EXTRA! OSFL News Archives.
All the news about all of our music.

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The Musicians' Choice Chamber Music Series resumed on Friday, November 3, 2017, at The Rockwell Museum in Corning.

The Diemecke-Lowe String Quartet is comprised of Augusto Diemecke, violin; Denise Lowe-Nosewicz, violin; Joanne Lowe, viola; and Christine Diemecke-Lowe, cello.
All of the players are core musicians in the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes, with Augusto serving as our Concertmaster, and Denise as our Section Principal for 2nd violins.
Learn about the program, and buy tickets or subscribe below:

Opening Concert : Folk Tales à la Russe  (Folk Tales, Russian Style)
Saturday, October 7, 2017   •  7:30 PM   •   The Corning Museum of Glass • Corning, New York

Guest Conductor: Marietta Cheng, OSFL Conductor Laureate. Marietta was the OSFL's conductor at its founding, and led the orchestra for the next 14 years. Learn about Marietta's history with the OSFL here.

Read the notes for the concert here.
Mikhail Glinka:   Overture to Russlan and Ludmila
Pytor Tchaikovsky:   Sleeping Beauty Suite
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov:   Scheherazade        

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September 30, 2017

May 19, 2017

May 6, 2017

Elements of Style is the OSFL's traditional season opening fundraising event. This year it was held on Saturday, September 30, one week before the season's concert premier. Over 62 people were in attendance.
Our hosts this year were Sheryl and Dr. Edward Williams, who made available their lovely home at 322 Drive C, in the beautiful Strathmont Park neighborhood of Elmira. Not only was there be good food, drink and the company of fellow music lovers, but you will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with our conductor, Maestro Toshiyuki Shimada.

A.J. Fratarcangelo won the set of gold leafed glassware by renowned designer and glass maker Dan Mirer. Learn about Dan's work here.

A Fundraiser Soirée for the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes
Friday, May 19, 6:00 - 8:30 PM at the Wings of Eagle Discovery Center.

     This casual, after-work event drew almost 60 people to socialize in a vast space full of vintage airplanes, yummy casual eats, locally produced libations, and tasty jazz, all for a great cause, the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes.
     The hors d'oeuvres were from Sweet-N-Saucy. The drink tastings included wines from Atwater Vineyards in Burdett; beers from Heavily Brewing in Montour Falls; spirits from Finger Lakes Distilling in Burdett and Four Fights Distilling in Corning.
     The jazz was by Rich Preston and Found Time, providing a fresh take on the standard hits from Swing to Cool to Modern.

This event is made possible with the generous sponsorship of the following individuals and businesses: Clare and Jan van den Blink; Bellohusen Orthodontics; Elm Chevrolet; Johnson-Schmidt and Associates, Architects; Sayles and Evens, Attorneys-at-Law; Dr. Betsey Clark, DDS; and Marcia and Russel Anthony Music Studio.

Season Finale Concert:
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Featuring Julie Eskar, soloist, performing Schumann's Violin Concerto in D minor

On May 6, 2017, the audience of almost 550 people at the Corning Museum of Glass heard exquisite works by Bernstein, Barber, Schumann, Verdi, Mascagni, and Morricone; the concert finished with Respighi's magnificent Pini di Roma (Pines of Rome). Check out the pre-performance buzz about this concert on WSKG Public Radio, and in the Elmira Star-Gazette. This is the must-see concert of the season!
Learn more about the concert, hear examples of the works to be played, and buy tickets here.

Julie Eskar, Concertmaster of the Danish National Chamber Orchestra, joined the OSFL to perform Schumann's Violin Concerto in D Minor. Sometimes called his "Lost Concerto," the work languished unplayed for a half century after Schumann's death. Read about the improbable history of this amazing work here.

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April 7 & 8, 2017

MUSICIANS' CHOICE CHAMBER SERIES: The Trio Alexander
Friday, April 7, 2017  •  The Rockwell Museum Corning, NY
Saturday, April  8, 2017 
The Sayre Theatre • Sayre, PA

OSFL core musicians Adam Paul Cordle on viola, and Rosanna Moore, principal harp, are joined by Caroline Sonett on flute in this unique trio. They performed two chamber concerts over two nights, with the first will at The Rockwell Museum in Corning on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 7:30 PM.
This concert, like all Musicians' Choice Concerts at the Rockwell,
was sponsored by Dick and Judy Sphon.
They performed a slightly different program the following evening, Saturday, April 8, at the Sayre Theatre in Sayre, PA. That concert was made possible in cooperation with the Bradford County Regional Arts Council, with the generous sponsorship of Guthrie .

Visit their website to learn more about the musicians and the music they play: www.trioalexander.com

March 5, 2017

March Concert

Sunday, March 5, 2017  •  4:00 PM Clemens Center Elmira, New York

With the Youth Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes (YOSFL), the Junior String Ensemble (JSE), and the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes.

Jonathan Fenwick, 2016 Doreen B. Hertzog Concerto/Aria Competition Winner & soloist on the Saint Säens Violin Concerto.
Gershwin  :  An American in Paris
Performed by the YOSFL & the JSE
Liszt  :  Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 
The YOSFL performing side by side with OSFL

Saint Saëns  :  Violin Concerto #3, 3rd Movement, soloist
Jonathan Fenwick, soloist

Britten  :  Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra 
Ed Williams, narrator

Brahms  :  Schicksalslied 
With the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes

Brahms  :  Nänie 
With the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes

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Febuary 10, 2017

MUSICIANS' CHOICE CHAMBER SERIES: Augusto Diemecke, Christine Lowe-Diemecke, & Pej Reitz: A Piano Trio
Friday, February 10, 2017  •  7:30 PM  The Park Church Elmira, NY

Augusto, on violin, is the OSFL's concertmaster; Christine is a cellist with the OSFL; and Pej has played the piano in past Musicians' Choice Chamber Concerts. In this concert they performed works from the mid-19th to the late 20th Century

Before the trio took the stage, we heard the first movement of Max Bruch's Violin Concerto #1 in G minor, performed by Sophia Klin, the first runner-up in the
2016 Hertzog Concerto/Aria Competition.

To see the program they performed, click here.

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January 20, 2017

MUSICIANS' CHOICE CHAMBER SERIES:
Simon Bjarning & the Resident Brass Quintet: Percussion & Brass
Friday, January 20, 2017  •  7:30 PM  
The Rockwell Museum  •  Corning, NY

Simon and the Resident Brass Quintet got an ovation by an enthusiastic audience, for their performances of 16th Century Danish Court music, and 20th & 21st Century jazz, movie and contemporary music. Simon is a regular percussionist with the OSFL, and was joined in this concert by his wife, Elizabeth Bjarning on French horn, and core members of the OSFL brass section: David Unland, tuba;  Norman Wilcox, trombone; Jeff Stempien, Trumpet; and Scott Kelly, trumpet. You can learn more about Simon on his website: simonbjarning.com

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December 14, 2016

Holiday
Drum Roll Challenge
Update!

One of the most exciting sounds of a symphony is the heroic rumble of the timpani, also known as kettle drums.
We are in desperate need of new timpani and needed help with a fun challenge from two of our supporters!

Two long time Orchestra patrons  generously offered the Holiday Drum Roll Challenge - matching any donations up to half the price of the new timpani, $9,000. Chris Sharkey and her father made this extraordinary offer in memory of Shirley Hodge Gould, mother and wife, who loved attending concerts of the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes.

Any donation made was to be doubled by their matching gift until the $9,000 goal was been reached.  For every donation over $100 the Orchestra provided  a complimentary ticket to our  Holiday Concert on December 11, 2016.
Our aim was to reach our goal  before the Holiday Concert.
We are excited to announce that on the day of the Holiday Concert, we surpassed the goal of $9,000 on individual donations alone! With Ms. Sharkey's and Mr. Gould's matches, we raised over $13,500 or 151% of our goal for timpani and other percussion instruments for the Orchestra.
Our sincerest thanks to everyone who generously donated.
Now come hear the new timpani rumble in our Sunday, March 5, 2017 concert at the Clemens Center!

Elise Johnson-Schmidt
Holiday Drum Roll Challenge Chairperson
Marshall Hyde
Executive Director, OSFL

December 11, 2016

November 18, 2016

Afterglow:
A Dinner, Art Auction, Soireé & Fundraiser for the OSFL

Holiday Concert
Sunday, December 11, 2016   •  4:00 PM   •  Clemens Center • Elmira, New York

This annual holiday fundraising event took place at the Elmira Country Club immediately following our Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 11. The event offered good company, music, dinner & drink, while helping to support the Orchestra.
This year we  once again held an art auction to raise funds for the Orchestra's programs. We offered three extra-ordinary curated works of original art created by area artists of international renown.

Sixty-five people joined us after the concert on a snowy Sunday evening. Pictures of some of the festivities are below. Perhaps you can join us next year!

With the Chorus of the Southern Finger Lakes
Vocal Soloists: Ivy Walz, mezzo soprano; Stacey Geyer, soprano; Jordan Schreiner, tenor; Jake Stamatis, bass baritone.

Nazaykinskaya                Winter Bells 
Beethoven                       Symphony No.9, 4th movement, Ode to Joy
Tchaikovsky                       Selections from The Nutcracker: March; Danse Russe Trepak; Danse Chinoise; Pas de deux, Act II; Valse des fleurs
Leontovich/Wilhousky     Carol of the Bells
Handel                                Hallelujah from Messiah
Christmas Singalong for Orchestra: Jingle Bells; Joy to the World; It Came Upon the Midnight Clear; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Silent Night; Away in a Manger; Deck the Hall; O Come, All Ye Faithful
Anderson                            Sleigh Ride

Ryan Finefrock & Rosanna Moore : Bassoon & Harp
Friday, November 18, 2016  •  7:30 PM  •  The Rockwell Museum  •  Corning, NY

Ryan is the OSFL's principal bassoonist, and Rosanna is our principal harpist. They performed a number of 19th and 20th Century works by French, English and American composers. You can see the program for the evening's performance here.

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September 25, 2016

Benjamin Pawlak:
Piano Soloist in our Opening Concert on September 25.

Benjamin Pawlak's performance of Franz Liszt's Piano Concerto #1 at Sunday's Opening Concert of the OSFL's 22nd Season was nothing short of spectacular! Almost 750 people had tickets to see his solo debut with the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes.
The concert could also be considered the release party for Benjamin's first CD, "Snapshot," featuring his performances of works by Duncan Krummel, Franz Joseph Haydn, and Maurice Ravel. Visit his website to learn about purchasing a CD here.

Below are links to some of the pre-concert media coverage of Ben's solo debut:
In Elmira's Star-Gazette.
Corning's The Leader.
WSKG public radio interview with Bill Snyder.

Benjamin Pawlak is an award-winning young musician from Horseheads. A piano performance major at the Ithaca College where he studies with Yale and Juilliard alumnus Dr. Vadim Serebryany, Ben practically grew up with the OSFL (his mother plays the oboe with us).  Two-time winner of the Ithaca College School of Music Concerto Competition, he made his solo debut in 2014 playing Prokofiev’s First Piano Concerto with the School of Music’s Symphony Orchestra, and in 2016 performed Maurice Ravel’s Concerto in G Major. 

From 2009-2015, Benjamin attended the Credo Chamber Music Festival at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he studied under renowned chamber coaches including James Howsmon and Alvin Chow of the Oberlin Conservatory piano faculty, Steuart Pincombe of the baroque chamber group Apollo’s Fire, principal cellist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Anne Martindale Williams, and the late Dean Emeritus of The Juilliard School Stephen Clapp.

September 24, 2016

An intimate turnout celebrating the OSFL:
Elements of Style.

Over 40 people came to the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes' Elements of Style, an early evening soireé fundraiser with great food, drink and the excellent company of fellow orchestra supporters.
 Held on Saturday, September 24, the evening before our opening concert, the beautiful and historic home of Margaret and Fr. Donald Matthews was a perfect venue for the event.
 Maestro Toshiyuki Shimada, and the opening concert's guest soloist, Benjamin Pawlak, were in attendance.

A beautiful black Zanfirico glass vase  by renowned glassmaker Jeff Mack from the Corning Museum of Glass was raffled off to one lucky winner.

   Check back soon for information about our next fundraising soireé, Afterglow, which will take place immediately following our Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 11, 2016. That event will include an auction of spectacular artworks by acclaimed local artists.

June 10, 2016

Jonathan Fenwick:
The 2016 Annual Doreen B. Hertzog Concerto/Aria Competition Winner.

Jonathan Fenwick has studied the violin since age 4 and currently studies with Calvin Wiersma and Peter Rovit. He was previously a student of Nicholas DiEugenio with early instruction from Sanford Reuning, Joanne Thibadeau and Augusto Diemecke.
 
Jonathan has played with the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra for the past 3 years, as well as in one of their chamber groups. This summer Jonathan will return for his third year at the Young Artist Orchestra Program at Boston University's Tanglewood Institute and will also attend Tanglewood's String Quartet Workshop. Jonathan has spent previous summers at Kinhaven Music Camp, Greenwood Music Camp and Interlochen Violin Institute.

​This spring Jonathan performed as a soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Ithaca High School Orchestra and the Binghamton Community Orchestra. As the winner of the Elmira Cantata Singers Young Performer's Competition, he performed as a soloist on their recent concert. In the past Jonathan was a soloist in the combined Vivaldi project between Ithaca Schools and Cornell.
 
He was the 2013 First Place winner of the New York State MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) High School String Competition and First Place winner of High School Division of the New York Empire Competition. Jonathan composes and has recently written a piece for the high school string orchestra.  Jonathan will be attending Oberlin Conservatory for violin performance in the fall.