May 5: Carnegie Hall Opens on this Day, 1891

Blue Lake Public Radio | By Foley Schuler

Published May 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM EDT

Monday afternoon Foley features music performed at the opening concert of what remains America's most distinguished concert hall.

It stands at 57th Street and 7th Avenue in New York City, but everyone knows the real way to get there, at least according to the old joke, is to "practice, practice, practice." We have your ticket for an afternoon of great classical music that will include some of the music (including that of guest of honor Peter Tchaikovsky) featured on the very first concert of Carnegie Hall, which opened to the public on May 5, 1891.

You can hear Foley Schuler's musical selections—and stories behind the music—every weekday afternoon from 1 until 5 on Blue Lake Public Radio.

Foley Schuler

Encouraged by creative parents, Foley began his music career at age 7, studying violin with Jean Manning at North Muskegon Public Schools. As a Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp camper, he became Blue Lake Public Radio’s first high school intern. Foley earned an English Literature degree from Hope College, and Masters in Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing from the Warren Wilson College. He has performed with the West Michigan (formerly West Shore) Symphony; served on the English Department faculty at Muskegon Community College, and been the Music, Art & Theatre reviewer for the Muskegon Chronicle. He follows his love of the arts around the globe, but says, “There is no place like the Blue Lake setting, sharing extraordinary music with our listeners.” Foley hosts Blue Lake Public Radio’s weekday classical music from 1 to 5 p.m. and “Sunday on Blue Lake”.

See stories by Foley Schuler