New, prospective, and current members are invited to this in-person tea hosted by the Board of Directors in the first-floor Reading Room.

The Altschuler Summer Music Institute develops musicians of all ages through participation in masterclasses, private lessons, and performances with renowned artists. The ASMI Chamber Ensemble is a collaboration between ASMI’s world-renowned faculty and selected young artists. Born in New York City, cellist Allison Eldredge appeared as a soloist with the LA Philharmonic at age 12 and with the NY Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta at age 15. Allison studied at the Juilliard School and is on the Cello Faculty of NE Conservatory, the Boston String Academy, and ASMI. Pianist Thomas Pandolfi studied at The Juilliard School (BM & MM), and has become an audience favorite on the world’s most prestigious stages, including Alice Tully Hall, The Kennedy Center, Kiev Opera House, London’s Cadogan Hall, et al. Maestro Pandolfi is a Steinway Artist. Violinist Emil Altschuler holds degrees from Juilliard and Yale School of Music. He is an active soloist, chamber musician, and concertmaster of the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra.

Oct 19th brings Thomas Hardiman Jr. with the first of two talks examining the Port City’s architectural heritage. He will present Architecture I - Imitation and Innovation: Developing a Portsmouth Style of Architecture 1660-1815. Mr. Hardiman, Keeper and Executive Director of the Portsmouth Athenaeum, has more than 30 years of experience in the museum, library, and historic preservation fields. He has been Athenaeum keeper since 2000 and was previously curator of the Saco Museum. In addition to museum administration, Mr. Hardiman has significant experience with the management, exhibition, and conservation of art and artifact collections and with the sensitive conservation of historic structures. Building on the important work of Richard Candee, James Garvin, Arthur Gerrier, and others, this talk will show how the Portsmouth community of craftsmen imported design ideas and structural systems from Europe and adapted them to the local climate and materials. Through this evolution, they created a style of architecture that is truly distinctive to the region.

The program begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Shaw Research Library. Space is limited, and reservations are required by calling (603) 431-2538. If unable to keep a reservation, please call again to release the seat for someone else. Reserved seats are honored until five minutes before a program begins.

The public is welcome to attend the series by becoming a Friend of the Athenaeum for $25 or may attend a single program for $10.