2019-20 Ensemble Program
Ensemble Program
Participants in the ensemble program concert at the May 6, 2018 annual meeting. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Rehearsal Schedule for the 2019-20 Season
Location:
Studios 353
353 West 48th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
New York, NY 10036
Annual Meeting and Concert:
Sunday, May 19, 2019 3:00 pm
Pearl Studios
500 Eighth Avenue (between 35th and 36th Streets), Rm. TBD
New York, NY
| Date | Time | Location (if not Studios 353) | Event type |
| Sunday, September 15, 2019 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Governors Island (100 Flutes!) | Rehearsal and concert |
| Saturday, September 21, 2019 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Rehearsal | |
| Sunday, October 20, 2019 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Rehearsal | |
| Saturday, November 23, 2019 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Rehearsal | |
| Sunday, December 15, 2019 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Rehearsal | |
| Saturday, January 25, 2019 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Rehearsal | |
| Saturday, February 22, 2020 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Rehearsal | |
| Saturday, February 29, 2020 | All Day | W83 Ministries | Flute Fair |
| 2:00 - 4:00 pm |
CANCELED |
||
| Saturday, April 25, 2020 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm |
VIRTUAL |
Zoom catch-up |
| Sunday, May 17, 2020 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm |
VIRTUAL |
Zoom catch-up |
There are also informal ensemble reading sessions prior to many of the season's regular concerts. Watch the Newsletter for details.
Our May 17, 2020 Virtual Meet-up
Participants at the May 17 virtual ensembles meet-up. Photo: Katherine Saenger
Fourteen NYFC Ensemble flutists (all returning) convened via Zoom for a virtual meet-up on Sunday, May 17, at 2 pm. Moderated by co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers, each participant let the group know what they had been up to during the past month and shared tips on various apps, video postings, and miscellaneous discoveries.
We heard about Chip Shelton's video taken at the 2020 Flute Fair, got a recommedation for the Juilliard Bolero and the LockDown Wind Quintet's performance of Le Tombeau de Couperin, and discussed possible software platforms for virtual chamber music (Acapella and GarageBand) in hopes that one might work for us.
Our April 25, 2020 Virtual Meet-up
Participants at the April 25 virtual ensembles meet-up. Photos: Katherine Saenger and Judith Thoyer
Twenty-three NYFC Ensemble flutists (all returning) convened via Zoom for a virtual meet-up on Saturday, April 25, at 2 pm, calling in from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Yonkers, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and more. Organized by co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers (and moderated by Denise), each participant let the group know what they had been up to during the past month of sheltering at home.
We learned that three group members participated in the Flute Center of New York's virtual flute choir performance of an arrangement of Holst's "Jupiter" from The Planets (video here), and that two other group members have both been taking online lessons from the same flute teacher (Rie Schmidt).
Most of us were finding more time for practicing and home cooking. Those of us seriously working at home were often busier than usual and dealing with blurred home/work boundaries. Activities engaged in included reading, walking for fun, sewing masks, starting yoga, taking intensive ESL lessons, and spending more time with household pets (or, in one case, a resident toddler who can be seen sharing the Zoom screen with her mom). A small number of us actually experienced the coronavirus first-hand or lived with a family member who had it; fortunately all have recovered without complication.
Our February 22, 2020 Meet-up
Participants at the February 22 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Thirty-two NYFC flutists (31 returning and 1 new) met at Studios 353 on West 48th Street on Saturday, February 22. Co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers led the group through the season's repertoire, which is sounding better and better.
Answers to the intermission's ice-breaker question ("Tell us something that you have have made recently") included a wide variety of edibles ranging from a morning cup of coffee to some delicious-sounding dishes many of us had never heard of. Non-culinary products recently made included a quilted accordion cover, a TV stand, and some angled-elbow flute headjoints.
After the practice, a small group checked out a range of cuisines (Mexican, Chinese, Italian, Brazilian, Hawaiian, Afghan, and more) at the newly-opened Deco food hall in the garment district. Mexican turned out to be the most popular choice. From time to time, we have casual post-ensemble gatherings. Everyone is free to suggest, organize, and join in.
Our January 25, 2020 Meet-up
Participants at the January 25 ensembles meet-up. Photos: Brian Klasewitz
Thirty NYFC flutists (26 returning and 4 new) met at Studios 353 on West 48th Street on Saturday, January 25. Co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers led the group through repertoire planned for the coming season. As a special treat, NYFC member Bill Giannone conducted J.S. Bach’s Sinfonia No. 1 (BWV 787) in his own recently published arrangement for three flutes.
Answers to the intermission question (“Tell us something that you haven’t yet done, but would really like to”) indicated a strong interest in foreign travel, with three in the group hoping to go on an African safari. Other responses included acting in a play, riding in a hot air balloon, getting married, and becoming a grandparent.
Our December 15, 2019 Meet-up
Participants at the December 15 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Twenty-one NYFC flutists (all returning, and not a bass flutist among them!) met at Studios 353 on West 48th Street on Sunday, December 15. Co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers led the group through repertoire planned for the coming season, including a Rob Burns's Inca-themed Tierra Del Gato and Kelly Via's arrangement of Carlos Jobin's The Girl from Ipanema.
Answers to the intermission question ("Tell us about about an organization or cause you support, or something you are grateful for") revealed many dedicated volunteers, several supporters of WNYC, and the existence of quite a few groups most of us had ever heard of (Asians on Film, Cure Violence, etc.).
Our November 23, 2019 Meet-up
Participants at the November 23 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Twenty-seven NYFC flutists (1 new and 26 returning) met at Studios 353 on West 48th Street on Saturday, November 23. Co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers led the group through repertoire planned for the coming season, including a first time reading of Daniel Dorff’s Fireworks. Lauren Klasewitz conducted arrangements of Arthur Pryor’s The Whistler and His (Her) Dog and Franz Abt’s Night.
Answers to the intermission question (“Tell us about about a favorite thing to do in NYC that doesn’t cost more than $20”) indicated that many in the group enjoy long walks, museums, scenic parks, and people watching. Less common amusements included ice skating and attending pre-sale art exhibitions at NY’s premier auction houses.
Our October 20, 2019 Meet-up
Participants at the October 20 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Thirty-four NYFC flutists (2 new and 32 returning, a new record!) met at Studios 353 on West 48th Street on Sunday, October 20. Co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers and guest conductor Lauren Klasewitz led the group through new repertoire planned for the coming season, including Ricky Lombardo's Adventures in Space, Jobin's The Girl From Ipanema (arr. K. Via), and Abt's Night (arr. A.A. Scott).
The intermission question (“Tell us about someone you knew, or about an ancestor, who was alive 100 years ago”) was selected to remind the group that this is the NYFC’s centennial season. Grandparents and parents were fondly remembered, including two sets of grandparents who came to the US from opposite sides of the Black Sea and a late parent who had long hoped that his son—a new ensembles program participant—would return to playing the flute as an adult. .
Our September 21, 2019 Meet-up
Participants at the September 21 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Twenty-nine NYFC flutists (5 new and 24 returning) met at Studios 353 on West 48th Street on Saturday, September 21. Co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers led the group through new repertoire planned for the coming season, including Stephen Lias’ Mélange of Neumes and Rob Burns’ Inca-folk-music-based Tierra Del Gato. Also played were two short pieces conducted by Lauren Klasewitz.
Answers to the intermission question (“Tell us about your first musical instrument”) were evenly split between flute and piano, but led to the finding that that three in the group also play the accordion.
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