A bit of Sevenars history

Sevenars Concerts, established in 1968, is now in its 58th season of bringing music (primarily classical, but also including jazz) to the idyllic Western Massachusetts town of South Worthington, a village now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Founded by internationally known pianist Robert Schrade and his celebrated composer/songwriter/pianist wife Rolande Young Schrade, it all began with "Schrade Family Concerts" in the small Methodist Church across from its current home of the Academy, at 15 Ireland Street.

Robert and Rolande included in their concerts their five young pianist children, Robelyn, Rhonda Lee, Rolisa, Randolph, and Rorianne (hence the name "Sevenars" as all seven performers had names starting with the letter "R"), and concerts drew growing crowds that spilled out of the church. A larger space was needed! 

In 1976, the concerts moved across the little street to the historic Academy building, established in 1895 by Russell Conwell, founder of Temple University and author of the famous "Acres of Diamonds" lecture. (Sevenars was by then incorporated as Sevenars Concerts, Inc. an official non-profit organization under IRS Code 509(A)(1), Section 501(c)(3).) In the years that followed Sevenars was able to present over 300 guest artists, both world-renowned performers and prizewinning newcomers. Enrichment programs for schoolchildren and arts and crafts exhibits have also been presented, but the  concerts were "a natural" -  partly due to the  in the landmark Academy's  miraculous acoustics.

In 1978, Robelyn Schrade, already garnering raves following her sold-out New York recitals, married outstanding New Zealand pianist, David James, and the concerts became "Schrade-James family" concerts. All the family musicians had by then started accumulating their own accolades at Juilliard, the Manhattan School of Music, and competitions and concert halls in New York and beyond, so the 1980 debut as a group at New York’s  Lincoln Center was widely heralded. They were featured as a "Remarkable Assemblage of Pianists" (Allen Hughes, New York Times) and given rave reviews in the New York Daily News as well as the New York Times. Sevenars was selected that year as one of the six best small music festivals in the USA by Time Magazine.

The Schrade-James daughter, Lynelle James, arrived in 1985 and joined the concerts at age five (appearing in New York with the family's 25th anniversary Lincoln Center concert), and son Christopher arrived in 1990, also joining the concerts at age five (and appearing in the year 2000 at Lincoln Center). The accolades continued into the next generation!

Though all family members were for decades kept busy with individual concerts, recording, teaching, conducting, and other pursuits, Sevenars continued to be run by family with love and devotion. Despite the severe blows of losing beloved members  - Robelyn Schrade-James in 2014, founders Robert and Rolande Schrade in 2015, Randolph Schrade in 2022, and David James in 2024 - Sevenars has been determined to continue the beautiful legacy of sharing the beauty of live music with our wonderful and loyal audiences!