Two newly formed ensembles based in New York City have announced their inaugural concerts: the West Side Chamber Orchestra and Music for Life NYC/New York Women’s Ensemble. The West Side Chamber Orchestra, founded by oboist Kathy Halvorson, will specialize in classical repertoire of music of the Enlightenment, performed on modern instruments but influenced by historically informed performance practice. West Side’s first concert under Music Director Kevin Mallon will take place on September 10 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Manhattan; the program for that concert will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, Franz Beck’s Symphony Op. 3 No. 1, and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 (K. 466), with soloist Francine Kay. The 50-member New York Women’s Ensemble, the musical arm of the charitable organization Music for Life NYC, is made up of female classical musicians from multiple professional orchestras and with solo careers; the ensemble will hold its debut all-Mozart gala concert on November 29 at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium, under Music Director and Founder Virginia Luque. Proceeds from each New York Women’s Ensemble concert will benefit a specified charity; the beneficiary of the inaugural concert at Carnegie Hall will benefit Children of the Night, which works to rescue children from child prostitution. Details will be announced later for two additional Music for Life NYC concerts for the 2011-12 season.
Posted September 8, 2011
