(Enlarge) Ronald Mutchnik, third from left, founded the Orchestra of St. John's, featuring (left to right) Julius Wirth, Celeste Blasé and Kerena Moeller. The group will give its inaugural concert Nov. 9 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City.

"If the music is good, the musicians will come."

That's what Ronald Mutchnik found when he began recruiting players for his new ensemble, the Orchestra of St. John's, which debuts this Sunday, Nov. 9. Mutchnik may be best known as the artistic director of the Sundays at Three concert series, but he's finding a new niche with this new chamber orchestra.

"It was very easy to recruit local artists," reports the Ellicott City resident. "A number of people who happen to live in Howard County were dying to play in a chamber orchestra. In addition, the Baltimore Washington area has a pool of wonderful musicians that we've relied on for our Sundays at Three series, and I was able to get them, as well."

A chamber orchestra is a smaller version of a traditional orchestra and its comparative dearth of string players allows the brass to be emphasized more. Mutchnik's group will be comprised of 30 musicians, which pushes the upper limits of the chamber orchestra size. It will also only feature professional musicians, which will make it unique to the county. Mutchnik says that after surveying the local arts scene, he thought there would be a niche for such a group.

"When I looked at how many different cultural activities were in the county I thought, 'Why not a chamber orchestra?'" he asks rhetorically. "We've established a dance company, we have our local chamber music series through Sundays at Three, we have the Candlelight Concert series, and even a full-sized orchestra in the Columbia Orchestra."

One big appeal of the orchestra, he says, is that it will give locals the chance to see a professional ensemble without having to travel: "The county has residents that are culturally aware, who don't want to always have to travel to Baltimore and Washington, considering the cost of gas and the time it takes."

Mutchnik found a location for his group - and a name - at the St. John's Episcopal Church in Ellicott City. The venue had served as an alternate site for Sundays at Three concerts that required a church organ.

"I was looking for places that I thought would work well acoustically with a smaller orchestra," he says. "I had played at the St. John's Episcopal Church for many years and had a longstanding association with (organist and choir director) Nancy Stavely. I just loved the acoustics there and thought the setting was ideal."

Nancy Stavely is now the orchestra's musical director and serves on its board of directors.

For the ensemble's inaugural concert, Mutchnik has gone all out. He will bring in three choirs and is using the church's handbell choir in a tribute to British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams on the 50th anniversary of his death.

The program will include the prelude to "Rhosymedre," performed by the Handbell Choir of St. John's, the ever-popular "The Lark Ascending," showcasing violin and orchestra, and "Fantasy on a Theme of Thomas Tallis." The choirs will come into play on a rendition of Morten Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna." Voices will come from the Cathedral of Incarnation in Baltimore, the choir at St. John's, and the St. Andrews choir from Glenwood.

Mutchnik, who is a professional violinist, says he's particularly excited about being able to step up to the conductor's podium to lead "Fantasy on a Theme of Thomas Tallis."

"It has been a dream of mine to be able to conduct pieces for string orchestra, and this is a wonderful piece to do," he notes. "I've conducted before, but I haven't had a chance to conduct this piece."

The balance of the orchestra's season will include a March 9 performance centering around Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No. 3" and Mozart's "Eine Kliene Nachtmusik." A May 17 concert showcasing more Bach is planned for two Sunday church services.

Mutchnik says he's "happy there's been such a positive response," praising in particular the Howard County Arts Council for its support of the new ensemble.

"We were surprised that in such trying economic times they gave money to a brand new group," he says. "But they said they were especially interested in helping launch a new group and getting it off to a good start, so we're very grateful for that."

The orchestra is also seeking donations from individual contributors. Donor levels range from $99 to $1,000 and businesses will have the opportunity to become "Distinguished Sponsors" by helping to underwrite specific concerts.

The Orchestra of St. John's plays its inaugural concert Sunday, Nov. 9 at 4 p.m. at the St. John's Episcopal Church, located at 9120 Frederick Road in Ellicott City. Admission is $15 general, free for students 17 and younger accompanied by an adult. For concert or donation details, call 410-461-7793, ext. 501, or e-mail: Nancy@stjohnsec.org.

Piano pieces define L.A. by Candlelight

The Los Angeles Piano Quartet in Concert will stop into town to perform for Candlelight Concert Society Saturday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m., at the Wilde Lake Interfaith Center (10431 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia). The group has been around since 1977 and soon after earned recognition as one of the premier piano quartets extant.

The upcoming Candlelight gig will feature performances of Steven Stucky's Piano Quartet for Violin, Viola, Cello and Piano; Walton's Piano Quartet in D Minor; and Schubert's Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667 ("Trout Quintet").

The quartet by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Stucky was commissioned by the Los Angeles Piano Quartet, which has been in the vanguard of the creation of new works for the combintion. It received its premiere performance by the group at the 2005 Tucson Festival. The Schubert piece will be performed locally with guest bassist Nathan Farrington.

Tickets are $12 to $29. Call 410-997-2324 or go to www.candlelightconcerts.org.

user comments (0)