  At the Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church, 1150 Hobson Road, Naperville, Illinois.  From the East-West Tollroad (I-88), exit at Naper Boulevard, and travel south.  At the SW corner of Naper Boulevard and Hobson Road.  The church entrance is on a side street, more obvious from Hobson Road.
For more info:  e-mail Laura Sanborn Kuhlman, Laura@thekuhlmans.com.
Photos of the West Suburban Early Music Society here.