Dearest Friends,
It gives me great pleasure to introduce you to our 2004-2005 concert season of Concordia Chamber Players. Our annual benefit concert will once again be held at the magical studio of the late woodworking master George Nakashima, thanks to the graciousness of the Nakashima Peace Foundation on Oct. 3rd. As always this promises to be a memorable event. This year joining me will be Allen Krantz, guitarist and composer at Temple University and Jeffery Khaner, principal flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra who needs no introduction. In addition to works by Schubert, Handel and Carulli we will premier a composition for flute, guitar and cello by the talented composer, David Lagonella, professor at Temple University. This work has been dedicated to the memory of Miriam Nakashima.
This year you will have the opportunity to meet and hear spectacular artists new to Concordia. Among the new guests will be violinist, Cho-Liang Lin. Mr. Lin, on the faculty at the Juilliard School of Music enjoys an international career as a soloist and chamber musician and is director of the Taipei Chamber Music Festival and Summerfest. This will be a long awaited reunion as he and I were in a string quartet while students at Juilliard. We will be joined by another new face, pianist, Diane Walsh described by the New York Times as an “inventive, fiery interpreter…”and old friend and colleague David Krakauer, clarinetist, for a performance of Messiaen’s masterpiece Quartet for the End of Time (Feb. 13). Other highlights of the season will be a New Hope premier of the Hermit Songs by Samuel Barber, arranged and performed by the glorious sounding Todd Palmer on clarinet with newcomer, Melvin Chen on piano and I will have the honor of narrating. Mr. Chen,one of the most sought after chamber musicians of his generation, possesses far too many talents. After graduating from Harvard with a chemistry degree he went on to Juilliard to earn double masters degrees in violin and piano. You will also have the chance to hear the rarely performed Concerto a Tre by Ingolf Dahl on this same concert (Nov. 7). Our final concert (April 10) will feature our regular treasured artists, Carmit Zori, Gail Niwa and Robert Rinehart among others where you will hear works by Bartok, Martinu and the treasured Dvorak Piano Quintet.
I could go on about the remaining works and artists and how excited I am to be able bring this to New Hope. But better yet, take a minute to visit our web site: https://concordiaplayers.org/. It is only by your generous support that we are able to continue this tradition of world class chamber music right in New Hope at the lovely Buck Theater. Thank you in advance for your support and for the honor of sharing these wonderful works and artists with each of you.
Michelle Djokic
Artisitic Director