The Hudson Valley Chamber Players return to the Montgomery Concert Stage on Sunday with a selection of suites and sonatas.
Sunday’s concert include Sonatine for Flute and Piano by Walter Gieseking (1895-1956) the world premiere of Woodwind Quartet in C by Aleksander Vezuli by Concert Studies Op. 40 by Nikolai Kapustin, Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano by Francis Poulenc and Pastoral Suite by Montgomery’s own Howard Garrett, founder of the Grand Montgomery Chamber Music Series and David Stern.
Hudson Valley Chambers Players are Marcia Gates, flute; Joël Evans, oboe; Larry Tietze, clarinet; Charles McCracken, bassoon and Ruthanne Schempf, piano.
Principal flutist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic since 1986, Gates received her music education at the Eastman School of Music and Ithaca College. Ms. Gates was selected by the renowned flutist Julius Baker as a soloist and prize winner in his master classes. In addition to her active role as a performer in the Hudson Valley, Ms. Gates worked for many years as an instrumental music teacher in the Hyde Park Central School District.
Evan is an oboist and solo English hornist with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. In addition to the Poné Ensemble, he plays with Hudson Valley Baroque, the resident historic ensemble at SUNY New Paltz, where he also serves as Associate Professor of music, teaching music history and directing the Symphonic Band and Collegium Musicum. Dr. Evans has also performed with the American Symphony Orchestra, Atlantic Chamber Orchestra, principal oboist of the Albany Symphony from 1982 to 1985. Dr. Evans retired as principal oboist of the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point after nearly 30 years of service.
Principal clarinetist with the Sante Fe based 20th Century Unlimited Contemporary Music Ensemble, Tietze is principal clarinetist and orchestra manager of the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players at Symphony Space and City Center in New York City, and a member of the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. He is a founding member of the Virtuosi Woodwind Quintet. As general manager and clarinetist with the Atlantic Sinfonietta, he has co-produced “Music for Martha” balet. He was former principal clarinetist with the Goldovsky, Virginia, and Lake George Operas, West Point Band.
McCracken has been one of New York’s busiest freelancers for over 40 years. Principal Bassoon of the American Symphony (and at the Bard Music Festival and Bard Summerscape) he was also Principal at the New York Pops and at the OK Mozart Festival. He has performed as Principal at the MET, Orpheus, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Mostly Mozart, NJ Symphony, Stamford Symphony, etc., and has been a guest performer with the NY Philharmonic and with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Mr. McCracken has given Master Classes at NCSA (his Alma Mater), OSU, Ithaca College,etc.
Schempf is on the faculties of SUNY-New Paltz and Interlochen Arts Camp, member of the Poné Ensemble for New Music. She also taught at Marist College, was the pianist for the Cadet Glee Club at West Point. She earned undergraduate degrees from Michigan State University and a D.M.A. from the Manhattan School of Music. She is also a co-founder of the non-profit Hudson Valley Society for Music which produces Potluck Concerts and an annual Hudson Valley BachFest. Her solo piano recording, An American Mirage: Exotic Piano Images, was released in March of 2009 on the MSR Classics label. Selected as “CD of the Week” on July 4, 2009 by radio station KBAQ of Phoenix, Arizona, this recording has also been heard on Wisconsin Public Radio.
The concert will take place at 3 .m. Sunday, at the Montgomery Senior Center, 36 Bridge Street, Montgomery. Admission is free.