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Rush Hour

 

September 22, 2009

Arts Scene

An die Musik looks to go nonprofit for concerts

By Tim Smith

"Yes, I'm crazy," Henry Wong is the first to admit.
Since the first full season five years ago of An die Musik Live, an offshoot of his compact disc retail store in Mount Vernon, Wong has presented nearly 900 concerts. This weekend alone, six events are scheduled, most of them in the comfortable 80-seat concert room above the shop.
One of these presentations is at the University of Baltimore, the latest spot to see the An die Musik flag planted. Wong has put together two appearances by the fine Poulenc Trio there, the first on Friday with exceptional soprano Hyunah Yu, the second in March with Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Wong is also co-presenting notable jazz pianists at UB this fall.
"Sometimes, we find our neighbors have a better facility," Wong says. "It's important for the music to be in the right place. The university has a beautiful facility at the student center and a state-of-the-art piano. I want to help more people become aware of the space."
An die Musik already offers periodic events at the Engineers Club (the Garrett-Jacobs Mansion) and Baltimore Basilica. But the bulk of the activity continues to be at the intimate store's mini-concert hall on North Charles Street, where the live music-making now accounts for most of the business.
"Fifty percent of income [at An die Musik] used to be from CD sales," Wong says. "Now it's 15 percent. The rest is selling tickets to concerts. Older people don't buy CDs, and younger people download. I can't even exchange CDs for shrimp fried rice at my favorite Chinese restaurant."
As the performance side of his business has increased, Wong has taken the first step toward forming a nonprofit organization and is waiting for the Internal Revenue Service to grant that status, which would provide an avenue for fundraising.
"I want to work with foundations and get underwriters," Wong says. "Some of our concerts cost just a few hundred dollars."
Jazz has been a big part of An die Musik Live since 2004, and if An die Musik successfully goes nonprofit, one particular focus would be educational programs aimed at bringing jazz programs into city schools. "It would be such a missed opportunity if we can't get this great part of American culture in front of young kids here," Wong says. Between the classical and jazz offerings, An die Musik is responsible for 20-some attractions each month, an enlivening force for the city's music scene. But it's a grueling schedule. "If I don't check myself into Sheppard Pratt, I'll be lucky," Wong says with a laugh. "I know some people say I'm nuts to do so many concerts, but you should see the e-mails I get all the time asking to perform here. We have learned to be extremely pragmatic about our operating expenses." Baltimore Magazine named Wong one of 2009's "arts world heroes." "I know sometimes I fall short, but I try to improve," he says. "And, given our no resources, I think we do OK. We have very successful concerts and very unsuccessful concerts, but the emphasis is always on the music, the musicians and the public. It's not about making a lot of money." The Poulenc Trio and soprano Hyunah Yu perform at 8 p.m. Friday at the University of Baltimore Student Center, 21 W. Mount Royal Ave. The jazz piano series continues there Oct. 16 with Kenny Werner. Go to ubalt.edu/spotlightub. The Monument Piano Trio performs at 3 p.m. Sunday at An die Musik, 409 N. Charles St. The program includes the premiere of Michael Sheppard's arrangement of Brahms' Symphony No. 2. Call 410-385-2638 or go to andiemusiklive.com.

Artistic rush hour
We don't need a water main break or juicy accident to tie up traffic around the Inner Harbor at rush hour. The next time you're stuck, think about hanging around downtown until the gridlock eases. A cool alternative is being presented by Maryland Art Place, which last month launched a series of events called Rush Hour: Art Beats Traffic. The next program offers a reception at 5 p.m. Thursday, followed by a gallery talk at 6 p.m., part of the seventh annual "Curators' Incubator," three exhibits curated by Shelly Blake-Plock, Rachel Sitkin and Margaret Winslow. Artists include Bonnie Jones, Kim Beck and Ronald Longsdorf. Maryland Art Place is at Market Place, Suite 100, Power Plant Live. Call 410-962-8565 or go to mdartplace.org.

Bounty of Beethoven Pianist Anne Koscielny, who has long specialized in performing all 32 of Beethoven's sonatas, will present the complete cycle in a series of concerts at Howard Community College this season. The first program is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Smith Theatre, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. For ticket information, call 410-772-4900 or go to howardcc.edu/music. Three of Beethoven's cello sonatas will be featured in a recital by a dynamic Austrian cellist Friedrich Kleinhapl, with pianist Andreas Woyke, at 7 p.m. Sunday in the Great Hall at Saint John's College, 60 College Ave., Annapolis. Admission is free. For more information, call 410-626-2539.