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Although winter officially ended at 2:16 PM on the 20th of March, spring did not really arrive in New Hope until 3 PM on April 7 at the Concordia Chamber Players concert. Beginning with Mozart’s Piano Trio in B-flat major which Musicologist, Neal Zaslaw described as one of Mozart’s greatest achievements in the sonata-rondo form, the Concordia established a true romantic and sprightly theme for its spring concert at New Hope-Solebury High School’s acoustically pleasing Stephen Buck Theater. And just like this great season the concert grew in intensity from Milhaud’s somber and lively Trio for Clarinet,Violin and Piano to an energetic and triumphant conclusion with Dvorak’s Piano Quartet in E flat that brought the audience to its feet in a standing ovation. In the Mozart Trio cellist, Michelle Djokic, Artistic Director of the Concordia Chamber Players, sustained a gentle dialog with violinist, Carmit Zori and pianist, Gail Niwa. Zori, who appears regularly with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center can be heard on recording labels including Arabesque, Koch International and Elektra-Nonesuch, and Niwa has recorded with David Kim, concertmaster for the Philadelphia Orchestra for The Musical Heritage Society and Teldec labels. David Krakauer, world-acclaimed clarinetist and creator of

On January 27th the Concordia Chamber Players of New Hope will perform its second concert of the season featuring works by Brahms, Turina and Kodaly. The day also marks the 246th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Concordia will honor the great composer with a special addition to the concert program, and all those attending the concert will be treated to birthday cake and coffee at intermission. The concert will feature New Hope’s own world class cellist, Michelle Djokic who directs the Concordia Chamber Players. Joining Ms Djokic in the performances will be violinist Carmit Zori who appears regularly with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and is heard on various recording labels including Arabesque, Koch International and Elektra-Nonesuch; pianist, Mihae Lee, who has performed extensively in solo and chamber music throughout North America, Europe and Asia and is an artist member of the Boston Chamber Music Society; and on the French horn, William Purvis, who was involved with the original instrument performance with the Amadeus Winds and is a member of the New York Woodwind Quintet. In addition to the special tribute to Mozart, the Concordia Chamber Players will perform the Horn Trio by Johannes Brahms, the Piano Trio

Hundreds of area school children are introduced to classical music each year by cellist, Michelle Djokic, founder and music director of the Concordia Chamber Players of New Hope through “infomances” that are held in schools. Informances are introductions to music itself and are ways to help children understand the process, the artist and the performer on a personal level. By meeting with children, demonstrating the cello and giving them a taste of the joy and fun she has in playing and listening to classical music Djokic is making a strong commitment to the future of classical music by building on young audiences. “When children have an opportunity to hear classical music in a live and personal format,” claims Djokic, “that experience makes listening to music more enriching. That’s why Concordia goes to the schools.” During this past week Michelle Djokic brought her cello, her music and her enthusiasm to the Buckingham Elementary School and to the Newtown Friends School introducing dozens of children to the magic of classical music. Children who attended the informances were given vouchers for free tickets for themselves and an adult to the next Concordia concert on October 21st in the Stephen Buck Theater at the

Astral Artistic Services of Philadelphia has selected the Concordia Chamber Players of New Hope to perform at the opening concert of its 2001-2002 series in Philadelphia on September 28th. Led by its internationally acclaimed and energetic founding Artistic Director, Michelle Djokic, the Concordia Chamber Players will present the elegant Faure Piano Quartet. The work will feature Djokic, a world-renowned cellist and some of today’s greatest chamber musicians including Calvin Wiersma, who has appeared throughout the world as a soloist and chamber musician and is currently a violinist with the Manhattan String Quartet; Pianist, Gail Niwa, the only woman ever to win the Gold Medal at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition and continues to thrill audiences throughout the world; and Christof Huebner, violist, who is a frequent performer at festivals such as Marlboro and Salzburg and is currently Artistic Director of the Walden Chamber Players. Mr. Huebner also performs and records with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Since its inception in 1992 Astral has reached a variety of audiences exceeding 14,000 annually. “We are truly delighted and honored to have been selected to help open Astral’s season this year”, said Michelle Djokic. “The Concordia Chamber Players of New Hope continues to

New Hope’s popular and widely acclaimed Concordia Chamber Players will open its sixth season on October 21st at 3 PM at the New Hope-Solebury High School’s Stephen Buck Theater. Thousands of music lovers from New Hope and many communities in the surrounding area have enjoyed the world class chamber music that Concordia has presented on Sunday afternoons since 1997. In its first year the group included violinist, David Kim who soon after became the Concert Master for the renowned Philadelphia Orchestra. Michelle Djokic, the founding artistic director of the Concordia Chamber Players, is a long-time friend and colleague of many of today’s greatest chamber musicians. “New Hope audiences have been such a great draw for these magnificent performing artists”, noted Ms. Djokic. “They want to be part of all the wonderful things that are happening in New Hope.” This year the Concordia Chamber Players will open its three-concert series with New Hope’s own Michelle Djokic in concert with Robert Rinehart, Violist for the New York Philharmonic, Carmit Zori, violinist who appears regularly with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Calvin Wiersma, violinist of the Manhattan String Quartet, Marc Goldberg, associate principal bassoonist of the New York Philharmonic and Timothy

These Informances follow the tradition of the great conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein by making classical music accessible to the young people in the area. As he conducted young people’s concerts at Lincoln Center, Mr. Bernstein would stop, explain and demonstrate the story and technique behind the great symphonies. Informances provide the same experiences in the classroom by enriching the student’s experience and understanding of classical music. Michelle Djokic conducts Informances the week prior to a concert by the Concordia Chamber Players that she founded in 1997. During these hour-long sessions, Ms. Djokic plays for and talks with the children about music: the instruments, the sounds and the feelings it can evoke. Informances scheduled for the week of April 17 through April 20 will be held in NEWTOWN PA at Sol Feinstone Elementary School and Goodnoe Elementary School; in PRINCETON NJ at Littlebrook Elementary School; and in EAST AMWELL NJ at East Amwell Elementary School. Last season, more than 500 students from a variety of communities, including Buckingham, Doylestown, Lambertville, New Hope, Newtown, Princeton and Sergeantsville participated in the Informances. To encourage childrens’ enjoyment and exposure to classical music, students who participate in Informances receive two free vouchers to a

On Sunday, April 22 at 3pm, Concordia Chamber Players will present its final concert of the 2000-2001 season at the Stephen Buck Theater on the grounds of New Hope-Solebury High School on West Bridge Street (Route 179) in New Hope. As in the October and February concerts, the renowned chamber musicians are expected to perform with a passion that takes the audience’s breath away. To encourage children’s enjoyment and introduce them to classical music, children are admitted free with a reservation and an adult ticket. Tickets are $20 and may be reserved by calling 215-297-5972 or on line at www.concordiaplayers.org Founded in 1997 by artistic director Michelle Djokic, Concordia has presented artists who are among the world’s most respected chamber musicians; professionals who regularly play the best venues in the world such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society and the Boston Chamber Music Society Orchestras. This season alone has brought, among others, Ani Kavafian, Carmit Zori, Cynthia Phelps, Carter Brey and William Wolfram. The program for the April 22 concert will pay tribute to some of the most significant chamber music landmarks of the early 20th century — Suite for Unaccompanied Cello by

“Concordia Chamber Players are so good, you simply have to hear them to believe it!” said Laura Hahn, president of Concordia’s Board of Directors, who, along with musician and artistic director Michelle Djokic, is the driving force behind the ensemble. Concordia also is supported by many other individuals, businesses, and organizations, most notably Partners in Progress (PIP), which sponsors activities that benefit the community. “The season will be phenomenal,” said Ms. Hahn, looking forward to Concordia’s 2000-2001 concert series. “Michelle has invited musicians with outstanding credentials. Their biographies read like the who’s who of exceptional musicians, playing with and at the best venues around the world.” Last season’s concert series was highlighted by violinist David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra. .As members and supporters of the New Hope-Lambertville community’s own chamber group prepare for the opening of the 2000-2001 season, they anticipate another outstanding concert series featuring world-class musicians. Ms. Djokic has attracted eminent colleagues to be part of the ensemble because of their friendship with her and their desire to visit New Hope, which they view as a traditional haven for visual and performing artists and their aficionados. The season begins 3 p.m., Sunday, October 29, at the

New Hope, PA. February 27, 2000. Concordia Chamber Player’s second concert this season will again present David Kim, Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as a soloist in the April concert. The virtuosity of David Kim will be displayed in the Bach Sonata No.2 in A minor for unaccompanied violin. Then the Piano Trio of Ravel features William Wolfram with David Kim and Michelle Djokic, cello. After intermission, Choong-Jin Chang, viola, joins the trio for the Piano Quartet in G minor, Opus 25, of Johannes Brahms. The Concert is on Sunday April 16th, 3pm, at the New Hope-Solebury High School Stephen Buck Theater. The Philadelphia Inquirer’s excellent review of Concordia’s February concert noted the concert as a “Return to Yesteryear’s Salons” and “Kim played…with authority and eloquence” The Concordia Chamber Players was founded by Michelle Djokic, a world class cellist who debuted at age 13 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, whose roots are in New Hope. Having played with the best, all over the world, Michelle can bring to New Hope a caliber of music and musicians otherwise unavailable to our area. The Concordia musicians’ schedules take them to the world’s greatest concert venues. They come to New Hope because of their

New Hope, PA. January 10, 2000. Since 1997 David Kim has joined Michelle Djokic, Artistic Director of Concordia Chamber Players, in the creation of a remarkable music series presenting the world’s finest musicians in the intimate atmosphere of the small river town of New Hope, PA. Despite the heavy demands of his recent appointment as Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Kim will continue his association with Concordia for the 2000 series concerts. The first of that series is February 13 and will feature the theme of romance in honor of Valentines Day. Joining Kim (violin) and Djokic (cello) are Gail Niwa (piano) and Richard Lalli (Baritone). The program begins with a romantic selection of songs sung by Richard Lalli, followed by the D Minor piano trio of Anton Arensky. The concert begins at 3pm at the New Hope Solebury High School auditorium. Tickets can be secured by calling 215-297-5972 or www.concordiaplayers.org. Background: This is a very exciting time in the development of Concordia. Since its inception in 1997, its previous concerts were outstandingly successful, bringing to the community world class performers and performances. Never before has the community had access to such quality musicians nor such exquisite musical experiences inherent