Saratoga Performing Arts Center Honors Charles Hamlen With Special Concert Performed By Orchestra Of St. Luke's

Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that it will once again present Orchestra of St. Luke's performing Bach's beloved Brandenburg Concertos at Bethesda Episcopal Church in downtown Saratoga Springs on Saturday, December 15 at 7 p.m. The evening will pay special tribute to classical music management visionary and the founder of IMG Artists, Charles Hamlen, who passed away on August 1, 2018 following a long battle with leukemia. Hamlen, a passionate advocate of the arts, was also an artistic advisor to Orchestra of St. Luke's and a Schenectady native.

"Charlie Hamlen was one of the most beloved leaders in classical music -- and my greatest mentor and friend. I literally started my career in a basement apartment in Manhattan that housed the fledging Hamlen Management, which later became the global leader in the field, IMG Artists. His important work in the arts and advocacy in support of AIDS groups touched the lives of countless individuals," said Elizabeth Sobol, President & CEO of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. "Charlie was instrumental in bringing Orchestra of St. Luke's to Saratoga last year with the goal of making the Bethesda Brandenburg Concertos an annual tradition in the region. To be able to bring this incredible orchestra back for a return visit is not only a great moment for our community, but also a meaningful tribute to Charlie, who inspired so many with his love of music and his generosity of spirit," said Elizabeth Sobol, President & CEO of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center."

The "SPAC @ Bethesda Church" performance is part of the Center's expanded vision to present programming year-round and to create meaningful cultural experiences for the community.

"Following the success of last year's program, which completely sold out, we are bringing back the treasured Brandenburg Concertos. Once again, our community will have the opportunity to experience one of the world's great chamber orchestras in an acoustically and architecturally exquisite space."

Orchestra of St. Luke's, one of America's most versatile orchestras which has been praised as "fresh and invigorating," by the New York Times, collaborates with the world's finest artists and performs approximately 70 concerts each year at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Tickets for the performance are all $25 General Admission seats and are available online at spac.org.

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Saratoga Performing Arts Center

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), located in the historic resort town of Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, is one of America's most prestigious summer festivals. Its tranquil setting in a 2,400-acre park preserve surrounded by hiking trails, geysers, and natural mineral springs draws vacation crowds and arts connoisseurs each year for immersive experiences of performances by resident companies New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Freihofer's Saratoga Jazz Festival, Opera Saratoga, and concerts by Live Nation. SPAC also hosts the annual Saratoga Wine and Food Festival in addition to imaginative programming such as the popular "SPAC on Stage" series and Caffè Lena @ SPAC.

SPAC is a 501c3 charitable organization. Donations and proceeds from fundraising events benefit the Center's children's education programs and support the vibrancy of its classical season. For more information visit spac.org.

Orchestra of St. Luke's

Orchestra of St. Luke's grew out of a versatile chamber ensemble that began performing concerts at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields in Greenwich Village in 1974. Now in its 44th season, it has commissioned more than 50 new works, has given more than 175 world, U.S., and New York City premieres, and has appeared on more than 100 recordings, including four Grammy Award winners and seven releases on its own label, St. Luke's Collection. In September 2018 internationally celebrated expert in 18th-century music Bernard Labadie became OSL's Principal Conductor, continuing the Orchestra's long tradition of working with proponents of historical performance practice. During the 2018-2019 season, OSL will present more than 70 performances, programs, and events in venues throughout New York, including an annual subscription series at Carnegie Hall, a full Chamber Music series, city-wide Free Community Concerts, and Free School Concerts serving approximately 11,000 public schoolchildren. In 2019, OSL launches two major initiatives: the inaugural OSL Bach Festival in New York City and the opening of the DeGaetano Composition Institute. For more information, visit OSLmusic.org.