Magpie Duo w/ Evan Pillsbury - Tiny Circulation Desk Concert

Join the Magpie Duo (Lauren Conroy, violin & Matthew Schultheis), for a program of new and old music that steps outside the familiar classical sound world. This program is an electro-acoustic meditation, featuring analog synthesizer and a wide-ranging selection of repertoire, from violin duos by the Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann to meditative suites by American avant-gardist John Cage and more.

They will be splitting the bill with local cellist Evan Pillsbury.

Monday, September 22 at 7:00 PM (doors 6:30 PM). Tickets are $15 for Mechanics' Hall Members, $20 for General Admission. There is a $5 surcharge the day of the show.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Magpie Duo (Lauren Conroy and Matthew Schultheis) is a violin-piano team celebrating the vibrant stylistic diversity of music from the 20th century to today, driven by the belief that contemporary music is a meaningful source of artistic expression and inspiration to communities. Named after the bird long known in Western folklore for its curious and obsessive trinket-collecting, they weave together works from across generational and cultural lines, building programs around shared aesthetics and relationships between artistic voices.Lauren is a graduate of The Juilliard School (MM '22) and Matthew is currently a doctoral candidate there. The duo's 2024–25 season included performances with New Chamber Ballet in New York City and a recital at Toronto Summer Music's season launch. Upcoming events in the 25–26 season include the recording of the duo's debut album, a residency at Avaloch Farm Music Institute, and performances at Maine’s Mechanics’ Hall and Columbia University’s Sacred Music Series.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Inspired by a certain well-known desk-based concert series, our Tiny Circulation Desk Series brings the same stripped-down, close-up energy, with more library cards and fewer office supplies.

Equal parts cozy hangout and low-key listening room, this weeknight series transforms the Mechanics’ Hall Library into one of Portland’s most intimate and unexpected music venues.

Filmed by the , each concert feels like a live demo, a secret show, and a community gathering all at once.

PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

The Greater Portland Metro’s Congress & Casco Street Stop is directly in front of our building, served by routes 1, 7, 8, and 9B.

Parking is available at the Arts District Garage, which has entrances on Casco and Brown Street, with a rate of $5 per hour. Metered street parking is available on Congress, Casco, Cumberland, Free Street, and other nearby streets. Free hourly street parking is available between Parris and Alder Street.

ACCESSIBILITY

To enter our building, patrons will need to navigate a single step. There is a wheelchair-accessible elevator and a ramp available upon request.

If you need accessibility accommodations/questions please contact us at [email protected] or 207-773-8396.

Supported in part by a grant from the Onion Foundation.

Host or Publisher Mechanics' Hall (Maine)