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Sherman Chamber Ensemble
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Song to Symphony Event Draws Plenty of Support (PDF - The New Milford Times, Nov. 24, 2006)
Cellist Combines Composing and Performing to Reach Children (New York Times, Sep. 3, 2006)
A Little Summer Night's Music (New York Times, Jul. 29, 2006)
Sherman Chamber Ensemble to Feature Keyboardist Kenneth Cooper
in August 15th and 16th Concerts
The renowned Sherman Chamber Ensemble continues its summer season on Friday, August 15th in Kent and Saturday, August 16th in Sherman with a program featuring Kenneth Cooper on fortepiano. Cooper will team up with SCE co-founder Susan Rotholz for a flute sonata by J.S. Bach and a Haydn sonata for flute and fortepiano. SCE Artistic Director Eliot Bailen on cello and violist Ah Ling Neu join forces for the popular “Eyeglass Duo” by Beethoven. Violinist Jill Levy completes the ensemble for Beethoven’s Quartet for fortepiano and strings, and mezzo-soprano Josephine Mongiardo contributes a selection of Mozart songs.
The return of harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper and his wife, soprano Josephine Mongiardo, has been the highlight of SCE's summer concert series for many of the past 26 years. Keyboardist, musicologist, teacher and conductor Cooper is one of the world's leading specialists in the music of the 18th century and one of America's most exciting and versatile performers. In addition to his annual appearances with SCE, Cooper is Music Director of the Berkshire Bach Ensemble and has been heard with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Little Orchestra Society at Alice Tully Hall, the American Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and at the Grand Canyon Music Festival, Yale-Norfolk Summer Chamber Music Festival and Mostly Mozart.
Soprano Josephine Mongiardo is an accomplished actress and singer and has commanded attention in numerous operatic roles as well as through her work as a recitalist and chamber musician. She has appeared throughout the United States, Europe and South America, including at the Santa Fe, Waterloo, Chamber Music Northwest, Arcady, Grand Canyon and Mohawk Trail festivals. She collaborates frequently with renowned artists such as YoYo Ma, Ani Kavafian and Gerard Schwartz, and has a thriving teaching practice in NYC as well.
Sherman Chamber Ensemble concerts are performed Friday evenings in the intimate and acoustically excellent St. Andrew’s Church on Main Street in Kent, CT. Saturday evening performances take place in the rustic charm of the lakeside Mauweehoo Clubhouse in Sherman, CT. All performances start at 8:00 PM and are followed by a reception offering light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the performers.
Admission is $25 at the door ($20 for students and seniors). Advance reservations are strongly recommended and may be made by calling 860-355-5930. For Sherman concerts only, lawn tickets may be purchased the night of the concert for $10. There is no charge for lawn tickets for children under 12, so bring your blankets and beach chairs and enjoy an evening of music under the stars with the entire family.
Founded in 1983 to bring world-class live classical music performance to Western Connecticut, the Sherman Chamber Ensemble was recently described in The New York Times as "about as close as it gets to the Platonic ideal of a chamber music concert." Now in its 26th season, SCE offers a summer chamber music series, educational activities including the popular annual "Song to Symphony" residency at The Sherman School, and a year-round slate of musical events showcasing the best of live musical performance, from classical to bluegrass to jazz. Support for this season comes from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism, Webster Bank, private foundations, local businesses and many generous individual donors.