After the successful launch of the Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra last September thanks to Nesin Cultural Arts their much anticipated new performances will be held the weekend of January 28, 2017.
Nesin Cultural Arts (NCA) presents two performances by the Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra (SCCO) of “Baroque to the Future”. The pieces to be performed include: T. Albinoni – Sinfonia in G Major, J.S. Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, H. Górecki – Harpsichord Concerto and Britten – Simple Symphony.
The first performance will be held Saturday, January 28, 2017, at 7 PM at the Eugene D. Nesin Theatre for the Performing Arts, 22 St. John Street, Monticello, NY.
The second performance is the following day, Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 3pm at St. James Episcopal Church, 7 Mountain View Drive, Callicoon, NY. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Students with an ID are free. They may be purchased online or at the door.
Visit www.nesinculturalarts.org.
The Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra’s mission is to serve the community and elevate the quality of life for all generations through artistic expression and cultural experiences; to inspire a viable renaissance; promoting a positive economic resurgence; and supporting physical and emotional wellbeing by enhancing the cultural fabric of our community.
The Chamber Orchestra will without a doubt enhance the image of Sullivan County by promoting it as a vibrant artistic community throughout this county and beyond.
Judith Pearce, Founder, Weekend of Chamber Music told me, “In August I read about The Sullivan County Chamber Orchestra and its first season: Andrew’s and Akiko’s new project, under the umbrella of Nesin Cultural Arts. I was delighted for it seemed entirely “right”: a logical step within NCA’s mission.”
“At the time I wasn’t thinking about the long history behind this event and I think that started to enter my thoughts as we drove to Liberty for the Sept. 11th concert at Liberty Museum. I was definitely excited for I knew it would be a good performance; after all Andrew and Akiko are professional musicians with high standards.”
“However at the first zinging note of the violins in the opening Mozart Divertimento I was thrilled – and moved to tears – by their ensemble and the palpable pleasure in working together to produce fine performances with genuine expressive range.”
Pearce continued, “Later I realized that my tears were the inchoate response to my own history leading up to this concert. Weekend of Chamber Music’s first event in Monticello was in March 1997: a workshop with Monticello and Liberty music students in the old Middle School, followed the next afternoon by a WCM concert with pianist Marija Stroke, ‘cellist Katje Jarka and myself in the – now Eugene D. Nesin – Theatre.”
“At the reception after, we met the entire Trombley family with the youngest member Andrew, a talkative 10 year-old. It was several years later when WCM’s collaboration with the MHS Music Department was well established and Andrew was getting serious about the double bass that we brought Kurt Muroki to work with him, and as the saying goes: “the rest is (also) history.”
Pearce continued, “Back to the present: we’ve already had a rehearsal of Bach’s 5th Brandenburg Concerto for SCCO’s January concerts and it was everything that chamber music can be. With harpsichordist Kenneth Hamrick – a crucial member of the WCM/MHS collaboration – as our host and baroque mentor, we explored this marvelous piece and I know that the January performances will be an exuberant celebration of these 20 years.”
Pearce concluded, “A Weekend of Chamber Music colleague with close experience of our MHS collab-oration has called this event a closing of the circle: I like the sense of that and I also like the idea of a SPIRAL: “winding in a continuous and gradually widening curve”.
Photo (from left) Andrew Trombley, Kenneth Hamrick and Judith Pearce.
In “BAROQUE TO THE FUTURE” the featured soloists, Kenneth Hamrick (harpsichord) and Judith Pearce (flute), were invited by Orchestra Director Andrew Trombley to celebrate a 20 year collaboration. Pearce (solo flute), Ann Trombley (piano) and Nancy Wegrzyn (viola) and others are celebrating their 20-year collaboration in educating youth.
Pearce, who established Weekend of Chamber Music, started her collaboration in Sullivan County with the Monticello Schools in 1997. She has worked closely with faculty members Ann Trombley and Wegrzyn, beginning a Visiting Artist Residency. Kenneth Hamrick (solo harpsichord) was introduced to NCA by Pearce.
Andrew Trombley (bass) who was mentored by Pearce was a student. Wegrzyn was his first bass teacher. Coming full circle, Andrew will perform with his mentors in the SCCO January Concert. Also performing will be Akiko Hosoi (solo violin). Pearce said, “We’ve already had a rehearsal of Bach’s 5th Brandenburg Concerto for the January concerts and it was everything that chamber music can be. We explored this marvelous piece and I know that the January performances will be an exuberant celebration of these 20 years.”
As part of the SCCO’s dedication to education, the Select Students in the NCA Children’s Choirs and the Aspiring Young Musicians programs will be joining the orchestra for one short piece. The students will participate in workshops by visiting artist Kenneth Hamrick on the history, style and culture of baroque music.
This project is funded in part by a grant from the Sullivan County Plans and Progress Small Grants Program, administered by the Division of Planning and Environmental Management. The Visiting Artist program is supported in part by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
Bill Liblick has made a name for himself of National TV Talk Shows where he spouted his outspoken views from the front row. Now he offers you his opinion every week in the “MOUTH THAT ROARS” Column in the Sullivan County Post