30th Annual DaPonte Candlelight Concert 

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Experience world-class string quartet music in the evening glow of flickering candles at the all original 1772 Old Walpole Meetinghouse on Sunday September 13, 2025 at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm).

Tickets are $30 and are available only by pre-purchase, on-line not at the door. Tickets may be purchased on-line through the DaPonte String Quartet website: dapontequartet.org. For questions please call 207-882-7744. 

The Meetinghouse is located 3.5 miles south of Damariscotta on Meetinghouse Road which is off Route 129 in South Bristol.

The DaPonte String Quartet has long been celebrated for their ability to bring classical compositions to life with their profound interpretation and seamless ensemble playing. Their performances affirm chamber music as a vital and alive art form. The Quartet members regularly share musical insights with their audiences before playing and these “spoken program notes” enable the listener to enter into a deeper connection with the music.

The members of the DSQ are Philipp Elssner, violin, Lydia Forbes, violin, Myles Jordan, cello, and Kirsten Monke, viola

In celebration of Maine’s sesquicentennial, the program this year includes both English and American music from Purcell and Ives.  The people who built the Walpole Meetinghouse would likely have been familiar with the music of Henry Purcell. The DSQ will play a selection of Fantazias, originally written for a consort of viols in 1680.  These very “rational” pieces were exactly the sort of thing American composer Charles Ives was rebelling against when he created his extraordinary Second Quartet. The middle movement actually portrays a battle between European music and American music. You can judge the winner of the battle. The program will conclude with the sumptuous Quartet in A Minor of Johannes Brahms.

The venue, the Old Walpole Meetinghouse, is celebrating its 254th year. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered by historians to be “one of the most beautiful and important historic buildings in Maine”. It is an exquisite example of colonial architecture, including a soaring hand-carved pulpit which is particularly striking by candlelight. 

The proceeds from this concert will go toward the preservation of the OWMH, an historically significant and noteworthy structure. Limited open seating is in the original box pews and along the edge of the balcony.

Please bring a cushion to sit on and flashlights to guide you to your vehicles after the event.

Tax-deductible contributions toward the preservation of the Old Walpole Meetinghouse would be gratefully accepted and should be sent to Old Walpole Meetinghouse, P.O. Box 47, Walpole, Me 04573. The Old Walpole Meetinghouse is a non-profit 501(c)(3) historical and educational organization.

Join us for the 29th Annual DaPonte Candlelight Concert at the Old Walpole Meetinghouse

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Experience world-class string quartet music in the evening glow of flickering candles at the all original 1772 Old Walpole Meetinghouse on Sunday September 7, 2026 at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm).

Tickets are $30 and may be purchased on-line through the DaPonte String Quartet website only: https://dapontequartet.org/tickets/ Tickets will not be available at the door on the evening of the concert. For questions please call 207-882-7744. 

The program this year will include: Beethoven’s “Razumovsky” quartets, String Quartet in E minor, Op 59 no 2, a work that begins and ends in a stormy manner, similar to the Appassionata Sonata for piano and written during the same period of Beethoven’s life.

It also includes Randall Thompson’s Alleluia, a choral work written for Tanglewood during World War II is a powerful, meditative work, translating beautifully to strings.

In addition, it includes the sunny and often humorous Korngold Second String Quartet is a work which seems to reflect a 20th century nostalgia for the “old world”, including a Straussian waltz.

Please bring a cushion to sit on and flashlights to guide you to your vehicles after the event.

Tax-deductible contributions toward the window restoration project would be gratefully accepted and should be sent to Old Walpole Meetinghouse, P.O. Box 47, Walpole, Me 04573. Old Walpole Meetinghouse is a non-profit 501(c)(3) historical and educational organization.

28th Annual DaPonte Candlelight Concert 

Experience world-class string quartet music in the evening glow of flickering candles at the all original 1772 Old Walpole Meetinghouse on Sunday September 8, 2023 at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm).

Tickets are $30 and are available only by pre-purchase, not at the door. Tickets may be purchased on-line at the DaPonte String Quartet Website

Selections for this year’s concert include Beethoven’s Opus 127 Quartet, a masterpiece of the string quartet repertoire. Known for its emotional depth and intricate musical interplay, this quartet will showcase the DaPonte String Quartet’s impeccable musicianship and their ability to connect with audiences on a profound level. In addition, the quartet will also present Mozart’s K589 Quartet, a delightful and lively composition that perfectly displays the quartet’s technical prowess and musical sensitivity. Mozart’s genius shines through in this late work, with its melodic richness and exquisite harmonies. 

If you have questions please call 207-882-7744.

27th Annual DaPonte Candlelight Concert

Experience world-class string quartet music in the evening glow of flickering candles at the all original 1772 Old Walpole Meetinghouse on Sunday September 10, 2023 at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm).

Tickets are $30 and are available only by pre-purchase, not at the door. Tickets may be purchased on-line through Eventbrite, or by check/cash at Sherman’s Maine Coast Bookstore in Damariscotta and the Walpole Barn in Walpole (Rt. 129). To make other arrangements for tickets, please call 207-882-7744 or e-mail info@oldwalpolemeetinghouse.org.

The Meetinghouse is located 3.5 miles south of Damariscotta on Meetinghouse Road off Route 129 in South Bristol.

The program this year will be Johann Sebastian Bach’s (1685-1750) Aria with Thirty-two Variations (“Goldberg Variations”)

The DaPonte String Quartet has performed at Carnegie Hall, has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and toured in France, Scotland, and Canada, as well as in over twenty American states. They have broadcast on nation-wide radio and television both in the United States and Canada, received awards from the NEA, Philadelphia Musical Fund Society, Music Teachers National Association, Chamber Music America, and Maine Arts Commission. 

This year, the Old Walpole Meetinghouse is celebrating its 251th year. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered by historians to be “one of the most beautiful and important historic buildings in Maine”. It is an exquisite example of colonial architecture, including a soaring hand-carved pulpit which is particularly striking by candlelight. The proceeds from this concert will go toward the vital restoration of 28 original 12 over 12 pane windows. Limited open seating is in the original box pews and along the edge of the balcony.

Please bring a cushion to si on and flashlights to guide you to your vehicles after the event.

Tax-deductible contributions toward the window restoration project would be gratefully accepted and should be sent to Old Walpole Meetinghouse, P.O. Box 47, Walpole, Me 04573. Old Walpole Meetinghouse is a non-profit 501©(3) historical and educational organization.

Talk and Musical Illustration of Early Music of Coastal Maine, Saturday August 19th

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Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee of Castlebay will talk about their research on early music of coastal Maine and “Illustrate” the music with their voices and instruments at the Meetinghouse on Saturday, August 19th at 3pm. 

Since 1986 Castlebay has been weaving together Maine’s nautical and British Isles legacies transporting their audience through time and across the Atlantic. Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee have loved and researched traditional music for most of their lives and blend history, legend and experience into their personable performances. Finely crafted ballads with evocative imagery and beautiful melodies depict Maine characters, history, and life close to the elemental beauty of the sea and shore. Rich and exuberant renditions of traditional and original songs are supported with Celtic harp, 14-string guitar, fiddle & woodwinds.

The 1772 Old Walpole Meetinghouse, now celebrating its 251st year will be open on Saturday, August 19th beginning at 1:00 pm for anyone who would like to see an exquisite example of colonial architecture including a soaring hand-carved pulpit which is particularly striking. The Meetinghouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered by historians to be “one of the most beautiful and important historic buildings in Maine”. 

The event is by donation and the proceeds will be used to restore the original 12 over 12 windows. Tax-deductible contributions toward the window restoration project would be gratefully accepted at the door or sent to Old Walpole Meetinghouse, P.O. Box 47, Walpole, ME 04573.

Old Walpole Meetinghouse is a non-profit 501c (3) historical and educational organization.

(photo: https://castlebay.net)

Kendall Dean Performing at the Old Walpole Meetinghouse, Saturday June 24th

Professional vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Kendall Dean, has recently returned to her native Maine and will be performing live at the Old Walpole Meetinghouse in Walpole, Me on June 24 at 7 pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Order tickets using Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kendall-dean-live-in-concert-at-the-old-walpole-meetinghouse-62423-tickets-657534843417

A violinist, accomplished guitarist, and vocalist, Kendall’s music is rooted in Irish and Scottish traditional music, but its sound and versatility often break boundaries, crossing genres into blues, jazz, and country. Her ethereal vocal melodies have been referred to as “The voice of an angel” and her soaring, emotive violin riffs have been likened to the eclectic sounds of violinist Jean-Luc Ponty.

This is a concert for all to enjoy, as Kendall says, “I want people of all ages to be able to connect to my music. I want you to feel something. Connection is what life is all about.”

The venue of the 1772 Old Walpole Meetinghouse with its superb acoustics and its stunning example of colonial architecture will provide an exquisite backdrop for this unforgettable experience. For more information contact Kendall Dean at 207-380-5831

26th Annual DaPonte Candlelight Concert

Experience world-class string quartet music in the evening glow of flickering candles at the all original 1772 Old Walpole Meetinghouse on Sunday September 11, 2022 at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm).

Tickets are $30 and are available only by pre-purchase, not at the door. Tickets may be purchased on-line by searching “Eventbrite Old Walpole Meetinghouse” (click here for a link), or at Sherman’s Maine Coast Bookstore in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, and the Walpole Barn in Walpole (by cash or check). To make other arrangements for tickets, please call 207-882-7744 or e-mail info@oldwalpolemeetinghouse.org. 

The Meetinghouse is located 3.5 miles south of Damariscotta on Meetinghouse Road, off Route 129 in South Bristol.

The DaPonte String Quartet’s special performance this year will be works by W. A. Mozart (1756-1791) Divertimento in E-flat for Violin, Viola, and Cello, K. 563, and Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) String Quartet no. 2 in D major.

The DaPonte String Quartet has performed at Carnegie Hall, has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, and toured in France, Scotland, and Canada, as well as in over twenty American states. They have broadcast on nation-wide radio and television both in the United States and Canada, received awards from the NEA, Philadelphia Musical Fund Society, Music Teachers National Association, Chamber Music America, and Maine Arts Commission. 

Quartet member Dino Liva is temporarily assuming the duties of management and leadership and his chair (violin) will filled by Alexander Romanul. Mr. Romanul is the grandson of the Romanian Diva Stella Roman. He made his debut at the age of twelve with the New England Conservatory Orchestra in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto conducted by Gunther Schuller, with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a Youth Concerts Series and with the Boston Pops by express invitation of Arthur Fiedler.

This year, the Old Walpole Meetinghouse is celebrating its 250th year. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered by historians to be “one of the most beautiful and important historic buildings in Maine”. It is an exquisite example of colonial architecture, including a soaring hand-carved pulpit which is particularly striking by candlelight. 

The proceeds from this concert benefit the maintenance of the structure. In particular, this year a fund-raising project to restore the original 12 over 12 windows is being initiated. 

Limited open seating is in the original box pews and along the edge of the balcony.

Please bring a cushion to sit on and flashlights to guide you to your vehicles after the event.

Tax-deductible contributions toward the roof replacement project and window restoration would be gratefully accepted and should be sent to Old Walpole Meetinghouse, P.O. box 47, Walpole, Me 04573.

Old Walpole Meetinghouse is a non-profit 501c(3) historical and educational organization.

25th Annual DaPonte Candlelight Concert

We are delighted to be back!

Experience the 18th century in the glow of flickering candles for a very unique and special DaPonte String Quartet concert by candlelight. The concert will be held at the all-original, pre-revolutionary, Old Walpole Meetinghouse on Sunday September 12, 2021 at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm). The Meetinghouse is located 3.5 miles south of Damariscotta on Meetinghouse Road off Route 129 in South Bristol.

Tickets are $30 and are available only by pre-purchase, not at the door.

Click here to buy tickets on-line.

Tickets can also be purchased by check/cash at Sherman’s Maine Coast Bookstore locations in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, and at the Walpole Barn in Walpole (Rt. 129). To make other arrangements for tickets, please call 207-882-7744 or e-mail info@oldwalpolemeetinghouse.org. 

Note also, that because this is a special fund-raising concert to benefit maintenance on the Meetinghouse, we are not able to honor tickets for other Daponte venues in their concert series.

The Daponte String Quartet’s special performance this year will be a creative tribute to Maine’s Bicentennial titled, “Maine’s 200th: Music of Early Maine”. They will be joined by guest artist Eric LaPerna on percussion, for a program that highlights significant events along Maine’s pre-statehood timeline (from the 16th to the early 19th centuries), with selected music to share some of the cultural influences. The DSQ writes, “When we learned about the notated songs of Membertou (c. early 1500s-1611), a major shaman-chief of the Mi’kmaq nation, the idea for this program began to percolate. What music might there have been as so many different peoples explored, fished, and colonized Maine’s rocky coast and European influences began to permeate the land?” 

The DaPonte String Quartet was formed in Philadelphia in 1991 and came to Maine in 1995 on a Rural Residency Grant from the NEA and Chamber Music America.  

This event promises to be a truly 18th century experience; there is no electricity and no running water in the building (but rest assured, a modern portable toilet will be available). The Meetinghouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and is an exquisite example of colonial architecture, including a soaring hand-carved pulpit. The proceeds from this concert benefit the maintenance of the Meetinghouse. 

Open seating is in the original box pews, and with the Quartet posed on a central elevated platform gives the performance a theater-in-the-round effect. Quartet violinist, Dino Liva has commented, “The Meetinghouse has the best acoustics of any venue we play”. 

Please bring a cushion to sit on and a flashlight to guide you to your vehicle after the event.

All current Maine CDC COVID-19 guidelines will be observed.

Tax-deductible contributions toward the maintenance of this lovely old building would be gratefully accepted and should be sent to Old Walpole Meetinghouse, P.O. box 47, Walpole, Me 04573. Old Walpole Meetinghouse is a non-profit 501©(3) historical and educational organization.

Stay Home, Stay Healthy, and Enjoy Great Music!

Professional musician, Kendall Dean, will be performing her original music in a live-streamed concert from the Walpole Meetinghouse on June 9 at 7 pm.

Connect to the live concert via Zoom using this link at about 6:45 pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87959350451

Kendall has recently returned to the midcoast area of Maine where she grew up. A violinist, accomplished guitarist, and vocalist, her music is rooted in Irish and Scottish traditional music, but its sound and versatility often break boundaries, crossing genres into blues, jazz, and country.

The venue of the 1772 Old Walpole Meetinghouse with its superb acoustics and its stunning example of colonial architecture will provide an exquisite backdrop for this unforgettable experience. For more information contact Kendall Dean at 207-380-5831

Please Join us for an Evening of Magic!

In The House of the Lord

The 23rd annual Old Walpole Meetinghouse Candlelight Concert featuring the DaPonte String Quartet will be held September 8, 2019 at 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30) at the Old Walpole Meetinghouse in Walpole (So. Bristol). This year’s concert will feature works from Haydn, Beethoven and Ravel.

Tickets are $25 and are available only by pre-purchase, not at the door. Tickets may be purchased on-line by credit card at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4303281 or by check/cash at Sherman’s Maine Coast Bookstore in Damariscotta, the Walpole Barn in Walpole (Rt. 129), or the Boothbay Harbor Framer’s Gallery in Boothbay Harbor (Meadow Mall). To make other arrangements for tickets, please call 207-882-7744 or e-mail info@oldwalpolemeetinghouse.org. 

The Meetinghouse is located 3.5 miles south of Damariscotta on Meetinghouse Road off Route 129 in South Bristol.

Please note that because this is a special fund-raising concert to benefit replacing the roof shingles on the Meetinghouse, we are not able to honor tickets for other Daponte venues in their concert series.

If unable to attend, please consider a donation toward replacing the wood shingles on the roof. Old Walpole Meetinghouse, P.O. Box 47, Walpole, ME 04573