Cellist Edward Arron makes his debut this weekend as the new artistic director, host and resident performer of Musical Masterworks in Old Lyme. But he cheerfully acknowledges a hovering presence from his friend and longtime predecessor, Charles Wadsworth, who founded Musical Masterworks in 1990.

"Obviously, I'm very excited to be here," Arron says by phone recently. "This series is so special for so many reasons: aesthetics, acoustically, a built-in and knowledgable chamber music audience - but mostly because of the legacy of Charles Wadsworth. He's done so much for chamber music."

The 2009-2010 Musical Masterworks season kicks off Saturday and Sunday in the First Congregational Church in Old Lyme. Arron will be joined by pianist Rieko Aizawa, violinist Corey Cerovsek, and viola player Toby Appel on a program of Beethoven's Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Opus 16, Schumann's Arabesque for Solo Piano, Opus 18 and Piano Quartet in E-flat Major, Opus 47, and Jean Francaix's String Trio (1933).

Arron, who studied with Harvey Shapiro at the Juilliard School, is in his seventh season as the artistic coordinator of the Metropolitan Museum Artists in Concert in New York, and has performed as a featured player all over the U.S. and the world.

Still, he regards the Musical Masterworks program as a plum opportunity and responsibility.

"In many ways, Charles and I are very kindred spirits when it comes to programming," Arron says. "Over the past few years, he brought me along gradually in terms of my participation behind the scenes at Musical Masterworks. He introduced me to a great deal in terms of not just musicians and colleagues but also the possibilities of the chamber music map - and at the same time welcomed my infusion of certain less frequently performed treasures from the repertoire."

Arron's programs for the new season are at once notable for a sampling of 20th-century works.

Arron says, "This season I'm going to try to bring to each performance a true masterpiece from the 20th century that might stretch the listener's ear a bit. It's a fun way to introduce newer music in the context of the great old masters."

Arron also has no problem digging further back into history. He's a big fan of baroque music - a form not typically associated with chamber music concerts.

"There is a lot of baroque chamber music that can be done, but chamber music performances usually start with Haydn or Mozart and up to the present day," Arron says. "Down the road, we're going to be doing a lot of baroque, including some vocal works and the Bach trio sonatas."

Musical Masterworks, 5 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, First Congregational Church, Lyme Street at Ferry Road, Old Lyme; $35 Saturday, $30 Sunday, $5 students under 23 Sunday only; 434-2252, musicalmasterworks.org.