Musicians of Ma'alwyck

Musicians of Ma’alwyck was formed in 2000 by Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz to present music that might have been heard in early Albany. While period-appropriate chamber music remains central, MofM has expanded to include contemporary works, commissions, operas, and multidisciplinary performances—all informed by often overlooked history. They have produced numerous concerts, provided performance opportunities for up-and-coming and established musicians, and have been a key part of the thriving Capital Region arts scene.  

Core musicians are Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz, violin; Norman Thibodeau, flute; Sten Isachsen, guitar; and André Laurent O’Neil, cello. They perform five concert programs per season in addition to specially curated events at unique venues such as museums, historic sites, and houses of worship. The ensemble frequently collaborates with local, national, and international artists and organizations from a diversity of backgrounds and artistic styles, including Albany Symphony Orchestra, Albany Pro Musica, Glimmerglass Festival, Proctors Collaborative, among many others. 

Their two CDs—Music in the Schuyler Mansion (2017) and Hyde Hall and the Silver Goddess (2021), were both recorded at historic sites. Their work has earned them six Capital Region Music Award nominations and airplay on WMHT and WAMC. Since launching its first video project in 2020, MofM has produced 16 short films blending classical performance with historical storytelling; the latest, The Hollow, earned awards at multiple NYS film festivals. The ensemble is concluding its 25th Anniversary Season and continues to innovate while staying connected to its founding vision.