Milwaukee Area Recorder Society (MARS)

06/07/2026

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Gary Dennison, a beloved member of MARS, a wonderful musician, helpful assistant in directing, and the kindest of people. We will miss him so much. We offer our condolences to his husband Terry Zimmer. Services are not yet scheduled.

05/06/2026

Here's the May Newsletter of the Milwaukee Area Recorder Society (MARS). Please take a moment to catch up with MARS!

05/06/2026

The Milwaukee Area Recorder Society (MARS) ends its program year with the May playing session THIS Sunday, May 10th, beginning at 1:30pm.

Doors open at 1:15pm at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wauwatosa (1717 Church Street).

Players will give themselves an informal concert as they play through the entire year's repertoire, beginning to end.

We hope you will be able to join us!

03/31/2026

Greetings!

Here is the April edition of the Newsletter of the Milwaukee Area Recorder Society (MARS). Take a minute to catch up with us!

03/26/2026

The April playing session of the Milwaukee Area Recorder Society (MARS) will take place on Sunday afternoon, April 12, beginning at 1:30pm. Doors open at 1:15pm for set up and greeting other members.

MARS members gather each second Sunday of the month at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wauwatosa (1717 Church Street) and you are cordially invited to join us! Individuals of all ages, and all playing abilities, will find a warm welcome.

Don't hesitate to contact us with questions or comments!

Hope to see YOU on the 12th!

03/10/2026

The Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (or MADACC) recently instituted a new volunteer program called "Wild Tunes". It encourages local musician to come to the shelter to play relaxing music for the animals housed at the facility.

MARS member, Carolyn Williams, is one of those volunteers. You can see (and hear) Carolyn at the beginning of the clip playing her bass recorder for appreciative residents of MADACC.

Thank you, Carolyn, for making a difference!

A new program at MADACC brings volunteers in to play live music for dogs and cats, helping create a calmer environment for animals waiting for adoption.

03/09/2026

Another great afternoon of recorder music at the March 8th playing session of the Milwaukee Area Recorder Society (MARS)!

22 MARS members gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wauwatosa and enjoyed playing music by Salamone Rossi, Etienne du Tertre, two Klezmer tunes arranged by Hope Ehn, and the whimsical "Four Lodgers for Four (or more) Recorders" by 20th century composer Alan Bullard. The afternoon ended with the playing of MARS Music Director's arrangement of the nostalgic "Moon River".

MARS Music Director, James Chaudoir, was warmly welcomed back to the podium.

The next playing session will be held Sunday afternoon, April 12, and we hope to see you there!

03/05/2026

Each year the American Recorder Society (ARS) commissions a well-know composer to compose a piece to commemorate March's Play-the-Recorder Month (PtRM).

This year, esteemed composer, David Hurd, contributes a new composition entitled "Sonata in 3 for 4". In addition to being a recorder player, Dr. Hurd, who serves as Music Director at New York City's St. Mary the Virgin, is widely recognized and deeply admired as one of the foremost concert organists, sacred music composers, and church musicians in the United States.

Here is a recording of "Sonata in 3 for 4" performed by the Sempervirens Quartet. Sempervirens Quartet is based in the Boston area, consists of recorderists Héloïse Degrugillier, Dan Meyers, Emily O’Brien, and Roy Sansom.

At the March Milwaukee Area Recorder Society (MARS) playing session (to be held THIS Sunday, March 8th), MARS Music Director, Dr. James Chaudoir, will lead MARS members in a reading of "Sonata in 3 for 4". We meet at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wauwatosa (1717 Church Street). We'd love to have you join us to celebrate PtRM!

MARS hopes you enjoy this delightful composition!

2026 Play-the Recorder-Month Composition "Sonata in 3 for 4" by David Hurd played by the recorder ensemble Quartet Sempervirens.

03/05/2026

Did you know that Recorder players from across North America celebrate March as Play-the-Recorder Month (PtRM)?

2026 will mark 34 years of celebrating Play-the-Recorder Month! Many ARS chapters (including the Milwaukee Area Recorder Society [MARS]), consorts, and recorder orchestras, plan creative ways to illustrate the versatility and beauty of this wonderful instrument during March.

Of particular significance is March 21, 2025, which is Play-the-Recorder Day! Many activities are planned to commemorate this special event.

Founded in 1939, the ARS celebrated 85 years of service in 2024 to its members and constituents -- all recorder players including amateurs to leading professionals, students to teachers. It has approximately 140 chapters, consorts, and recorder orchestras in the U.S. and Canada, where its membership base is over 2,300, including over 100 international members in 17 countries.

02/28/2026

The Whitewater Early Music Festival (EMF) has posted the class offerings for this year's Festival to be held May 29 - May 31, 2026 on the campus of the University of Wisconsin -- Whitewater, and it promises to be a spectacular Festival!

A national slate of recorder faculty will grace this year's Festival, including Moyo Aoki, Lisette Kielson, Laura Kuhlman, Mona Mann, Anne Timberlake, and our own James Chaudoir. If gamba or vocal is your "thing" there are also class offerings for YOU!

The class offerings are listed on the website for your perusal.

Registration opens April 1st, and popular classes will fill up quickly!

Please plan on attending this year's Festival!

Whitewater EMF has been an annual event held at UW Whitewater the first weekend of June. Attracts recorder and gamba players from throughout the midwest.