12 WEST 11TH STREET VOICES OF ASCENSION WWW.VOICESOFASCENSION.ORG NEW YORK, NY 10011-8695 CHORUS & ORCHESTRA 212-358-7060 For immediate release: VOICES OF ASCENSION AND THE SECULAR SOCIETY PRESENT American Brass Quintet Kevin Cobb, trumpet Louis Hanzlik, trumpet Eric Reed, french horn Michael Powell, trombone John D. Rojak, bass trombone Wednesday, February 13, 2019 7:30PM The Church of the Ascension 36 Fifth Avenue at Tenth Street, NY, NY 10011 Dennis Keene Artistic Director & Conductor Featuring: Renée Anne Louprette, organ Anthony Holborne (1545-1602): Suite of Elizabethan Dances Osvaldo Lacerda (1927-2011): Fantasia and Rondo David Sampson (b. 1951): Still Justin Dello Joio (b. 1963): Blue and Gold Music Philip Lasser (b. 1963): Common Heroes, Uncommon Land Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541 Suite from the Italian Renaissance Giovani Gabrieli (1557-1612): Sonata Pian'e Forte Claudio Monteverdi (1567- 1643): Si Ch'io Vorrei Morire Giovani Gabrieli: Canzon Septimi Toni No. 2 Specifically created for Voices of Ascension, this program showcases the American Brass Quintet with some of its most iconic and well-regarded literature to date. Known for its stylish and informed interpretations, the quintet shares music of the Renaissance including the uplifting dances of Anthony Holborne and a hauntingly beautiful madrigal by Claudio Monteverdi. Showcasing the wonderful range and versatility of brass, this program celebrates the visionary commissioning of the ABQ through the years by featuring four modern 1 12 WEST 11TH STREET VOICES OF ASCENSION WWW.VOICESOFASCENSION.ORG NEW YORK, NY 10011-8695 CHORUS & ORCHESTRA 212-358-7060 works including one of the most recent, and extremely well received works from Juilliard composer Philip Lasser. Arguably the pinnacle of the program comes as the quintet teams up with organ virtuoso and longtime Ascension friend Renée Anne Louprette. Together they will present “Blue and Gold Music” by NYU composer Justin Dello-Joio in addition to closing the recital with antiphonal works by Renaissance master Giovanni Gabrieli. In addition, Ms. Louprette will perform Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 541 on the church’s famed organ built by Pascal Quoirin of France. Audiences worldwide have appreciated thoroughly enjoyed the musical dedication of the American Brass Quintet, and this program is sure to offer something for everyone. AMERICAN BRASS QUINTET The American Brass Quintet is internationally recognized as one of the premier chamber music ensembles of our time, celebrated for peerless leadership in the brass world. As 2013 recipient of Chamber Music America’s highest honor, the Richard J. Bogomolny National Service Award for significant and lasting contributions to the field, ABQ's rich history includes performances in Asia, Australia, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and all fifty of the United States; a discography of nearly sixty recordings; and the premieres of over one hundred fifty contemporary brass works. ABQ commissions by Robert Beaser, William Bolcom, Elliott Carter, Eric Ewazen, Anthony Plog, Huang Ruo, David Sampson, Gunther Schuller, William Schuman, Joan Tower, and Charles Whittenberg, among many others, are considered significant contributions to contemporary chamber music and the foundation of the modern brass quintet repertoire. The ABQ’s Emerging Composer Commissioning program has brought forth brass quintets by Gordon Beeferman, Jay Greenberg, Trevor Gureckis, and Shafer Mahoney. Among the quintet’s recordings are eleven CDs for Summit Records since 1992 including the ABQ’s 50th release State of the Art—The ABQ at 50 featuring recent works written for them. Committed to the promotion of brass chamber music through education, the American Brass Quintet has been in residence at The Juilliard School since 1987 and the Aspen Music Festival since 1970. Since 2000 the ABQ has offered its expertise in chamber music performance and training with a program of mini-residencies as part of its regular touring. Designed to offer young groups and individuals an intense chamber music experience over several days, ABQ mini-residencies have been embraced by schools and communities throughout the United States and a dozen foreign countries. The New York Times recently wrote that “among North American brass ensembles none is more venerable than the American Brass Quintet,” while Newsweek has hailed the ensemble as “the high priests of brass” and American Record Guide has called the ABQ “of all the brass quintets, the most distinguished.” Through its acclaimed performances, diverse programming, commissioning, extensive discography and educational mission, the American Brass Quintet has created a legacy unparalleled in the brass field. RENÉE ANNE LOUPRETTE Hailed by The New York Times as “splendid,” and “one of New York's finest organists,” Renée Anne Louprette has established an international career as organ recitalist, accompanist, conductor, and teacher. She is University Organist and Organ Area Coordinator at Mason Gross School of the Arts – Rutgers University, and a former member of the organ faculty at the Manhattan School of Music, The Hartt School – University of Hartford, and the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. She has served as Associate Director of Music at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, Associate Director of Music and the Arts at Trinity Wall Street, Organist and Associate Director at the Unitarian Church of All Souls, and Director of Music at the Church of Notre Dame. 2 12 WEST 11TH STREET VOICES OF ASCENSION WWW.VOICESOFASCENSION.ORG NEW YORK, NY 10011-8695 CHORUS & ORCHESTRA 212-358-7060 As organ recitalist, Louprette has recently debuted at Royal Festival Hall in London, Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. Her recording of the "Great Eighteen Chorales" of J. S. Bach was named a classical music Critics' Choice 2014 by The New York Times. In 2018, she released a recording of 20th-century French organ repertoire: “Une voix française – A French Voice” to critical acclaim. PURCHASE Tickets for February 13th Concert HERE For Voices of Ascension tickets and information, visit: www.voicesofascension.org or call the box office: 212-358-7060. Voices of Ascension Chorus & Orchestra founded in 1990 and directed by conductor Dennis Keene, presents exceptional performances of great works of music for chorus and orchestra. Over the course of its 28-year history, Voices of Ascension has produced an annual concert series, released Grammy-nominated recordings, and engaged in artistic collaborations with the San Francisco Symphony, Mostly Mozart Festival, José Limón Dance, the Mark Morris Dance Group, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and others. Recent performances have been described as 'richly colored, impressive, and beautifully balanced' (Wall Street Journal) and 'inspired' (NY Times). Dennis Keene, Artistic Director and Conductor of Voices of Ascension, is an internationally renowned conductor. Through his concerts and Grammy-nominated recordings with Voices of Ascension, regular guest appearances as conductor and teacher, and his work as Artistic Director of the Dennis Keene Choral Festival and Voices of Ascension Conductor Academy, he has become one of the preeminent figures in choral music today. Recipient of awards for exceptional artistry from The Juilliard School and Chorus America, Dr. Keene has also served on grants panels for the NEA and NYSCA as well as the board of Chorus America. 2018-2019 SEASON CONCERT CALENDAR • For VoA tickets & information, visit: www.voicesofascension.org or call box office at 212-358-7060 • All concerts at The Church of the Ascension, 36 Fifth Avenue at Tenth Street, NYC, EXCEPT March 20th Concert at The Brick Church, 1140 Park Avenue at 92nd Street, NYC • Choral Tickets: $85, $40, $10; half-price for students at the door • Chamber Music Tickets: $35, $25, $10; half-price for students at the door • Wheelchair and Accessible Seating Available • TICKETS & SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW CONCERT SERIES Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 7:30PM The Church of the Ascension THE SECULAR SOCIETY CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT American Brass Quintet with organist Renée Anne Louprette Tickets: $35, $25, $10; half-price for students at the door PURCHASE Tickets for February 13th Concert HERE Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 7:30PM *The Brick Church (1140 Park Ave. at 92nd St.) VOICES OF ASCENSION CHORUS, Dennis Keene, Conductor A Voice of Her Own featuring great choral music by women composers Tickets: $85, $40, $10; half-price for students at the door PURCHASE Tickets for March 20th Concert HERE Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 7:30PM The Church of the Ascension VOICES OF ASCENSION CHORUS, Dennis Keene, Conductor Renaissance Concert featuring the works of Lassus and Byrd 3 12 WEST 11TH STREET VOICES OF ASCENSION WWW.VOICESOFASCENSION.ORG NEW YORK, NY 10011-8695 CHORUS & ORCHESTRA 212-358-7060 Tickets: $85, $40, $10; half-price for students at the door PURCHASE Tickets for May 1st Concert HERE For Voices of Ascension tickets and information, visit: www.voicesofascension.org or call the box office: 212-358-7060. Press contact Hillary Mégroz [email protected] or Liz Norman [email protected] 212-358-1469 4 .