Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Odeon Chamber Orchestra is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1991 in New York City. The group is known for its innovative programming and its commitment to performing works by contemporary composers alongside more traditional repertoire. The founding members of Odeon Chamber Orchestra were a group of young musicians who had recently graduated from some of the top music schools in the United States. They were united by a shared passion for chamber music and a desire to create a new kind of ensemble that would be both artistically ambitious and socially engaged. From the beginning, Odeon Chamber Orchestra set itself apart from other classical music groups by its commitment to performing works by living composers. The group's first concert, which took place in 1992, featured works by John Adams, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass, among others. This commitment to contemporary music has remained a hallmark of the ensemble's programming ever since. Over the years, Odeon Chamber Orchestra has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the United States and abroad. The group has been featured at the Lincoln Center Festival, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and the Kennedy Center, among others. In addition to its concert performances, the ensemble has also collaborated with a number of other artists and organizations, including the Mark Morris Dance Group and the New York City Ballet. One of the highlights of Odeon Chamber Orchestra's career came in 2003, when the group was invited to perform at the White House for President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. The ensemble performed a program of works by American composers, including Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein, and received a standing ovation from the audience. In addition to its performances, Odeon Chamber Orchestra has also been recognized for its artistic achievements with a number of awards and honors. The group has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts, among others. In 2009, the ensemble was awarded the ASCAP/CMA Adventurous Programming Award for its commitment to contemporary music. The members of Odeon Chamber Orchestra are all accomplished musicians in their own right, and many of them have gone on to successful careers as soloists and chamber musicians. The group's current members include violinists Jennifer Choi and Curtis Macomber, violist Jessica Meyer, cellist Amanda Gookin, and bassist Shawn Conley, among others. Despite its many achievements, Odeon Chamber Orchestra remains committed to its original mission of creating innovative and socially engaged classical music. The group continues to perform works by living composers and to collaborate with other artists and organizations in order to bring classical music to new audiences and to promote the art form as a vital and relevant part of contemporary culture.

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