Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Chatham Concert Series and Reception Saturday

Please join the Chatham Concert Series for the opening concert of its fifth season at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 17 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The program is titled “Fun for Clarinet, Strings and Piano” and will be just that. Fun!

The exciting program consists of pieces for clarinet, violin, viola and piano by American composers Peter Schickele and Rick Sowash and European Romantic composers Carl Reinecke and Walter Rabl (it sounds like Brahms!).

Alex Jones, principal clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, will join Kevin Matheson, Bryan Matheson and Brenda Wittwer of the Rainier Trio. A special treat will be young pianist Trevor Percario performing a Minuet by Bach.

An hors d'oeuvre reception will follow the performance, allowing concert-goers to mix with the musicians. 

Admission is by donation.  Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 66 North Main Street, Chatham. 

I hope you can join us for the fun!

Kevin Matheson, Artistic Director
Chatham Concert Series

Chatham Concert Series Announces 2012-2013 Schedule

 

Kevin Matheson, Artistic Director, announces the schedule for the fifth season of the Chatham Concert Series!

This year promises to be as exciting and varied as last year.

 *******

Celebrating St. Patrick - Chatham Concert Series Finale

Left to right: Kevin Matheson, Kenyon Scott, William Plail, and Bryan Matheson

By Susan Paynter

Pipes and more pipes!  One week before St. Patrick’s Day, the Chatham Concert Series’ Season Finale -- of chamber music concerts hosted by Emmanuel -- was a spirited tribute to St. Patrick.

On Friday evening, March 9, a crowd of 86, many in green, turned out to hear former Emmanuel Organist Kenyon Scott and Bagpiper William Plail salute the Irish saint with a Celtic-themed program.

In his opening remarks, the series’ Artistic Director Kevin Matheson graciously thanked Emmanuel for hosting the series, to the applause of music-lovers in attendance.

A St. Patrick’s Day Prelude - concert this Friday

A St. Patrick’s Day Prelude
Friday, March 9 at 7:00 P.M.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 66 N. Main Street, Chatham.
Admission is by donation for the musicians.

Pipes and more pipes!  As a spirited tribute to Saint Patrick, the  Chatham Concert Series’ Season Finale this Friday evening promises to  be a performance to remember. Featuring Pipe Organist Kenyon Scott and  Bagpiper William Plail in a mostly Celtic-themed program anticipating  St. Patrick’s Day.

Mr. Plail will pipe the beloved air Danny Boy as well as other  traditional pieces such as Endearing Young Charms,The Wearing of the  Green, and Let Erin Remember.  Concert-goers can expect airs, reels,  marches, jigs and quicksteps.

Mr. Scott, who will play a modified Hamill pipe organ, has put the  lovely old Welch melody, Hyfrydol, on the program.  While the title  may not ring a bell, this is music you’re bound to know.  Several  well-known hymns, including Alleluia Sing to Jesus” have been set to  the tune.
Hyfrydol was the song the Welch coal miners sang so beautifully as  they walked home from the mines in the old movie classic, How Green  Was My Valley.

Scott will play two Irish/Celtic hymn tune voluntaries, and will also  cross into the English tradition for Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Sine  Nomine, associated with the hymn For All the Saints, which naturally  includes St. Patrick.

There will be several secular, sometimes rollicking Scots pieces for  the organ, and the medieval Organ Estampie.

Highlighting Virginia’s Celtic heritage, the program will also include  fiddle tunes from colonial-era Buckingham County, arranged for the  organ.

The program will conclude with J.S. Bach’s Little Prelude and Fugue in  G Major -- chosen to showcase the Hamill organ’s modified pedal board.  It should be fun to watch Mr. Scott dance his way through this short  piece.

William Plail lives in Amherst.  He is a pipe soloist and also a  member of Roanoke’s Warpipe and local pipe-and-drum bands in  Charlottesville and Lynchburg.  He is a composer of bagpipe tunes and  a prolific arranger of traditional carols and hymns for the pipes.

Kenyon Scott is a native of Pittsylvania County and lives with his  family on their farm east of Gretna.  He has studied music since age  five and accepted his first position as church organist at 14.  He  served 15 years as organist and choirmaster at Chatham’s Emmanuel  Episcopal Church and now serves Danville’s West Main Baptist Church.

Remember to don a bit of green as you attend “A St. Patrick’s Day  Prelude” this Friday, March 9 at 7:00 P.M. at Emmanuel Episcopal  Church, 66 N. Main Street, Chatham.  Admission is by donation for the  musicians.

Christmas Concert Features Katarzyna Sadej

Mezzo-Soprano Katarzyna Sadej and the Ranier Trio - Left to right, Kevin Matheson, Brenda Wittwer, Ms. Sadej, and Bryan Matheson

The Chatham Concert Series' Christmas Concert was a great success!

The December 4 concert featuring Canadian Mezzo-Soprano Katarzyna Sadej played to a full house.  Joining Ms. Sadej were the violin, viola and piano of the Rainier Trio and a host of local string-instrument students.  Falling on the fourth day of the Christmas in Chatham festivities, the program was varied but heavy on seasonal music from Johannes Brahms to Vaughan Williams.  The student musicians provided backup for the five Christmas carols that concluded the program with an audience sing-along.

Chatham Concert Series Sets 2011-12 Schedule

Artistic Director Kevin Matheson is pleased to announce the 2011-2012 Chatham Concert Series schedule, "We have five concerts scheduled and have added a Christmas concert for this season." All concerts are held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 66 North Main Street, Chatham, VA. All concerts are admission by donation at the door.

The schedule of performances follows:

Chatham Concert Series to Begin New Season at Emmanuel on November 11

Once again, Emmanuel is pleased to donate the use of its sanctuary as venue for the popular Chatham Concert Series.  The series is quickly becoming a Chatham tradition and is making a name for itself in the world of classical music.

Concert plans include, for the first time, a December Christmas concert and sing-along as well as a special tribute to Saint Patrick in March.  Artistic Director Kevin Matheson and President Bryan Matheson have been busy booking a wide variety of musical talent from near and far, and are still at work to ensure a lively, varied and enjoyable season.

The season opener, scheduled for Friday, November 11, will be an evening of classical guitar.  Some think of the guitar as little more than a rhythm instrument.  This concert, with that instrument in the hands of Guitarist Stanley Alexandrowicz, is sure to open some eyes... and ears!  Come see what the guitar is capable of doing in the hands of a master.

Alex Jones Headlines 2011 Chatham Concert Series Finale

(Left to right: Kevin Matheson, Staley Lyle, Brenda Wittwer, Alex Jones, and Bryan Matheson)

By Susan Paynter

The smooth, mellow tones of the clarinet filled the nave of Emmanuel Church on Friday evening, May 6.  It was the final performance of the 2011 Chatham Concert Series, featuring the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra’s Principal Clarinetist, Alex Jones.

The program was one of romantic music for clarinet and strings as Jones was joined by Chatham Concert Series Artistic Director Kevin Matheson on violin, Bryan Matheson on viola and violin, and Brenda Wittwer once again accompanying on piano.  In the tradition of the series, a young music student gained performance experience as eleven-year-old Staley Lyle took the stage for the first post-intermission piece.

But let’s begin at the beginning.  Jones opened the concert playing two clarinets (one at a time!) for George Gershwin’s Three Preludes for Clarinet & Piano, with Wittwer on piano.  Gershwin’s music demanded much from Jones and his considerable talent as well as the full range of both his B-Flat and A Clarinets.  The audience, unable to hold its appreciation, applauded enthusiastically after each of the three movements.

Romantic Music for Clarinet and Strings

Saturn String “Quartet” Delights Audience

The String Musicians - Kevin Matheson, Bryan Matheson, Kayla Herrmann & Andrew Motten

By Susan Paynter

In the latest concert of the Chatham Concert Series, Emmanuel hosted The Saturn String Trio and a guest guitarist on Sunday afternoon, March 20. 

Concert Series Artistic Director Kevin Matheson took the stage on violin, joined by his brother Bryan Matheson on viola and, rounding out the trio, Kayla Herrman on cello.  The string trio became a quartet for this concert, as they were joined by classical guitarist Andrew Motten.

The delightful and varied program covered music from Bartok’s Romanian Dances to Led Zepplin’s Stairway to Heaven.

The concert opened with Kayla Herrmann and Andrew Motten playing two Spanish songs by Manueal de Falla on cello and guitar.  The Matheson brothers followed on violin and viola with a piece written especially for them by the composer Marci Craig of the Renaissance Music Academy of Virginia.

Janet Phillips, Carmella Fisher Play Emmanuel

(Carmella Fisher, piano, Janet Phillips, flutist, and Kevin Matheson, Chatham Concert Series Director)

By Susan Paynter

In the second of four concerts of the Chatham Concert Series, Flutist Janet Phillips and Pianist Carmella Fisher played to a large and appreciative crowd at Emmanuel on Sunday afternoon, February 13.  The program covered pieces from Russia and France, as well as the American Southeast and Southwest. 

The program began with Philippe Gaubert’s “Sonata in A major.”  Written in 1917, it was one of three sonatas the French composer wrote for flute and piano.  “I was transported by the Gaubert,” said audience member Barbara Wilson of the three-movement piece.  Flutist Phillips shared with the audience that she had recently been privileged to play on Gaubert’s very own 1874 flute.

The second piece was Katherine Hoover’s “Kokopeli” for solo flute.  The American Southwest was certainly evoked by this piece, named for the ancient flute-playing god of the Native American Pueblo people.

Intermission was followed by another American piece for solo flute, Charles Delaney’s “…and the strange, unknown flowers…”  Ms. Phillips had studied under Delaney, and hinted to the audience that nearly every note on the scale she’d practiced so relentlessly for him was to be heard in that number.  It seemed to be so!

The program closed with – who else? – Prokofiev.  Not “Peter and the Wolf,” though, but the four-movement “Sonata in D major,” for flute and piano.  Challenging to play, fun to hear, and giving the audience plenty to admire in both musicians.

It was a lovely afternoon.  The dreamy quality of music for the flute seemed especially appropriate for the unexpectedly warm and sunny day.  No telling what the weather will be like on March 20, but mark your calendar now for the Saturn String Trio (Kevin Matheson, violin; Bryan Matheson, viola; Kayla Hermann, cello) and guest guitarist, Andrew Motten.  Violin, viola, cello, guitar… what more could a string-lover ask for?

Chatham Concert Series’ 2011 Season Begins!

By Susan Paynter

Emmanuel served as venue on Friday evening, January 7, when Ukrainian Violinist Oleksandra Vydria headlined the first concert of the Chatham Concert Series’ 2011 season.  Accompanied by native Virginian Brenda Wittwer on the piano, Vydria played to a full house.

Winner of Ukrainian national and international violin awards and a former member of the Viva Vivaldi Chamber Orchestra, Vydria also proved to be an effective cultural ambassador for her native Ukraine.

The evening began with sonatas of Beethoven and Mozart, and a J.S. Bach partita.  Following intermission, 12-year-old violinist Julian Ayers of Basset joined the program as the evening’s promising young musician.  Ayers played Monti’s lovely Csardas.  Ms. Vydria then returned, having changed from her evening gown of red and black lace (think “Carmen”) into Ukrainian folk garb.

Chatham Concert Series Announces Artists and Concert Dates

Click on the image below to enlarge.

Chatham Concert Series Returns to Emmanuel

Emmanuel is pleased to once again serve as venue for the Chatham Concert Series.  The popular monthly chamber music performances will begin in January and run through May of 2011.

New Artistic Director Kevin Matheson is excited about taking the reins from Founder Kevin Zakresky who has returned to his native Canada.  Matheson will be selecting talent in the weeks to come, assisted by his brother Bryan who will organize the schedule.

As in the past, talented young music students will join the professional musicians for one or two pieces at each evening concert.  In this way the series achieves its mission: to foster a love of classical music in our community as well as to create opportunities for young people to perform alongside processionals.

We’re looking forward to seeing who the Brothers Matheson have in store for us this season!

The kick off concert for the 2011 Chatham Concert Series will be held on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 7:00 PM featuring Olesksandra Vydria, violin, and Brenda Wittwer, piano. Winner of the Competition of Young Violinists in Kiev and a graduate of the Tchaikovsky Ukrainian National Music Academy, Olesksandra is a talented violinist visiting from the Ukraine.

Former director Kevin Zakresky performed in the Rainier Trio with Bryan and Kevin Matheson. Last spring they recorded a CD of trios at Epiphany Episcopal Church in Danville.  The CD was just released. To obtain your copy, please contact Kevin Matheson: [email protected]  540-382-9624.

Chatham Concert Series Stages Grand Finale

By Susan Paynter

Friday evening, April 30, brought the final performances of the Chatham Concert Series to Emmanuel’s Sanctuary.  Headliners Liz Frazer, Soprano, and Minjung Seo, Pianist, entertained an appreciative audience with a lively and varied program.

The two women exhibited the fruits of their extensive musical education and their national and international performance experience.  Seo, an active solo and collaborative artist demonstrated a fine touch and great sensitivity as she accompanied Ms. Frazer in her stunning display of vocal and emotional range. 

Those attending were enthusiastically caught up in the emotions dramatically portrayed by Ms. Frazer as she took them from three charming pieces of love and longing by Ernest Chausson to five novel songs (one might even say “quirky” songs) taken from the letters of Calamity Jane to her daughter (fathered by Wild Bill Hickok) which were set to music by Libby Larson.

Justin Craig Wows Emmanuel Audience

By Susan Paynter

The reward for music lovers who braved the return of winter weather on Friday, March 26, was to be transported to sunnier climes by the lively guitar solos of Justin Craig.  Craig, currently on faculty at the Renaissance Music Academy, was joined briefly by two young musicians in the third of four concerts forming the Chatham Concert Series.  Each concert has been held in Emmanuel’s Carpenter Gothic Sanctuary.

Like others in the series, created and directed by Chatham Hall Music Director Kevin Zakresky, this concert was a realization of dual goals: to draw high quality classical musicians to Chatham, and to nurture the talent and performance skills of our community’s young musicians.

Mr. Craig first took the audience to Spain with the soulful music of Isaac Albéniz and Francisco Tárrega, evoking their sunny country’s mix of Latin and Moorish cultures.  Italy was next with four caprices by Luigi Legnani and a Mauro Giuliani Grand Overture.

Audience members seated many rows back reported that, even without amplification, Craig’s softest notes were clearly audible: confirmation of the acoustic quality of the venue.

The young musicians served as bookends to the intermission.  Closing the first half of the evening was 12-year-old Julian Ayers, of Bassett, who showed remarkable mastery of violin with the Allegro of J.H. Fiocco’s Sonata in G major.  Ayers is a student of Roanoke Symphony’s Brian Matheson who performed earlier in the concert series with the Saturn String Quartet.  After intermission, Chatham Hall Senior Amy Hong, a Zakresky student, charmingly demonstrated her talent on the piano with J.S. Bach’s Invention in B-flat major.
   
The concert continued with Craig’s interpretation of three syncopated, driving Brazilian Choros (cousins to American Ragtime) by João Texiera Pernambuco, and four movements of Carlo Domeniconi’s modern, Turkish-inspired “Koynbaba”.

On Friday, April 30, Soprano Liz Frazer and Pianist Minjung Seo will be performing.  Count on a bittersweet evening as these two wonderfully talented women close out the Spring 2010 Chatham Concert Series.

Chatham Concert Series Features Oboist Aaron Hill and Pianist and Tenor Kevin Zakresky

By Susan Paynter

About 40 concertgoers were drawn to Emmanuel’s sanctuary on Friday, February 26, to hear Oboist Aaron Hill, of the faculty and orchestra of the University of Virginia, and Pianist and Tenor Kevin Zakresky, choirmaster & music director of Chatham Hall.

In addition to Zakresky, Chatham provided two special guests to fill out the program, proving once again how strikingly broad and deep our humanities scene is for a community of our size: Organist Elise Dugan, student, and Blake Scholar Ann Beal, faculty member; both of Chatham Hall.

This was the second of four in the 2010 Chatham Concert Series, founded and directed by Zakresky.  Mr. Hill was delighted with the intimacy of the venue and audience which proved ideal for the chamber music written for oboe and piano.

The evening opened with Hill and Zakresky on oboe and piano, delighting the audience with a sonata by Francis Poulenc, and three of Robert Schumann’s fantasy pieces.

After the intermission, Ms. Dugan brought Emmanuel’s 1865 Hamill pipe organ to life with a Bach prelude and Johann Gottfired Walther’s “Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend” (“Lord Jesus Christ, turn our way”.)  Mr. Zakresky promised her performance would be impressive and it certainly was!

Dr. Beal was the surprise guest at the concert with her enlightening introduction to ten William Blake poems, set to music by Ralph Vaughan Williams and sung by Zakresky with Hill on oboe.  Our sanctuary was an appropriate place for Blake’s exploration of the darkness and light of the human soul, and its creator.

Zakresky and Hill closed out the program with chamber music for oboe and piano by J. W. Kalliwoda.

The third concert of the series, the classical guitar of Justin Craig, will be held at Emmanuel at 7:00 on the evening of March 26.  It promises to be a real treat that we should make every effort to attend.

Emmanuel Serves as Venue for Concert Series

An estimated 100 music lovers gathered on Sunday afternoon, January 17, to kick off the 2010 Chatham Concert Series, organized by Choirmaster Kevin Zakresky of Chatham Hall.         

The world-class Saturn String Quartet brought us a delightful program of music.  From the opening number -- a Mozart Divertimento -- to the encore -- the prettiest version of Charlie Daniels’ Devil Went Down to Georgia that we’re likely to hear -- the string musicians held the audience in their thrall.

Two of Chatham’s own also performed.  Representing the next generation, ten-year-old violinist Staley Lyle brought us a Vivaldi-esque concertino by Ferdinand Kuchler; and Kevin Zakresky, singing tenor, showed his dramatic flair with songs by Peter Warlock.

 

 

 

Kevin Zakresky (center) enjoying a lighter moment with

the Saturn String Quartet, (l to r) Charles Shafer, violin, Louise Grévin, cello,

 Bryan Matheson, viola, and Kevin Matheson, First Violin.

Chatham Concert Series Begins Jan. 17th at Emmanuel

The Chatham Concert Series, founded by Chatham Hall Choirmaster Kevin Zakresky, begins its second  annual spring festival, consisting of four recitals of classical chamber music, on January 17th.

The Concert Series provides a venue for art music in the town of Chatham by hosting artists from all over the United States and Canada. Its mission is to foster a love of classical music in our community as well as to create opportunities for young people to perform alongside professionals.

All performances will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Admission is by Donation.

Concert 1 - Sunday 17 January 3:00pm

Saturn String Quartet

Kevin Matheson, violin

Just back from a performance at Carnegie Hall, violinist Kevin Matheson, a member of the Classic Strings Duo, performs regularly in America and Europe. Kevin performs with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, is a faculty member with the Renaissance Music Academy and with Virginia Tech’s Fine Arts Initiative.

Charles Shafer, violin

Studying in the Masters program at the UNC School of the Arts, violinist Charles Shafer performs regularly all over the United States.  Charles has a special interest in chamber music and plays regularly with several orchestras in the area.

Bryan Matheson, viola

Violist Bryan Matheson, recent winner of the Ibla Grand Prize international competition in Italy, has performed in Europe and America as a member of the Classic Strings Duo. He plays with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, is a faculty member with the Renaissance Music Academy and with the outreach program at
Virginia Tech.

Louise Grévin, cello

French cellist Louise Grévin has studied in Paris, Strasbourg and Toulouse.  Most recently, she has played with l’Orchestre de Chambre de Toulouse, and has appeared as a soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of the Toulouse Music Academy.  She is currently working on a Master of Music Degree at the UNC School of the Arts.

Concert 2 - Friday 26 February 7:00pm

Aaron Hill, oboe

Oboist Aaron Hill is on the faculty of the University of Virginia and is principal oboe in the Charlottesville symphony.  In 2008, Aaron received his MM and Artist Diploma from Yale University.  Aaron has performed with orchestras all over the United States, Europe and Asia.

 

Kevin Zakresky, piano

Kevin Zakresky is a choral conductor, pianist and vocalist who regularly performs in Canada and the United States.  He is conductor of the British Columbia Chamber Choir, director of the Southern Virginia Baroque Youth Orchestra and Choirmaster at Chatham Hall.  Kevin holds an MMA degree from Yale University in Choral Conducting.


Concert 3 - Friday 26 March 7:00pm

Justin Craig, classical guitar

Justin Craig is an active performer of both Jazz and Classical Guitar styles throughout Southwestern Virginia.  He received his Bachelors and Masters in Music from Radford University where he studied Classical Guitar with both Valerie Hartzell and Dr. Robert Trent. His performances always include a variety of solo guitar styles, including works by the Classical Era virtuosi, Brazilian Jazz, Spanish guitar favorites, and expansive 20th Century creations.


Concert 4 - Friday 30 April 7:00pm

Liz Frazer, soprano

Soprano Liz Frazer performs regularly in concerts and operas in Virginia and North Carolina.  She is a student in the doctoral program at UNC Greensboro, where she most recently won the University’s concerto competition.  Recent roles include Blanche in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and the title role in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanthe.

Minjung Seo, piano

Korean pianist Minjung Seo holds a Masters degree in Collaborative Piano from the Juilliard School and is currently in the DMA program at UNC Greensboro.  She has been staff pianist at the Banff Centre in Canada and the Heifetz International Music Institute, as well as a fellow at the Aspen Music Festival.

Chatham Concert Series Opens with High Strung

Pictured (left to right): Kevin Matheson, Rebecca Oh, Brian Matheson, Kevin Zakresky

The Chatham Concert Series opened its first season on January 16^th at Emmanuel with High Strung featuring The Classic Strings Duo Kevin Matheson, Violin, and Brian Matheson, Viola.

Hailed as “two perfect virtuosos” at their international performance debut, and as winners of the Ibla International Competition in Italy, Kevin and Bryan Matheson performed works by Milhaud, Beethoven, Schickele, Ryden, Handel and Sibelius, closing with Mozart’s Trio for Violin, Viola and Piano in E-flat Major K. 498 “Kegelstatt,” with Kevin Zakresky at the piano.

Rebecca Oh, a promising young musician from Korea and a freshman at Chatham Hall, opened the second half of the Programme with Bach’s Concerto for Violin in A Minor.

Approximately 75 people attended this evening's performance.

******

Please join us on Sunday, February 22^nd beginning at 8 pm here at Emmanuel for the second performance in the Chatham Concert Series, There’s Always Room for Cello, featuring Ben Wyatt, cello, and Ariana Wyatt, soprano. Admission is by donation.

Click here to view this evening’s Programme.

Click here to learn more about the Chatham Concert Series.

Chatham Concert Series Begins January 16th at Emmanuel

Spring of 2009 will see the beginnings of a new cultural event in our town.  The Chatham Concert Series, directed by new Chatham Hall choirmaster Kevin Zakresky in collaboration with Emmanuel Episcopal Church, will bring professional musicians to the area for four entertaining recitals of classical music. 

Intended mainly as a new venue for art music in Pittsylvania County, the Chatham Concert Series will also serve as a stage for the young emerging artists of our town.  Each concert will include “opening act” performances by young people from Chatham, followed by a “headlining act” professional musician from out of town.

The concerts will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Main Street in Chatham, with the finale concert being staged in St. Mary’s Chapel at Chatham Hall.  Admission is by donation.

Performance details and musicians scheduled to appear are as follows:

High Strung -    Friday, January 16 , 7 pm at Emmanuel

            Kevin Matheson, violin

           

 

 

 

            Bryan Matheson, viola

 

There’s always room for Cello -  Sunday,  February 22, 8 pm at Emmanuel

            Ben Wyatt, cello

 

 

The Magic Flute -   Friday, March 27 ,  7 pm at Emmanuel

            Janet Phillips, flute

 

The 1 Tenor -    Saturday,  May 9, 7 pm at St. Mary’s Chapel, Chatham Hall

            Kevin Zakresky, tenor

            Katherine Dowling, piano