For Immediate Release
August 19, 2022

SPECIAL FAMILY-FRIENDLY CONCERT BY THE KNIGHTS ORCHESTRA ADDED TO THE CLARK’S LABOR DAY MUSIC LINE-UP

Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute hosts a free family-friendly concert by the renowned Knights Orchestra on Monday, September 5 at 12 pm in the Manton Research Center auditorium. This newly added performance is designed specifically for younger audiences and is intended to provide a fun and engaging introduction to classical music. The family-friendly program follows a large-scale outdoor concert by the Knights on the Clark’s Férnandez Terrace on September 4. 

Music lovers of all ages will delight in celebrating exceptional music in an engaging, interactive setting. The program includes excerpts from works by Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, and Ludwig von Beethoven along with audience participation activities that highlight musical details and showcase the way instruments can tell a story. In this accessible afternoon performance, children and their parents/grandparents/caregivers will discover the limitless imaginative possibilities that exist in classical music. 

Based in New York City, The Knights are a collective of musicians dedicated to transforming the orchestral experience and eliminating barriers between audience and music. Led by an open-minded spirit of camaraderie and collaboration, they seek to engage with contemporary culture through vibrant performances that honor the classical tradition and their passion for musical discovery. The collective was founded and is directed by violinist Colin Jacobsen and conductor and cellist Eric Jacobsen, who, together, also founded the Brooklyn Rider string quartet. The Knights’ roster boasts musicians of remarkably diverse talents, including composers, arrangers, singer-songwriters, and improvisers, who bring a range of cultural influences to the group, from jazz and klezmer to pop and indie rock music. Since their founding in 2007, The Knights have toured and recorded with prominent soloists including Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Béla Fleck, Itzhak Perlman, and Gil Shaham, and have performed at Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and the Vienna Musikverein.

Admission is free, but reservations are required. Each ticketed group must include at least one child, age 18 or younger, and at least one adult. This performance is intended as an introduction to orchestra music to engage younger audiences. For more information and to reserve tickets, visit clarkart.edu/events. To reserve an accessible seat, please call 413 458 0524.

This performance is presented through the generous support of Mela and Paul Haklisch.

ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Advance tickets are strongly recommended. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303. 

Use of facemasks is optional for all visitors. For details on health and safety protocols, visit clarkart.edu/health.

Press contact: [email protected]