Description
Palisades Virtuosi Margaret Swinchoski, flute Donald Mokrynski, clarinet Ron Levy, piano Sunday, March 19, 2023.
Performing: “Global Warning”, a program of works designed to bring attention to the climate concerns we now face, featuring Harness the Winds by world-renowned jazz bassist and composer Rufus Reid.
Other works on the program are Adrienne Albert’s Global Warming, Donald Draganski’s Trio from Rio, Godfrey Schroth’s Aye-Aye (from Endangered Species), Kristofer Spike’s Elegy (for a dying planet) and Aaron Grad’s Lep•i•dop•ter•ol•o•gy.
Based in Bergen County, NJ, and dubbed “The Commissioners” by Chamber Music America Magazine, Palisades Virtuosi has established an enviable presence in the chamber music world since its inception in 2002, when they began commissioning new works to add to the repertoire for flute, clarinet and piano. They have continued to celebrate the premieres of new works at their concerts each year, and to date, PV’s portfolio boasts ninety new pieces, acquired either directly through PV’s “Mission to Commission”®, or by a work being gifted to them by several and various composers. The collection, taken as a whole, exhibits an astounding richness and depth; the ages of the composers range from sixteen to eighty, displaying a staggering array of styles and approaches.
In addition to their home concert base at the Unitarian Society in Ridgefield, NJ, the trio has performed in prestigious venues throughout the US, including Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, the Bruno Walter Auditorium/NY Public Library at Lincoln Center, the venerable Stratford Summer Music Festival, the University of Hawaii, Honolulu, and the New York Flute Club.
Palisades Virtuosi also has a robust commitment to record and disseminate commissioned compositions. To date they have released 6 volumes of CDs on Albany Records, and a 7th CD on the 4-Tay Records label. These recordings have garnered rave reviews from such publications as Fanfare Magazine, American Record Guide, and Living Music Journal.
For further information about Palisades Virtuosi, visit their website: http://www.palisadesvirtuosi.org/