Bethlehem Library Notes for Wednesday, February 5, 2020
— Photo by Kate Lambert
Nesting: Children and their caregivers work to build nests out of the same materials birds might find in the wild at the Bethlehem Public Library on Wednesday, Jan. 29, during Family STEAM Night.
Warm up to the second half of our popular winter concert series, A Little Sunday Music, which resumes Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. at the Bethlehem Public Library with flautist Melanie Chirignan, accompanied by pianist Michael Clement.
Chirignan is known for her musicality and versatility of repertoire. As an orchestral player, she has performed with the New York Chamber Players Orchestra, Albany Pro Musica, Octavo Chamber Orchestra, Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, Garden State Philharmonic, and others. She has also performed with jazz bass legend Nat Reeves, traditional Irish harpist Hailey Hewitt, and the Philadelphia Fife and Drum Corps.
Chirignan earned her bachelor’s degree in music performance and music education, graduating magna cum laude from the State University of New York College at Fredonia. She earned her master’s degree in flute performance at the Hartt School. She has taught general music, chorus, and orchestra, and has taught every level from elementary school to conservatory-level students.
Pianist Michael Clement has served as staff accompanist and vocal coach for Skidmore College and The College of Saint Rose. He has been on the music staff for Opera Saratoga, Long Beach Opera, and the Florentine Opera. Currently, he is the pianist for the Mendelssohn Club of Albany, is Minister of Music at Emmanuel Baptist in Albany, and performs in venues throughout the Northeast.
A Little Sunday Music wraps up the 2019-20 series on Sunday, March 8, with the Musicians of Ma’alwyck, a popular local chamber ensemble specializing in music performed in America during the 18th and 19th centuries.
A Little Sunday Music is sponsored by the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library.
Castellani visits
Our book discussion groups always have room for one more reader, and with a variety of meeting days and times, there’s sure to be a group that fits your schedule.
Coming up on Tuesday, Feb. 11, the library is holding a special AfterDinner Books discussion about “Natalie’s Wars” by Paul Castellani featuring a visit from the author himself! The novel tells the story of a woman who struggles through World War II on the homefront and in the years after with a husband suffering from the psychological fallout of war. Castellani, a university professor and Capital Region writer, has published numerous articles on public policy, and “Natalie’s Wars”is his second novel. His first was the well-reviewed “Sputnik Summer,” detailing life in the Adirondacks in the late 1950s. AfterDinner Books meets every other month on a Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Book Discussions
Daybooks, our afternoon discussion group, meets at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, or Thursday, Feb. 13, to discuss “The Library Book” by Susan Orlean. Daybooks meets twice a month, every month.
Check ’Em Out Books, which alternates every other month with AfterDinner Books meets next on Monday, March 2, at 7 p.m. to talk about Jeannette Walls’ “Half Broke Horses.”
Discussions are facilitated by Bethlehem librarians, who carefully select books spanning a variety of topics and genres. Pick up a bookmark or visit us online at www.bethlehempubliclibrary.org/programs/adult/book-discussions for additional 2020 titles.