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Margaret Darby

Contributor

BSR Contributor Since September 18, 2015

Margaret Darby (she/her pronouns) is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia who has been writing music reviews since 2006. She earned a BA in piano from Davidson College and is a member of the Music Critics Association of North
America.

Margaret Darby received her BA in piano performance from Davidson College. She earned a MA in interpretation from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, which led to a career in Brussels, Belgium as a freelance interpreter. She earned an MS in library science at Drexel University and worked as a reference librarian in New Castle County, Delaware and as a school librarian in Cecil County, Maryland. She began writing reviews in 2006. She is a member of the Music Critics Association of North America and was a founding member of the writing team for Delaware Arts Info. She contributes to Phindie, Phillylifeandculture, Delcoculturevultures, and the German Society of Pennsylvania’s Staatsbote.

By this Author

34 results
Page 1
Playing together with practiced ease: violists Misha Amory and Hsin-Yun Huang. (Image courtesy of PCMS.)

The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents a program for violas and piano

Voilà violas
With a program starring violists Hsin-Yun Huang and Misha Armory and pianist Thomas Sauer, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society spotlighted the alto voice of the string family with an inventive online program. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Reviews 3 minute read
Masks didn’t hurt the stylings of Natalie Zhu and Clancy Newman. (Photo by Margaret Darby.)

The German Society of Pennsylvania presents Natalie Zhu and Clancy Newman

How does a concert on video compare to a live one?
A concert at the German Society with cellist Clancy Newman and pianist Natalie Zhu provided a unique opportunity to compare a live concert with a video version. Margaret Darby reviews both.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 5 minute read
The view at the Discovery Center makes for an extraordinary concert venue. (Photo by Margaret Darby.)

Network for New Music presents ‘Musical Ecologies’

Music of the (bio)spheres
Network for New Music’s ‘Musical Ecologies’ was right at home beside the birdfeeders at the Discovery Center. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 3 minute read
A book to create systemic change? (Image courtesy of the Free Library.)

2020's One Book, One Philadelphia kickoff drew a huge crowd for author Tommy Orange

Exposing buried truths
The launch of the Free Library of Philadelphia’s 2020 One Book, One Philadelphia program drew a crowd to hear Tommy Orange talk about his debut novel, ‘There There.’ Margaret Darby was there.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 2 minute read
Concerts worth flocking to: the Jasper Quartet, Myra Huang, Tony Flynt, and Nicholas Phan after performing Gabriel Fauré's ‘La Bonne Chanson.’ (Photo by Margaret Darby.)

PCMS presents Emerging Voices: Art Song and Social Connection

Where art song reigns
In a special two-week series, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society takes a dramatic leap into the revelatory, reflective power of art song. Margaret Darby is there.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 5 minute read
The organ at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in University City is one of many in Philly that need preserving. (Photo by Margaret Darby.)

The Playing and Preserving project aims to save Philly’s endangered historic organs

Organ-ized support
A national nonprofit is combining the forces of several music organizations to help 10 Philadelphia congregations preserve historic organs, launching a three-concert series to engage the public with these important instruments. Margaret Darby considers.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 3 minute read
A manuscript of George Crumb’s score for 130 percussion instruments. (Photo by Margaret Darby.)

Orchestra 2001 presents George Crumb’s ‘The River of Life’

‘The River of Life’ meets the Delaware
Orchestra 2001 salutes George Crumb on the Cherry Street Pier. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 2 minute read
Twenty minutes flew by in ‘Piano Phase.’ (Photo by Anne van Aerschot, from a 2018 performance of ‘FASE.’)

Philly Fringe 2019: FringeArts presents ‘FASE, Four Movements to the Music of Steve Reich’

An infallible collision
Steve Reich’s music is illuminated by the brilliant choreography of Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 2 minute read
Untrammeled joy in music: Mac McClure at the Academy of Vocal Arts. (Photo by Margaret Darby.)

Philadelphia Young Pianists Academy presents Mac McClure in ‘An Afternoon of Spanish Music’

A refreshing Spanish repertoire
Pianist Mac McClure’s guest recital as a faculty artist with the Philadelphia Young Pianists Academy brought an exciting performance of rarely heard music to the Academy of Vocal Arts. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 3 minute read
A rare sight: Ethiopian manuscript 'The Homilies of Michael,' c. 1682. (Image courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia.)

The Library Company of Philadelphia presents ‘From Negro Pasts to Afro-Futures'

How Black Americans portrayed themselves
A new exhibition at the Library Company of Philadelphia heads deep into a rich collection of Africana to show how Black artists of the past saw the future. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 4 minute read
Back row, left to right: Grant Herreid, Priscilla Herreid, Joan Kimball, Greg Ingles, and Fiona Last of Piffaro. Front row: Sonnambula’s Jude Ziliak and Toma Iliev. (Photo courtesy of Piffaro.)

Piffaro and Sonnambula present ‘Dancers’ Delight’

A Renaissance in spring
This March evening of Renaissance dance music revives the fresh and artful sound of the era. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 2 minute read
Left to right, descending: ‘Millennial Music’ clarinetist Yoonah Kim and composers Joshua Hey, Charles Peck, Andrew Hsu, Rene Orth, and Sky Macklay. (Photo courtesy of Musical Fund Society.)

Network for New Music presents ‘Millennial Music’

Brave new world
Six pieces by composers of the millennial generation, including two world premieres commissioned by Network for New Music, prove that contemporary music is in good hands. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 2 minute read

One Book, One Philadelphia presents Jesmyn Ward’s ‘Sing, Unburied, Sing’

Rebellious characters unite Philly
Jesmyn Ward’s second National Book Award-winning novel, 'Sing, Unburied, Sing,' packed the house for the launch of the Free Library’s 2019 One Book, One Philadelphia program. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 3 minute read
Koji Otsuki and his Gamut Bach Ensemble. (Photo by Michelle Shirk.)

Philadelphia Chamber Music Society presents the Gamut Bach Ensemble

Capturing cantatas
Koji Otsuki’s Gamut Bach Ensemble draws a crowd for a reason — his chamber players have a beautifully controlled and delicate sound. In last night’s performance, however, some of the singers had more lurch than lullaby. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 2 minute read
L to R: Horszowski Trio members Jesse Mills, Rieko Aizawa, and Raman Ramakrishnan. (Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco.)

PCMS presents the Horszowski Trio with Roberto Díaz

A penchant for pianissimo
The Horszowski Trio remained faithful to the musical aspirations of its namesake as Roberto Díaz brought a compelling fourth to the group. Margaret Darby reviews.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 2 minute read