July 26, 2009 Jan Hus Church 351 East 74th Street New York, New York 10021

The Composer’s Voice Concert Series is an opportunity for contemporary composers to express their musical aesthetic and personal “voice” created in their compositions.

Title Composer Performer Suite from Razumov (New York Premiere) Greg Bartholomew 5 for Dinner - wind quintet Untitled Christian McLeer Christian McLeer - piano Cloud Seeding 1. Weather Mod 2. Crystalline 3. Latent Heat (world premiere) JP Schlegelmilch JP Schlegelmilch - piano Patrick Breiner - saxophone Explorations in sound; the hidden life of a drum (world premiere) Martin Urbach Martin Urbach - percussion and Ipodtouch

Performers 5 For Dinner music is a group of teachers and professional players whose main passion is to perform. They perform music for audiences who love the arts and especially enjoy chamber music. 5 For Dinner plays recital settings, at schools as part of their educational outreach program, private engagements and wherever great music is required. Clarinetist, Jeffrey Bittner, received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from William Paterson University and a Masters Degree in Clarinet Performance from Ithaca College. Bittner has studied clarinet privately with William Shadel, Karl Herman, and Michael Galvan and has performed in master classes for Bil Jackson, Bob Dilutis, Charles Neidich, and Anthony Gigliotti. Bittner has performed with The New Jersey Symphony, North Jersey Philharmonic, Wayne Chamber Orchestra, and Cayuga Chamber Orchestra. In addition, he performs regularly in community groups such as the Ridgewood Concert Band, Teaneck Community Band, and the Paramus Community Orchestra. Bittner is currently the Director of Bands at Mahwah High School, Mahwah, New Jersey where the Symphonic Band performed in Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, in May, 2008. Bittner also teaches private clarinet lessons and runs woodwind clinics in the North Jersey metro area. In his free time, Bittner enjoys juggling, rock climbing, restaurant hunting, and scary movies. Patrick Breiner, originally from Baltimore, received a BFA in Jazz Performance from New School University in May 2006. While at the New School he studied with saxophone greats such as Tony Malaby, Eric Alexander, Dave Glasser, Rich Perry, and George Garzone . Patrick currently fronts a solo saxophone project called Vartan Mamigonian, the Patrick Breiner Trio (jazz, Madison), Basement Magic (jazz trio, New York), and ManMouth (improvised music duo with bassoonist Cyrus Roat, Madison) A veteran of New York’s jazz scene, Patrick is also an active member in groups as varied as Billy Hart’s “Academy” band (jazz quintet), Bing and Ruth (live ambient music), NOOK (instrumental/improvisational rock), Solomon Douglas’s Swingtet (swing era dance band), and Myk Freedman’s Suit and Whistle Sound Band (jazz/folk/circus/klezmer).He currently resides in Madison, Wisconsin and is rapidly making a name for himself as an exciting and flexible saxophonist. He is currently an active member of a variety of groups including improvised music groups E.L.M. and ManMouth, as well as Madison's premier jazz groups the New Breed Quintet and the Patrick Breiner Trio. Patrick can be heard on recordings by Bing and Ruth, NOOK, Jean Rohe, and a CD of his own solo saxophone compositions entitled Vartan Mamigonian. Mark J. Donellan has been Director of Bands at Paramus High School, his Alma Mater, since 2001. During his tenure, the bands at Paramus High School have consistently received top honors at festivals and competitions throughout the east coast. Mr. Donellan received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The College of New Jersey in 1998. He is a frequent freelance oboist and flautist throughout New Jersey and is currently a member of the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra and the Christ Church Orchestra, and has performed with the High Mountain Symphony, the Plainfield Symphony, Ridgewood Concert Band, Ridgewood Symphony,. He recently performed as the English horn soloist on Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” at Carnegie Hall with the Rutgers University Symphony Orchestra and is featured on the CD, "The Oboes of The College of New Jersey." He was also named to Who's Who Among American Teachers in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006and is proud to be the first conductor of the Bergen County Band High School Band who was also a member of the group in high school. Mr. Donellan was also selected as “Teacher of the Year” for Paramus High School in 2008, and in 2007 was named “Top Ten Outstanding Educators in New Jersey” by The College of New Jersey. Lauren Hosford has been musically driven since childhood, and started playing the flute at age 6. At age 8, she took up the horn, and later added piano, voice, and electric bass guitar to her repertoire. After choosing music performance as a career, Lauren attended the Juilliard Pre-College and later received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Wisconsin under the tutelage of the world-renowned teacher and composer Douglas Hill. After a year abroad exploring various musical opportunities, Lauren finally settled in the tri-state area and has been actively free-lancing ever since. Lish Lindsey (Baroque and Modern Flutist) is the acting Principal Flutist of the Pottstown Symphony (PA) and performs often with the Harrisburg, Lancaster and Ambler Symphonies, Riverside Symphonia, Strauss Symphony of America, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, Masterworks Orchestra, Center City Opera Theater and Rittenhouse Orchestra. She is a member of the Play By Heart Ensemble and flutist with Lynn Welshman's Mixed Winds Quintet. She is also piccoloist with the Eastern Wind Symphony. International tours include performances in China and England. United States venues include Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater and Commonwealth Plaza, New Jersey State Theatre, Trenton War Memorial, New Jersey Performing Arts Center and others. Lish is the adjunct flute professor and flute ensemble director at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, PA. She also teaches privately through studios in NY, NJ and PA. lishlindsey.com Bassoonist, Christy Luberger, received her Bachelor of Music and Music Education at The College of New Jersey in 2003. While attending TCNJ, Christy played principal bassoon in the wind ensemble, orchestra, pit orchestra, chamber groups and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. She studied bassoon with Mark Gigliotti, co-principal bassoon for the Philadelphia Orchestra. Christy is currently Band & Orchestra Director at the elementary schools and assists with the high school marching band in Cresskill, NJ. She also gives private lessons on beginner-intermediate horn, flute, clarinet, and cello and advanced piano and bassoon in the northern NJ area. Aside from teaching and playing, Christy enjoys spending time with her husband and son, visiting new places, biking and swimming.

Composers Greg Bartholomew’s music is frequently performed throughout the United States and in Europe, Canada and Australia by such highly-regarded instrumental ensembles as Third Angle New Music Ensemble, the Alaska Brass, and Accessible Contemporary Music, and such acclaimed choral ensembles as Seattle Pro Musica, the Oratorio Society of Minnesota and Austin Vocal Arts. He won the 2006 Orpheus Music award for Beneath the Apple Tree for recorder and viola da gamba. His music is published by Art of Sound Music, Ars Nova Press, Orpheus Music and Burke & Bagley, and is available on CDs recorded by the Czech Philharmonic, the Kiev Philharmonic, Connecticut Choral Artists (Concora), the Ars Brunensis Chorus and the Langroise Trio. For further information visit www.gregbartholomew.com Christian McLeer received his first commission at the age of 14 for the American Cancer Society for which he wrote and performed HOPE, later included on the CD Encores 2 by the renowned pianist Anna Marie Bottazzi. He attended Julliard Pre-College and Manhattan School of Music where he acquired his Bachelor’s degree. He has performed at Alice Tully Hall, Weill-Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and the New Orleans Astro Dome among others. Performing his own compositions has won him special acclaim from publications such as The New York Times, Newsday and OCS Christian’s compositions have been commissioned for numerous artists including the Long Island Singers, Harmonia Opera Company, New Millennium Orchestra, concert pianist Phillip Dieckow, director Vincent Scott, OnTrac Productions, jazz pianist Mickey Laverine, conductor Ted Puffer and RTB. Musing has seen many performances and was recorded by flautist, Sophia Anastasia on her debut CD, Musing. His song cycle Longing Eternal Bliss, originally written for Monica Harte and Ken Merrill, will be recorded by McLeer and Harte on Harte’s upcoming CD of American art songs featuring Christian McLeer, Tom Cipullo and other respected living composers. JP Schlegelmilch grew up in Keene, New Hampshire and began playing the piano at age 6, taking lessons from classical pianist Chungyo Shin whom he would study with for 10 years. As a teenager JP’s interests turned to playing rock and jazz and he began performing with various bands throughout high school. The experience of creative collaboration with other musicians solidified his commitment to pursuing a life as a musician. JP attended Berklee College of Music and later finished his studies at SUNY Purchase, graduating from the jazz studies program. JP has studied jazz and improvisation with Fred Hirsch, Hal Galper, Pete Milinverni, Ralph Alessi and Mark Helias. JP has performed at the Knitting Factory, Detour, The Bowery Poetry Club, Rockwood Music Hall and many others. Current projects include the experimental instrumental rock group NOOK. JP currently studies counterpoint and harmony with Paul Caputo and classical piano with Sophia Rosoff. He has recently performed with Tim Berne and Oscar Noriega. Martin Urbach juxtaposes his Bolivian and Jewish roots with his experience as an immigrant in the United States, to add color to his sophisticated jazz grooves. Martin discovered the drums at age 12. Shortly after, he began performing in Bolivia’s top music venues and festivals. Upon finishing high school, Martin moved to New Orleans, LA to attend the University of New Orleans. During his five-year stint in the “Big Easy”, Martin performed with a “Who’s Who” of the music industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance from the University of New Orleans and a master’s degree in jazz performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Martin lives in Astoria , NY where he relocated after Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home in New Orleans. Martin divides his time between playing concerts and touring the world as a sideman and bandleader, composing music, and teaching drums and music to young children. Martin recently released his first recording entitled ''Free Will'', which showcases his talents as a performer, composer and bandleader. Through performing and teaching, Martin spreads the joy that music brings him in his life.

Greg Bartholomew Suite from Razumov (New York Premiere) The Second Suite from Razumov derives from Act Two of Razumov, Greg Bartholomew’s chamber opera based on the novel Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad. The opera concerns a young Russian caught up in the consequences of a political assassination. The Second Suite was commissioned by a consortium of wind quintets led by the Aeolian Winds of Pittsburgh, who presented the world premiere performance November 9, 2008. The First Suite from Razumov, based on Act One of the opera and scored for clarinet and string quartet, was premiered in October 2003, and was subsequently recorded for the Masterworks of the New Era CD series by members of the Kiev Philharmonic.

The Composer’s Voice Concert Series is an opportunity for contemporary composers to express their musical aesthetic and personal “voice” created in their compositions. Vox Novus collaborating with the Remarkable Theater Brigade and Jan Hus Church to produce a monthly concert series promoting the chamber works of contemporary composers. Vox Novus produces and promotes new music. They are dedicated to contemporary music, the musicians who perform, and the composers that write the music of today. Their mission is to cultivate a music community and make their work available to the greater public. Remarkable Theater Brigade founded by Christian McLeer, Dan Jeselsohn and Monica Harte, creates and produces new operas and musicals and takes children’s versions out to special-needs and at-risk children free of charge.

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Funding by Funding also provided by the Puffin Foundation, "...continuing the dialogue between art and lives of ordinary people."

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