On Sunday, October 18th, SAGE hosted a very special and wonderfully attended benefit concert. The location was Volunteers Hall
at the Harvard Public Library, in Harvard, Massachusetts. Harpist Maria Rindenello Parker and cellist Molly Aronson performed an
elegant and varied program which ranged from Haydn (cello) to New Blues by Deborah Henson-Conant (harp). For their finale, they
joined forces for "The Swan." by Camille Saint-Saens. If you were unable to attend our fundraiser, you can experience some of its
magic by watching a clip from "The Swan."
Donations from this benefit will be used to create a modest farm program for adults with autism for the summer of 2010 which will be an
important next step in fulfilling our mission. For updates about this program, please signup for our
electronic newsletter. And please remember SAGE in your year-end donations.
Maria Rindenello Parker has been playing the harp for twelve years and has been studying with Ann Hobson Pilot, the principal harpist
with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, for ten years. She is a junior at the New England Conservatory of Music. Maria has spent five summers as
a student at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute and was a student at the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado for the past two
summers. Last summer Maria placed fourth in the American Harp Society Competition, Advanced Division.
For the SAGE concert, she was accompanied by Theodore A. Johnson, who is currently on the faculty at Brandeis University, and has been the
organist and music director of the Unitarian Church in Harvard, Massachusetts for five years.
Molly Aronson is pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where she studies with Astrid Schween.
She currently plays in multiple chamber ensembles, the Open One string ensemble, and the University Orchestra. Molly has attended the Heifetz
International Music Institute, the Brevard Center, and the Killington Music Festival, and was principal cellist with the Springfield Symphony
Youth Orchestra in high school. Molly has been an advocate for individuals with autism, has participated in fundraising walks, and has given
two solo concerts to benefit causes related to autism.
Molly’s accompanist for the SAGE benefit was Lillian Buss Pearson, who has performed as a concert pianist throughout the United States
and internationally. She is currently the director of music at the First congregational Church in Greenfield, Massachusetts.
SAGE especially thanks Mary Wilson and Pete Jackson of the Harvard Public Library and the Garden Club of Harvard for their generous contributions to this event.
