The music of Augusta Read Thomas (b. 1964 in New York) is nuanced, majestic, elegant, capricious, lyrical, and colorful — "it is boldly considered music that celebrates the sound of the instruments and reaffirms the vitality of orchestral music" (Philadelphia Inquirer). Championed by such luminaries as Barenboim, Rostropovich, Boulez, Eschenbach, Salonen, Maazel, Ozawa, and Knussen, she rose early to the top of her profession.
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Julia Glenn, violin
With a deep love for music new and old, Chinese culture and music, and exploring crossroads between music and language, Boston native Julia Glenn savors finding and contributing to unique artistic voices as an international performer of modern and baroque violins. Called “remarkable,” “gripping,” and “a brilliant soloist” by the New York Times, she recently joined the Naumburg-winning Lydian String Quartet and the faculty of Brandeis University after teaching for three years at the Tianjin Juilliard School.
Emma Frucht, violin
Violinist Emma Frucht is celebrated for her fearless leadership, warmly expressive playing, and collaborative spirit that inspires both her fellow musicians and audiences alike. A passionate and dedicated orchestral leader, Emma frequently serves as concertmaster and principal second violin of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and is a member of the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble. She performs regularly in leadership positions with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and New York Classical Players.
Colleen Bernstein
Colleen Bernstein is an award-winning percussionist and educator recognized for her versatility and passion. She is currently the percussionist for Monty Python’s Spamalot on Broadway, as well as a member of the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra. Ms. Bernstein has previously collaborated with notable artists including Béla Fleck, Judy Collins, Tania León, Concertgebouw Orchestra Camerata, American Symphony Orchestra, Silkroad Ensemble, International Contemporary Ensemble, Talea Ensemble, Balla Kouyaté, and Sandbox Percussion.
Phillip Solomon, clarinet
Clarinetist Phillip Solomon enjoys a varied career of collaborative and heartfelt music making in New York City. As an orchestral musician, he performs regularly with the Metropolitan Opera, and has appeared with the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New Jersey Symphony, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, among others. During his summers, he serves as Second Clarinet of the Glimmerglass Festival Orchestra. As a Klezmer musician, he was a founding member of Mountain Mishpokhe, a Klezmer band based in Aspen, Colorado.
Mimi Solomon, piano
American pianist Mimi Solomon enjoys a multi-faceted career as a chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. She has performed throughout the United States, China, Japan and Europe, has appeared as soloist with orchestras including Shanghai Symphony, Philharmonia Virtuosi, and Yale Symphony Orchestra, and has been featured on numerous radio and television broadcasts including the McGraw-Hill Young Artist’s Showcase, France 3, France Inter, and National Public Radio.
Here Come the Danes!
The Rudersdal Chamber Players, in Concert In New York and at the Cooperage! April 11th & 18th, 2025 The Danes are back, armed with visas this time and ready to take New York City and the Catskills by storm! With a beautiful program of new and old American and Danish music, the group that BBC Magazine has praised as one of the most exciting on the scene will perform as WCM's guests this April.
Aleksandra Dzenisenia, cimbalom
Aleksandra Dzenisenia studied at the Belarusian State Academy of Music and at the Conservatoire supérieur in Strasbourg. Literally since her first steps in music Aleksandra made herself known as a talented and original musician. Being only a first-year student Aleksandra got the first prize at the international musical competition in Moscow. She later she took part in many international competitions and was invariably a prize-winner.
John Harbison, Composer in Residence
Composer John Harbison’s concert music catalog of almost 300 works is anchored by three operas, seven symphonies, twelve concerti, a ballet, six string quartets, numerous song cycles and chamber works, and a large body of sacred music that includes cantatas, motets, and the orchestral-choral works Four Psalms, Requiem, and Abraham. He has also penned a substantial body of jazz compositions and arrangements, and cadenzas for major violin and piano concertos. Harbison has received commissions from most of America’s premiere musical institutions, including the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. As one of America’s most distinguished artistic figures, he is recipient of numerous awards and honors, among them a MacArthur Fellowship and a Pulitzer Prize.
Ensemble Accroche Note
Accroche Note is a group of soloists formed around the soprano Françoise Kubler and clarinettist Armand Angster. Their aim is to lead in the promotion of today’s music through a variety of mediums and genres. The programe of each concert dictates the number of musicians who constitute the ensemble. The flexibility of the group, from solo musician to large chamber ensemble, allows them to tackle varying projects; from the historical pages of the classical repertoire to instrumental and vocal literature of the 20th and 21st century. Other projects centre around improvisation through jazz and other improvised traditions.