Next Concert April 6, 2025 - Click here for details
For April 6, 2025, we have invited Laurence Kayaleh and Elizabeth Dolin to return to Hudson. However, this time, they have welcomed a pianist, Lucas Porter, to join them. As a result, their program will present chamber music for piano trio.
Pianist Lucas Porter joined Laurence Kayaleh and Elizabeth Dolin for a series of concerts in Toronto during December 2024 to resounding success, enjoyed both their audiences and by artists themselves. There is a natural musical affinity and trust felt by the trio that is evident in their exciting and dynamic ensemble performances. They have many engagements for this year in Montreal as well as Toronto, Cobourg and Nova Scotia.

Now in its 40th season, the Hudson Chamber Music Series aims to attract internationally renowned musicians to play chamber music in Hudson. We are a non-profit organization of volunteers from the Hudson area. Our annual concert series includes vocal music and music for small instrumental groups and soloists and is intended to attract local audiences. The repertory is varied, running the gamut from the Renaissance through Romantic to contemporary music, with occasional excursions into jazz, gypsy and other styles. Our concerts attract audiences of approximately 80 and until April 2024 took place in a wonderful setting, the hall of St. James Church on Main Road, a venue with impeccable acoustics and an unparalleled view of the Lake of Two Mountains. We are strongly committed to the local community. However, in April, a fire consumed the church and efforts are now underway to rebuild.
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Our support from the town of Hudson, individuals and local businesses allows us to keep our ticket prices low for all. In addition to the concert series, we have, when possible, organized an annual young persons’ recital that showcases talented musicians taught by Hudson and area music teachers.
A few words about the chamber music series
The Hudson Chamber Music Series took off in the early 1980s when it was proposed that the Strawberry Festival at St. James Church, present music entertainment. Mark Drake remembers a “set of bells of the United States and a quintet of English horns Kingston” were then present. The idea proved very popular and it was suggested that the Hudson Music Club take responsibility in order to give a more traditional twist to the event. Therefore, Patricia Harley, a local resident, in collaboration with the Hudson Music Club, invited graduate students from McGill University to play in the region. In 1986, when illness forced Patricia to retire, Patricia Kerridge, with the help of a group of volunteers, took over the series. The latter was developed in order to present a series of public concerts at St. James. It was a success.

Patricia Kerridge had been actively involved in the music community for many years and had taught at the Faculty of Music at McGill University where she developed a valuable network of contacts. Patricia’s husband, Raymond, participated for the first time in Music Club activities in the late 80s when he organized an advertising campaign for one of their annual musical theater productions. His involvement with the Hudson Chamber Music Series began in the early 90s. Gradually, as the popularity of the series grew, he took on responsibilities for finance, advertising, distribution of posters and room preparation. Subsequently, he became the master of ceremonies at each show in his inimitable style. In 2005, when the Kerridges retired to Victoria, British Columbia, Julie Schroeder took over as director of the Volunteer Committee. Sadly, Ray Kerridge died suddenly in 2007 and the 25th anniversary of the 2007-2008 series was dedicated to his memory.
Currently, the volunteer committee continues to plan concerts and develop contacts with musicians of international renown, to invite them to perform in Hudson. The series has grown enormously since its inception and with your support and participation, it will continue to grow.
