Music in the Mansion: Floral Show Concert in the Ten Broeck Mansion

Music, flowers, gardens & history: Join us for a delightful spring concert in the Ten Broeck Mansion Parlor by Stringwynd, a duo made up of flutist Melanie Chirignan and Celtic harpist Dr. Darhon Rees‑Rohrbacher. Pieces to be performed include: “Flower Duet” (Sous le dôme épais) from Delibes’ 1883 Romantic opera Lakmé, Georg Philipp Telemann, Fantasies for Solo Flute, and other classical and contemporary pieces inspired by the gardens of the Ten Broeck Mansion.

While enjoying the music in the parlors, stroll through the Ten Broeck Mansion to view our beautiful custom floral displays by local artisans. This "salon-style" concert allows you to stroll through the rooms of the Ten Broeck Mansion experiencing exquisite fresh floral displays, while listening to musicians performing pieces from the period and beyond. Limited seating will also be available.

Doors will open at 3:20 pm. No prior entry will be permitted. Concert is indoors and by advanced registration ONLY.

All proceeds go to support our Education Center at the Ten Broeck Mansion! We encourage you to add an ACHA membership or make a special Education Center gift (all donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. The ACHA is a 501c3 nonprofit community-centered museum).

Join us for other special events throughout the weekend (separate registration for each - see our Upcoming Events page)

• Floral tours and tea tasting, Thursday May 28, Friday May 29, Saturday May 30, and Sunday May 31.
• Free floral tour for families with children, Sunday May 31, 2 pm

To make your visit safe and enjoyable for all:

1) Getting Here

• Free off‑street parking: Please use our Livingston Avenue parking lot (GPS: 136 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY).
• Walking: Our neighborhood has sidewalks for easy access.
• Public transportation: CDTA bus routes 100 and 106 stop about a four‑minute walk away.
• Visit our website for a map and additional travel information.

2) Making Your Visit Safe and Comfortable

• Please wear comfortable shoes suitable for historic, sometimes uneven surfaces. Spike heels are not permitted.
• Bags should be smaller than a standard backpack. Larger bags must be left in the reception area.
• Please do not touch historic collections.
• Water in closed containers is permitted; glass containers are not allowed.

3) Accessibility

• Visitors with accessibility needs are encouraged to contact us in advance with any questions.
• Visitors with service dogs are welcome.
• Emotional support and therapy dogs are not permitted in the museum.
• At this time, the ACHA does not have a fully ADA‑accessible restroom; a ground‑floor restroom is available.
• Museum spaces and gardens offer very limited seating.

4) Gardens & Grounds

• Our gardens and parking lot are reserved for registered museum program visitors during regular tour and program hours.
• Our site is pack‑in, pack‑out; please take all waste with you. Light lunches (brown-bag type) may be enjoyed on our grounds, but no parties, buffets, hammocks, additional chairs and tables, or tents may be brought in or used.
• Pets must be kept on a 6 foot or less leash at all times, and all pet waste must be removed. Please do not have pets relieve themselves in garden beds or near walks.
• No smoking, vaping, or alcohol consumption.
• Please follow posted signs and use caution throughout the site.
• Free educational kits and self‑guided tours are available at the garden kiosk.
• Hours may change; please check our website or call for current information.
• See our website for full garden regulations.

5) Registration & Program Timing

• Advance registration is required.
• We cannot guarantee admission, seating, or program materials for unregistered or late‑arriving visitors.
• The ACHA often runs concurrent programs; please respect other programs’ spaces and access, as all visitors share the site.
• Late arrivals cannot remain past the scheduled program end time, and programs cannot be extended.

6) Ensuring a Positive Experience

• The ACHA is committed to a welcoming, respectful environment. For everyone’s safety, visitors must follow all guidelines and the instructions of ACHA staff. Disrespectful, abusive, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate behavior is not permitted.
• Visitors who do not follow these expectations will be asked to leave.

These regulations are subject to being updated at any time. Please visit our website for current regulations.

About the performing artists:

Flute player Melanie Chirignan is a chamber musician at her core. As a leader in premiering new music, she has been awarded grants from the Schenectady Community Arts Council, the Saratoga Community Arts Council, and the New York Women Composer's Seed Money Grant. She has performed with: the New York Chamber Players Orchestra, Albany Pro Musica, Octavo Chamber Orchestra, Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, Garden State Philharmonic, the Chelsea Symphony, Gateway Classical Music Society, S.E.M. Ensemble, and Hartt Independent Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, Melanie has been featured with the Chelsea Symphony. A teaching artist at heart, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in music performance and music education, graduating magna cum laude from SUNY Fredonia and holds a Master of Music in flute performance from the Hartt School. She is an artist in residence at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. www.MelanieChirignan.org

Dr. Darhon Rees‑Rohrbacher holds degrees in music from Capital University, The Ohio State University, and Indiana University, where she earned her Doctor of Music. Originally trained as a vocalist and pianist, she later turned to the harp and has since built a distinguished career as a performer, arranger, and composer. Her concerts have ranged from formal orchestral appearances to intimate chamber settings, and her work has been recognized internationally, including honors at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales. Dr. Rees‑Rohrbacher has published more than 300 harp arrangements and compositions, and her solo recording, Strings of the Spirit, features her original hymn‑tune settings for Celtic harp. Her articles have appeared in Harp Column Magazine and Folk Harp Journal, reflecting her longstanding contributions to the harp community. In addition to her musical work, she has taught extensively in both music and nursing in higher education.

Performance made possible in part by the Music Performance Trust Fund arranged by the Albany Musicians Association.

Images - header: Samuel Lovett Waldo, Portrait of Hester Van Zandt Hanford, 1826, Collections AIHA. Below: Melanie Chirignan and Dr. Darhon Rees‑Rohrbacher, courtesy of the artists. Ten Broeck Mansion Floral Show (2025).

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Host or Publisher Albany County Historical Association | Ten Broeck Mansion