Wheaton College Artist Series welcomes New York Classical Players March 16

New York Classical Players will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 16 at spectacular Armerding Concert Hall in Wheaton.

Photo: New York Classical Players; courtesy of New York Classical Players.

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination,” said one wise person. Wheaton College Artist Series has the same positive attitude and always finds a way to “adjust sails.” English Chamber Orchestra was scheduled to perform on March 16 but had to cancel their tour because their visa applications were lost and there was insufficient time to resubmit them. However, Wheaton College Artist Series and particularly Tony Payne, General Manager of Wheaton College Artist Series, worked hard and found a great ensemble, a more-than-worthy substitute.

New York Classical Players, an ensemble dedicated to the highest standards of artistry, collaboration, and virtuosity, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 16 at spectacular Armerding Concert Hall located at 520 E. Kenilworth Ave. in Wheaton.

This concert will become a cornerstone of the 73rd anniversary of the Wheaton College Artist Series. Under the talented directorship of Dongmin Kim, New York Classical Players has prepared a wonderful concert program that will become another gem in the colorful palette of Wheaton College Artist Series programming.

Founded in 2010, New York Classical Players consists of dynamic young musicians who are launching their professional careers. Their youthful energy and extensive training in music result in performances that touch the soul of their audience and impress even the most experienced musical critics.

Time Out New York described New York Classical Players as an "Exuberant chamber orchestra!" In an Amazon review of their Music for Chamber Music recording, Ken Meltzer wrote, “The performances by the New York Classical Players and conductor Dongmin Kim are excellent throughout. The playing is incisive, tonally rich, and phrased with great care.”

Maestro Dongmin Kim is quickly establishing himself as one of the most inspiring and versatile conductors on the scene today. A native of Seoul, Mr. Kim has studied Orchestral Conducting and Viola at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Since founding New York Classical Players in 2010, he has led around 200 concerts in the NYC metro area, three international tours from Asia to South America, a statewide residency with seven state universities in Arkansas, and a US national tour with superstar soprano Sumi Jo.

Comprised of today's most talented instrumentalists, New York Classical Players offer uncompromising artistic excellence, innovative programming and artistic vision, and embrace highly collaborative ensemble playing. The orchestra is honored to have a partnership with acclaimed violinist Stella Chen, New York Classical Players new Artist-in-Residence.

The concert will begin with American composer Samuel Adler’s arrangement of Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity from Gustav Holst’s The Planets, composed between 1914 and 1917. This arrangement is so bright and nimble as led by their acclaimed conductor Dongmin Kim, that listeners will hardly miss the grandiosity of the original orchestra from which this arrangement is derived.

The program also includes Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1787). The title of this piece translates as “a little night music,” an extremely recognizable work, familiar to many who will hear it. This serenade is one of the composer’s most famous compositions, and New York Classical Players interpret it with elegance and virtuosity.

The concert program will conclude with Symphony No. 44 in E minor by Austrian composer Franz Joseph (“Papa”) Haydn. Written in the last half of the 1700’s, this emotional composition is an example of so-called Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) style so popular at that time. It consists of three movements: Allegro con brio, Menuetto: Allegretto, Adagio, and Finale: Presto. This symphony is also known as a “Mourning” as Haydn asked for the slow movement of this symphony to be played at his funeral. But the Finale: Presto sounds hopeful and life-affirming, albeit with small doses of musical tension here and there, reminding us of the contrasting episodes of life with its joys and hardships.

A pre-concert talk with Maestro Kim will take place during the pre-concert Grace Notes at 6:30 PM in the concert hall. Tickets are still available for this stellar evening of music. Visit https://tickets.wheaton.edu/ to purchase yours!

More information about New York Classical Players at: tickets.wheaton.edu

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Natalia Dagenhart

02/24/23