Community Corner
Video: Quartet Entertains During Library Concert
The Woodland Quartet has been performing at the Scotch Plains Public Library for over 40 years.
The small basement of the Scotch Plains Public Library came alive Tuesday night with the sounds of classical music.
It was all part of the Woodland Quartet’s annual concert at the venue. Performing in the community room, the group treated the audience of about 60 to works by Mozart, Grieg and Mendelssohn, as well as highlights from "West Side Story.”
The quartet, which is directed by Fanwood resident Lubove Schnable, has existed in some form or another for about 40 years. Schnable is a violinist and one of the original members. She said the performances all started when the musicians were looking for a cool place to practice and decided upon the library’s basement. People were invited to come enjoy their open rehearsals, and before long the library was advertising their performances.
The quartet’s current lineup has played together for the past six or seven years. First violinist Debra Biderman has been performing with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra since 1967 and is a private violin instructor in Edison. Cellist Linda Fink is a private teacher and freelance performer throughout the tri-state area. Violist Robert Paoli is an English teacher at the Wardlaw-Hartridge School, director of the Summit Strings and president of the Plainfield Music Club. Schnable is the director of the Blue Hills Junior Chamber Orchestra and performs with several area symphonies.
Included in Tuesday’s program were selections from “West Side Story” arranged by Paoli himself. Biderman was privileged to have use of a 1754 Guadignini violin from the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra’s collection during the performance.
“See, that’s older than Mozart,” she said with a smile.
Check out the videos on the right to hear pieces of the concert.
