A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski~

The tempo at which summer’s finale is approaching may cause some to feel a bit blue, but the reappearance of the Strathmere Ensemble is sure to highlight your upcoming Labor Day weekend.

The much awaited return of the group who will present a festival of American, classical, and romantic music will take place at the Strathmere United Methodist Church in this seaside town. The Strathmere Music Festival will consist of three concerts: Saturday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 2 at 2 p.m. and 6 p .m. The concerts will be approximately one hour in length.

Highlights of the performance on Saturday will include Handel’s Queen of Sheba Overture, Gershwin’s Lullaby, South Pacific excerpts, Vivaldi’s Four Violin Concerto, and America the Beautiful featuring Deborah Vandegrift, soprano, and Brian Adam, trumpet.

A Mozart Celebration, the program on Sunday, at 2 p.m., will include Violin Concerto in D major and Eine Kleine Nacht Musik. The 6 p.m. presentation on Sunday will feature Ravel’s String Quartet (two movements), and Dvorak’s Religioso. Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro Overture will be performed at all three of the concerts.

The artists of the Strathmere Ensemble are John T. Kulowitsch, director, double bass; his wife, Mitsuru Tsubota, violin; Elizabeth Miller, violin; Arik Braude, violin; Sophie Arbuckle, violin; Mioi Takeda, violin, Daire FitzGerald, cello; and Louise Schulman, viola.

If you missed the Memorial Day performance of the Strathmere Ensemble, this is a golden opportunity to attend one, or all, of the three concerts being offered by the group. The Strathmere United Methodist Church, a white clapboard structure located on Commonwealth Avenue, is a great venue in which to enjoy this world-class ensemble that has performed individually and together with leading orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout North America, South America, Japan, Europe, China, and Israel.

In addition, they have shared the stage with such well-known musicians as Paul McCartney, Elton John, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntyre, Whitney Houston, Branford Marsalis, Sting, and Metallica.

The Strathmere Ensemble was founded in 1996 by John Kulowitsch, and its members are freelance musicians from the New York and Philadelphia areas who all share a love for classical music. They have performed with some of the area’s finest ensembles including the Orchestra of St. Luke, the Chamber Music Societies of New York and New Jersey, and the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society.

Some of Kulowitsch‚s professional credits include 25 years with the American Symphony Orchestra, the Aspen Music Festival, five years with the original Annie and Godspell productions on Broadway, the Philadelphia Composers‚ Forum, and the New England Bach Festival.

Kulowitsch is thrilled at the way in which the community has embraced the members of the Strathmere Ensemble and classical music and would like to thank their friends for “all of their help, support, and never-ending encouragement.”

Try to set aside some time during this Labor Day weekend to come out and enjoy the Strathmere Ensemble. I am sure you will be delighted and amazed at the titanic talent tucked away in this tiny town.