ACMP
traces its origins back to 1947 and the idea of an American business
executive named Leonard Strauss, whose work involved a good deal of
traveling. Tired of practicing alone in hotel rooms, he dreamed of a
network of chamber musicians who could contact one another for string
quartets at home or when "on the road."
With a small group of friends he formed an informal association which soon came to the attention of Helen Rice, an amateur violinist who had been harboring a similar dream. At a meeting in her New York City apartment the organization was born, and soon there was a list of chamber music enthusiasts - instrumentalists and singers - across the United States.
Helen Rice made Amateur Chamber Music Players her special project,
became its first secretary, and was its guiding spirit until her death
in 1980. Mainly through her efforts, which included a vast personal
correspondence in the days before "mail merge" and e-mail, the
organization grew in membership all over the world; today we are
represented in some 57 countries. ACMP was incorporated in New York
State in 1969 as a non-profit organization and is now recognized by the
IRS as a tax-exempt organization.
At the center of ACMP are its Directories - North and Central America, and International - and its interactive website. Members use them to establish new friendships locally and to meet colleagues further afield. Members expect to be called, written to, or emailed, but all, especially new members who are not yet listed, should initiate contact on occasion. Of course, one's involvement is a matter of personal choice. You can be very involved and organize frequent gatherings and Play-Ins; you can organize occasional events; you can contact another player to help arrange an afternoon or evening of music making; you can wait for someone to call you.
Amateur status? Amateur
comes from the Latin word for love, "amare", and ACMP is a community of
those who play or sing for the love of it. This also includes many
professionals who enjoy an evening of relaxing music making for its own
sake. When the Directory lists a member as "Pro," this indicates recent
or current professional activity, and therefore a certain level of
competence; Pros, too, expect to be phoned for an "amateur" evening.
The organization also publishes a
newsletter, "Ledger Lines." It contains material of general interest as
well as members' comments, anecdotes, and suggestions. Along with the
Directories, it helps promote the sense of community that makes ACMP
unique.
ACMP depends solely on the generosity of its members for support. The Board of Directors suggests an annual contribution of $25 to cover printing, postage, and other expenses, but any amount is welcome and appreciated.
We look forward to welcoming you to our family.