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 Concordia Chamber concert so they can invite an adult to accompany them. Besides the vouchers, all children under 17 are free with an adult ticket but reservations are required.
On Sunday, April 22 at 3pm, the last concert of the Concordia season will be held in New Hope, PA at the Stephen Bucks Theater on the grounds of New Hope-Solebury High School on West Bridge Street (Route 179). Parking is free and ample.
Concordia Chamber Players, comprised of some of the finest chamber musicians performing today, will present Gaspar Cassado’s Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat and Gabriel Faure’s Piano Quartet in C Minor. The musicians are pianist William Wolfam, violinist Carmit Zori, violist Robert Rinehart, cellist Michelle Djokic and clarinetist David Krakauer.
About Michelle Djokic
Michelle Djokic made her debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of thirteen. Her many prizes in competitions include the Prince Bernhard Award for Excellence in the 1989 Scheveningen International Cello Competition, the coveted People’s Prize in the 1980 Pablo Casal’s International Cello Competition in Budapest, Hungary and the first prize in the Chicago Civic Orchestra Competition. She also captured first prize in the young artist competitions of the New Jersey Symphony, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Julliard School Concerto Competition and the Aspen Festival Concerto Competition. In 1985 she made debut in Carnegie Hall as soloist with the New Jersey Symphony. She has appeared as soloist with orchestra throughout the United States and Europe.
Raised in Trenton, New Jersey by her Yugoslav father and French mother, Michelle’s youth was filled with classical music, instruments and training. Several of her siblings are professional classical musicians as well. Having grown up in the New Hope area, where her parent’s live today, Michelle’s reverence for the tradition of artistic excellence that New Hope and its environs has witnessed for more than a century contributed to her selection of New Hope for Concordia’s home base. Michelle and her Husband Mark live in New Haven with their two young children, where Mark is the Coach for the Yale University Women’s’ squash team.
Tickets are $20. Free tickets for children must be reserved.
For tickets or to learn more about Concordia Chamber Players, call 215-297-5972 or visit their Web Site at www.concordiaplayers.org.
Concordia’s sponsors include Merck, Merrill Lynch. Edith and Michal Bristol, Comcast Cable, Dresswell’s, Joseph Finkle and Son, Inc. First National Bank of Newtown, Hahn Creative, Hunterdon Family Practice, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Orchard Hill Collection, Rotary of Lambertville, New Hope. Tom & Alycia Scannapieco, Thomas Travel Service, Daniel Egan Tomai.
WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND INFORMANCES AND PERFORMANCE. PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS.
Contact: Dan Bauer (609) 258-6524 dbauer@mccarter.org
Laura Hahn (215) 862-0308
laurahahn@yahoo.com