MISTRAL, now in its 26th season, was founded as “Andover Chamber Music” in 1997, by flutist Julie Scolnik and her husband, Michael Brower. Since then, MISTRAL has presented approximately 10-12 concerts a year primarily in the New England area. They currently perform a regular series in both Andover and Brookline. They have been invited to perform by presenters across the country.
HISTORY
Scolnik was a busy free-lance flutist in Boston when she moved with her young family to Andover, soon to discover a community that was eager to embrace her dream of bringing high caliber and unstuffy chamber music to their doorsteps. Audiences responded enthusiastically to the virtuosic and communicative artists she invited, as well as to the personal rapport Scolnik established with her audiences, and overnight the chamber series was born!
MISTRAL has long been the name of the series’ ensemble-in-residence, but in 2013, with regular concerts in the Boston area (Scolnik and Brower now live in Boston), the series has transitioned to MISTRAL as the name of the organization itself. The concerts have always had a dual mission: to provide an intimate concert experience of the highest artistic standards that would enhance the lives of music lovers’ in the greater Boston area, and to provide accessible and affordable musical enrichment to children and their families, those of lower incomes, and the elderly and physically disabled, who may not otherwise have an opportunity to hear a live, world-class performance.
PERFORMANCES
Each season, MISTRAL presents most of its regular five-concert series in two intimate church settings, both acoustically perfect: the historic West Parish Church in Andover, where curved pews enhance the intimacy and connection between players and audience, and St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Brookline. The tenth anniversary finale was performed in Jordan Hall, and their 15th anniversary Season Finale in 2012 was performed in the Phillips Academy Chapel to accommodate the scope of the concert and formidable size of the ensemble.
Artistic Director Julie Scolnik assembles internationally-renowned musicians from New York, California, Philadelphia, Chicago, and abroad and creates imaginative thematic programs that combine beloved masterpieces with newly-discovered gems. Audiences look forward to Scolnik’s welcoming remarks and to the introductions of the pieces by the artists before they perform.
MISTRAL believes strongly in making music accessible to all. The organization spearheaded the acclaimed “Music For All” instrumental instruction through the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club, and it continues to bring live classical interactive concerts into the elementary schools. Free tickets are routinely distributed to under-served families and the elderly.
In addition to its regular concert season, MISTRAL organizes and presents special benefit concerts for worthy causes. November 2019 marked the third benefit concert to raise funds for underserved women with breast cancer, the second with the world-renowned Sir Simon Rattle, who came at Scolnik’s invitation. In May of 2014 Scolnik curated a concert in Paris for La Ligue contre le Cancer at the Hotel de Ville with a chamber orchestra comprised of musicians from across the continents.
Mistral is proud to be supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council (a state agency) with additional support from the Andover Cultural Council and the Brookline Commission for the Arts, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
