Saturday May 31, 2008 - 8pm

"Celebrating Inspiration" - A concert of classical music with Philomusica, the remarkable concert choir of central New Jersey. I'll be playing trumpet in the orchestra. The program examines the works that inspired Mozart's Requiem. Specifically, his youthful "Te Deum," the "Vespers de Dominica" and Johann Michael Haydn's Requiem in C minor. The Michael Haydn piece is especially interesting: it is a completely authentic work (as compared with Mozart's Requiem, which was finished by others after his death), and sets some of the texts to music that Mozart imitated quite closely when he composed his famous Requiem Mass 20 years later. Also, the Michael Haydn work is scored for 4 trumpets in the orchestra (2 parts labeled "Clarino" and 2 "Tromba"), and some fascinating sonorities result. The Philomusica choir is celebrating the 25th year of Dennis Boyle's directorship, and the group is a very "precise" choir - a real rarity in this type of repertoire. The vocal soloists (Nadine Robinson, Teresa Buchholz, Oliver Mercer, and Scott Dispensa) are terrific - really well-matched with each other, and just right for this music. The concert is in East Brunswick, NJ at St. Bartholomew's Church. Visit the Philomusica Choir website for ticket information and directions. This program will have a repeat performance on Sunday, June 1.

Sunday May 18, 2008 - 3pm

A Concert by the Chelsea Symphony. I'll be playing principal trumpet in a program with this trendy new orchestra. The program includes 3 Shostakovich symphonies! (One movement a piece from symphony 10 & 12, and the entire Ninth Symphony) Also on the program are works by Saint-Saens and a very lovely piece by local composer Donaldson Lawhead. The concert is at St. Paul's Church in Manhattan - West 22nd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Visit the Chelsea Symphony website for more information.

Saturday May 17, 2008 - 8pm

ALLEGRO! Brass Ensemble - I will be playing trumpet in our annual Memorial Day concert at the Algonquin Arts Center in the beautiful seaside town of Manasquan, NJ (this year, the concert is the week before Memorial Day). The brass ensemble performs with the ALLEGRO! Chorus, conducted by the talented Maestro Marcello Velame. Come hear the concert works of a really good brass ensemble, and sing along on the chorus' traditional patriotic songs, presented in innovative and majestic arrangements. This is the 2nd performance of this program; if you can't make it, see below for the other date & location. Click here for ticket information.

Friday May 16, 2008 - 7:30pm

ALLEGRO! Brass Ensemble - I will be playing trumpet in our annual Memorial Day concert at the Dolan Performance Hall on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, NJ (this year, the concert is the week before Memorial Day). The brass ensemble performs with the ALLEGRO! Chorus, conducted by the talented Maestro Marcello Velame. Come hear the concert works of a really good brass ensemble, and sing along on the chorus' traditional patriotic songs, presented in innovative and majestic arrangements. This program will be performed a 2nd time later in the week; if you can't make it, see above for the other date & location. Click here for directions to this concert.

Sunday May 11, 2008 - 11:15am

The special Mother's Day concert in Brooklyn, NY at Sacred Hearts & St. Stephen Church (corner of Summit & Hicks Streets). This "mini-concert" is 30-minutes long, and is packed full of good music. A chamber orchestra will be accompanying trumpet soloists Jim Lake and Angela Gosse, with soprano soloist Trudy Craney. The program is part of the parish church's 125th Anniversary celebration, and is given in honor of all the mothers of the parish, past and present. The program includes J.S. Bach Cantata No. 51 "Jauchzet Gott in Alle Landen," Vivaldi's Concerto for 2 trumpets, a work by Boccherini, and some wonderful Italian devotional songs honoring Mary, including a special arrangement for this occasion by Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin. The concert is free, and all are welcome.