Martha/Mary Concerts

On January 22, 2005, Martha/Mary Concerts (the St. Martha-Yamaha Concert Series) presented "From Russia with Love" starring internationally acclaimed Russian violinist Yuval Waldman and our founding artistic director Paul Posnak. The program that night quoted our founding supporter Adrienne Arsht asking attendees to "prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience that combines some of the world's most renowned musical talent, with exceptional, world-class musical instruments. A brilliant feat of inspiration, will power, generosity, community leadership and sheer love of the musical arts."

On April 28, 2024, MMC celebrated the finale of its 20th season, continuing founder Father Federico Capdepon's goal "to develop a true community venue where everyone is welcome to share beautiful experiences." Paul Posnak has continued to teach aficionados and neophytes to appreciate world-class music, and to entice magnificent music artists to join us in our quest. Composers/musicians/conductors Shelly Berg, Nestor Torres, Shawn Crouch and Jose Serebrier - who have created commissioned musical meditations on the "working hard to find the Spirit" message of our namesakes Martha and Mary of Bethany - all participated in our Celebration Concert. Father Jose Luis Menendez welcomed all to our Corpus Christi Church venue, to find "beauty, truth and goodness."

And now the quest continues, with live and simulcast performances, as we work with an increasing number of community organizations and a special partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Our core purposes are expressed in expanded ways:

Beautiful Music: Designed to give our audiences a taste of many musical genres. For those new to live concerts, we enable everyone to refine their preferences, based on the finest performances by artists from around the world.

New experiences: New for concert neophytes, for students, for those experiencing new genres and artists. Plus young artists just "bursting" forth in their careers, perform in our "Starburst Concerts" with master musicians. Plus new works, including our Martha/Mary commissioned work. Diversity in great music, in a special venue, for great audiences.

Community: Created by sharing the music and the experiences "with friends old and new." Encouraged in simple ways - greetings at the door from multicultural volunteers, welcoming words from Father Menendez, meditations on our place in the world community and invitations to acknowledge our fellow attendees at the beginning of each concert, by Father Federico. Effected by each audience member, speaking the Universal Language of Music, finding the Spirit - whatever that Spirit means to each of us.  

All this is possible because of dozens of volunteers, grants and opportunities from Community Partners, individuals willing to donate so that our ticket prices can remain exceptionally low ($15 and $25), with free tickets available so that "no one has ever been turned away from a Martha/Mary Concert, for inability to pay."

Thank you to all who are able to help us keep this music, this community, this universal welcome, alive.