Hudson Quartet Performs for Music for Autism’s Staten Island Debut

On Dec. 12, 2010, Music for Autism made its Staten Island debut, in partnership with the Special Needs Department of the Joan and Alan Bernikow Jewish Community Center (JCC) and Eden II. The concert, which took place at the Bernikow JCC, featured the Hudson Quartet, which was founded in 2008 with a commitment to bring established and contemporary chamber music to audiences.

The quartet performs not only classic repertoire, but also new works by composer-members Luke Cissell and Caroline Shaw. The other two members are Sage Cole and Robert Jacobs. True to the Hudson Quartet’s motto, “chamber music as it was meant to be heard,” the children and families in attendance could express their joy and excitement in an accepting environment.

Jayne Smith, Special Needs Director at the JCC of Staten Island, was instrumental in the debut concert. “It gave me great satisfaction to see the faces of the families as they enjoyed the Hudson Quartet,” said Ms. Smith. “You can see the connection in the eyes of the children and through their smiles.  Thank you for bringing this event to our community.”

Like all M4A concerts, the Staten Island event was free to the public, thanks to the generous grants from UJA Federation and the North Shore Rotary Club.