Acknowledged by many to have created the blueprint for places like Poisson Rouge and The Stone Pam Goldberg is an interesting combination of professional pianist and entrepenur. Having concertized in New York in varied venues Pam decided to create a different environment for both performer and audience –distinctly different from the concert halls. The first was Classical Café, under the auspices of the 92nd Street Y where the highest level musicians played in a subterrenean café to young audiences, who were able to enjoy classical music in a relaxed informal, setting where they could even, alas(!) eat and have a drink.

The results were so satisfying that Pam decided to expand to an even larger audience and Governors Island became the perfect venue. Again, top flight musicians but this time playing not to an audience of 80-100 but to perhaps, thousands. It is the first concert series of its kind on Governors Island and summer 2011 marks the inaugural season. The 1st performance will appropriately be Terry Riley’s “In C”- the first minimalist piece with 40 musicians from new music ensembles including Newspeak, Asphalt Orchestra and Momenta Quartet.

Pam’s work as a guest curator at Classical Café was praised in an article by The New York Times. Her background includes an MM in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music and a 10-year position on the piano faculty of the Diller-Quaille School of Music. Performing has been a major part of Pam’s musical career; she has given numerous solo and chamber music recitals in the NY Metropolitan area. In 1999, she released a solo album featuring Schumann’s Kreisleriana and Mozart’s Sonata in Bb Major, K.570. Currently, Pam is in the process of editing (and therefore completing) Mozart piano and violin sonatas K. 301, 304, 378, and 454 with violinist Christine Sohn.