05/21/2026
Come and join us for our last concert of the season!
We have jazz and the big city sounds, with sprinkles of romance and moody moods to brood…
Extra special for this set, we have international virtuoso piano soloist Vijay Venkatesh performing with us!!!! And holding the baton, our artistic director Scott Krijnen! Welcome Vijay, and welcome back Scott!
🎼 Our Program 🎶
⭐ "Coincident Dances" comes from contemporary composer and violinist Jessie Montgomery, who incorporates English consort, samba, mbira dance music from Ghana, swing, and techno into a piece that spans a New York City walk. Twists and turns will spin you and get you and the musicians' toes tapping as the music guides you through a soundscape that reflects the diversity and life of the City that Never Sleeps.
⭐ Duke Ellington's "Harlem" weaves jazz's free spirit and fun chords with the symphony orchestra. The piece is a window into 1950's Harlem, New York City: the plaintive lament of a funeral, the joy of a Sunday afternoon on a post-church picnic, the driving force of the civil rights movement that is in the faster tempo sections. Ellington's music leads you through the emotions and the scenes with a smooth and determined hand.
⭐ We travel to European mountains and cities with Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto No. 1 in A minor, featuring our soloist Vijay Venkatesh. A master of performance, his ability to make the piano sing will have you in the heights of emotion.
⭐ George Gershwin brings us back to the Big Apple, with "Rhapsody in Blue". Composed in five weeks and incorporating jazz and blues elements, the piece made such a buzz that Gershwin was suddenly the new hot composer in America, and his career took off.
We hope to see you online or in person! RSVP for FREE! Donations are welcome, the links are in the bio.
