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We’ve done some pretty kooky music over the years at NCMF. A non-comprehensive selection includes pieces for electric string quartet or quartet with recorded train sounds, and quintets for strings and Celtic fiddle, clarinet, theremin, tuba, sitar, shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute), jazz singer, marimba, steel pans, and electric guitar.

Another crazy thing we're doing: on May 21^st, my partner Mona Fixdal and I will be cycling from Philadelphia to Newburyport, nearly 500 miles, to raise money for the festival’s 25^th Anniversary. The goal is to raise at least $7,000. Any amount is welcome, even a dollar.

Once we start, you can follow us with real-time live tracking, which is cool, and I’m hoping some of you will join us for the last leg from Framingham, MA. I’ll write daily posts chronicling the trip with recollections of some of my favorite works we’ve performed since 2001. We'll also be riding in commemorative NCMF 25th anniversary Castelli jerseys that will be for sale (more on that in a later post).

It is amazing to think that NCMF has hosted 35 world premieres, 37 violinists, 16 cellists, 11 pianists, 5 harpsichord players, and 5 singers, and collaborated with local groups such as the Newburyport Choral Society, Candlelight Choral, Greater Newburyport Children’s Chorus, EXIT Dance, Plum Island Pans, and of course Theater in the Open. During COVID we even took to the streets to play around town for “quartet caroling.”

What better way to celebrate twenty-five years than to ride from my home in Philly up to Newburyport, my home-away-from-home.

THE ROUTE‍

We’re following the East Coast Greenway, which means 14% of the route will be on gravel to avoid cars when we can. Loaded down, we won’t be breaking any land-speed records.

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I’m hoping the last stage from Framingham on Wednesday, May 27^th, will turn into one big happy group ride. Anyone who like to join us is welcome at any point along the way. We’re planning to leave at 9:00 am from the Aloft Hotel, 130 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA. With live tracking you can figure out where we are exactly at any point, and you can download a GPX map/link to the specific route here. (Click on the three dots to the right of the word “edit” in the link for the map.)

We expect to roll into Market Square around 3:00 and we’re planning a celebration. The exact spot will be announced soon. Come cheer us into the finish! And please donate any amount and show your support.

‍David Yang, Artistic Director

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