In 1948 Martin B. Hiden formed the Tuesday Evening Concert Group, with aid from Bard Hume of The Washington Post and Richard Bales of the National Gallery of Art. After establishing a connection with the National Music League—which included affiliation with six concert organizations in the DMV region—Hiden’s group disengaged from the affiliation, reforming as The Tuesday Evening Concert Series, and established itself as an independent, nonprofit organization in 1951. The Series presents seven concerts a year featuring internationally renowned classical chamber musicians at Old Cabell Hall at the University of Virginia. As it kicks off its 2024-25 season on October 1, we put Tuesday Evening Concert Series Executive Director David Baldwin in the HotSeat.
Name: David Baldwin
Age: 53
Pronouns: He/him
Hometown: New York, New York
Job(s): Executive director of Tuesday Evening Concert Series
What’s something about your job that people would be surprised to learn? The amount of details involved in producing a single concert.
What is music to you? Ultimate form of expression.
First concert you attended? Murray Perahia at Carnegie Hall.
Last concert you attended? Faure’s Requiem
Why is supporting music education important? In addition to improving overall academics, music nurtures creativity and enhances emotional development.
How does classical music impact contemporary audiences? Classical music is a connection to our collective past that manages to communicate to everyone individually.
How does classical music shape contemporary music? Classical music is the antecedent and foundation for much of the Western music we hear today. It differs significantly from the sounds you are likely to hear in non-Western cultures such as Asia or the Middle East.
What are you listening to right now? Beethoven’s Razumovsky Quartets
Favorite performance venue: Vienna’s Musikverein
Favorite musician/composer: Bach (today … )
Favorite arrangement/composition: Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2
Go-to karaoke song: I’m a terrible singer.
Best advice you ever got: We are not what we
know but what we are willing to learn.
Best part of living here: The people
Worst part of living here: Small airport
Favorite Charlottesville restaurant: C&O
Favorite Charlottesville venue: Old Cabell Hall
Favorite Charlottesville landmark/attraction: Skyline Drive
Bodo’s order: Everything bagel with cream cheese.
Describe a perfect day: Sailing on the ocean.
If you could be reincarnated as a person or thing, what would you be? A dolphin
Most embarrassing moment: Singing karaoke
Do you have any pets? Goldfish
Favorite movie and/or show: The Dresser
Favorite book: The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
What’s your comfort food/meal? Pizza
Subject that causes you to rant: Interstate 95
Best journey you ever went on: Hiking in the Swiss/French Alps.
Next journey: Berlin/Dresden/Leipzig
Hottest take/most unpopular opinion: We are far less divided than political leaders would have us believe.
What have you forgotten today? Lunch