The beauty of the Finger Lakes is a distraction which encourages creativity, so Richard Auldon Clark has brought his most promising students to Keuka Lake each summer for an immersion in music. In 2002, Hunt Country Vineyards offered a concert venue. The audience so appreciated this performance, that the concept of a summer chamber music series was born, in part to support this student music “camp”.

   Joyce and Art Hunt welcome Richard Auldon Clark and his graduate students to a concert at Hunt Country Vineyards

   THE MANHATTAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA was founded in 1987 by its artistic director and conductor, Richard Auldon Clark. Hailed by the media as an "extraordinary ensemble of virtuosos," and credited with providing the "definitive versions of forgotten American masterpieces," the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra has been dedicated to innovative, exciting and multi-cultural programming.

   In addition to touring and recording, the MCO is regularly heard in the New York area, featured at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, Weill Recital Hall, and the United Nations. In 1995, the orchestra was awarded the Lincoln Center Arts Project Award and performed at Alice Tully Hall.

  Originally a project of the Yates County Arts Center, the Finger Lakes Chamber Music Festival has grown into its own. Now an independently incorporated not-for-profit organization, the Board of Directors includes;

Stephen Rosenfeld, President Pittsford & Penn Yan Howard LeVant, Vice President Rochester & Penn Yan Elise Rosenfeld, Secretary Pittsford & Penn Yan Jorgen Overgaard, Treasurer Keuka Park Susan Adnopoz Philadelphia & Penn Yan Bonnie Barney Penn Yan Monica Mc Candless Keuka Park Marianne Jahnke Keuka Park

Renee Bloom Bluff Point Mel Goldman Hammondsport Joyce Hunt Branchport Liz Jones Penn Yan Deb Malcolm Penn Yan Anne Salisbury Branchport Nancy Scher Dresden