Past Seasons
Since 2009, the KCO has worked to reintroduce people to their musical heritage by performing great music in distinctive downtown venues and by offering innovative educational outreach.
Tango-Waltz-Foxtrot! We kicked up our heels with Gary S.Fagin and the KCO for “Sweet Sounds of Summer!"—a stylish selection of classical melodies for our dancing pleasure, including foxtrots, tangos and waltzes. We enjoyed the timeless tunes of Johann Strauss, Irving Berlin and other great song and dance masters!
Location: Hudson River Park's Pier 45 (cross at Christopher Street)
Gary S. Fagin and the KCO played toe-tappin' favorites at the breezy end of Pier 45 such as Scott Joplin’s "Maple Leaf Rag" and “The Entertainer;” Noel Coward’s “Sail Away” and the 1930’s hit “Red Sails In The Sunset;” as well as traditional Scottish reels and Aaron Copland’s rousing "Hoe-Down from Rodeo.”
Location: Schimmel Center
In this world premiere of Gary S. Fagin's new cantata for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone and orchestra, the KCO gave voice, hauntingly, to those most affected by the gun epidemic: victims of gun violence and their families.
Location: Museum of Jewish Heritage
An enchanting chamber music and dance work about a child whose toys come to life, Zaubernacht is Kurt Weill's earliest work for the stage. The KCO collaborated with the innovative choreographer Jody Oberfelder, who created original characters based on Weill's dynamic score.
The Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra kicked-off of their Tenth Anniversary Season of performances in the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place.
Location: Battery Park City
Elizabeth Pitcairn performed with her legendary 1720 Stradivarius, inspiration for the 1999 Academy Award-winning film “The Red Violin," in this Kid's Classical Concert on February 7th.
Free, ages 8 and up.
Sponsored by Goldman Sachs.
The KCO performed at the South Street Seaport Museum’s 50th Anniversary Gala, aboard the tall ship Wavertree.
Attendees twirled in 3/4 time with the Hudson River as backdrop as the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra strings serenaded with a selection of all-time waltz favorites.
The Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra swung into action playing dance classics from the Great American Songbook.
Hot Latin rhythms floated on sultry South American currents on our Hudson riverfront, as downtown's own Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra performed dramatic Tango music with exhibition dance.
Inspiring and transporting as the KCO performed selections from modern classical masters Igor Stravinsky and Charles Ives under the Wavertree’s spectacular masts and spars, as well as some soaring surprises, reflecting Wavertree’s maritime majesty!
Gary Fagin and the KCO gave an insider's look into the whys and hows of classical masterpieces!
Join the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra and co-sponsors Laura Starr of Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners, Madelyn Wils of the Hudson River Park Trust and the Old Seaport Alliance as we celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service; honor Seaport founder and visionary, Peter Stanford; and toast Lower Manhattan's unique waterfront parks--The Battery and Hudson River Park!
On Saturday, April 23, at the Tribeca Film Festival's huge Family Festival street fair, Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra musicians join with the American Tap Dance Foundation's Tap City Youth Ensemble to present a quick history of the art of tap!
Canterbury’s music students perform with select members of the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra. Members of the Knickerbocker Orchestra include Nancy Hume, granddaughter of Canterbury founding Headmaster Nelson Hume and daughter of Michael Hume ‘41, as well as Canterbury faculty member, Belinda Whitney.
Two world premieres:
Supreme Justice: The Battle for Gay Rights
Music and Libretto by GARY S. FAGIN
Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra
Composed by MICHAEL BACON
Performed by CHRISTINE KIM
On February 29 (Leap Day!), legendary soprano Lucy Shelton channeled Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a selection from Supreme Justice: The Battle for Gay Rights and meet Michael Bacon of The Bacon Brothers Band and cellist Christine Kim offered a selection from Mr. Bacon's Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra. This was the KCO's first Soirée-Fundraiser of the season.
The KCO returned to the South Street Seaport Museum on the evening of Friday, June 5, for a FREE concert of classical favorites -- Bach, Mozart, Vaughan-Williams, and more -- in the Melville Gallery (213 Water Street), a historic building of exposed brick and wood-beam ceilings.
The mood was festive at historic Pier on April 20, when the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra presented its spring soiree, Music of the Gilded Age. Guests enjoyed stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor from Pier A’s beautiful polished-mahogany, light-filled top floor, while the melodies of the Gilded Age transported them back to when sailing packets and steam boats plied the Hudson River, Mrs. Astor entertained her 400 guests, and Jacob Riis chronicled How The Other Half Lived.
Program of foxtrots, tangos and waltzes for al fresco dancing.
Shir Victoria Levy, violin
Chopin: Polonaise, Op. 40, No. 1; Nocturne in C sharp minor (Lento con gran espressione), Op. Posth.
Szpilman: Waltz in the Olden Style
Dvořák: Allegretto grazioso from Suite for Orchestra, Op. 39
Kilar: Orawa for Chamber String Orchestra
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 3
Soiree-Fundraiser: Home of Lynda Davey and Alan Schiffres
Shir Victoria Levy: violin
Joseph Havlat: piano
Program
Debussy: Violin Sonata in G Minor
Poulenc: Sonata for Violin and Piano
Lutoslawski: Subito, for Violin and Piano
Soirée fundraiser featuring new work with music and libretto by Gary S. Fagin entitled Jane Jacobs Saves New YorkSoiree-Fundraiser: Home of Audrey Manley and Thomas Fritton
Chamber ensemble from the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra
Music and libretto by Gary S. Fagin
Marin Mazzie, mezzo-sopran
Concert: World Financial Center Plaza
Program of foxtrots, tangos and waltzes for al fresco dancing.
Concert: Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living Memorial to the Holocaust
Soiree-Fundraiser: Home of Lee and Jordan Gruzen
Henry Stram, tenor
Nancy Hume, soprano
Robert Goldstone, piano
Gary Fagin, violoncello
The music of Kurt Weill
Concert: Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, Pace University
Harumi Hanafusa, Piano
Weill: Suite from Aufsteig und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G Major
Nishimura: A Shaman
Ives: Symphony No. 3, The Camp Meeting
Soiree-fundraiser; home of Madelyn and Steven Wils
String quartet from Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra
Elizabeth DeRosa, soprano
June 11, 2012 Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra concluded its fourth performance season with the extraordinary Music for the Tempest-Tost: A Tribute to Emma Lazarus at the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
On May 21, 2012, KCO supporters gathered at the South Street Seaport Museum for a soiree-fundraiser to hear Gary S. Fagin and KCO musicians perform Exquisite Music from the White Star Line Songbook, a tribute to the great, tragic ship Titanic.
Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra concert: World Financial Center Winter Garden
“Poem in Your Pocket, Song in Your Heart” in collaboration with Poets House and P.S. 89 and I.S. 289.
Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra concert; World Financial Center Winter Garden
Featuring Broadway's Judy Kuhn, Soprano
Soirée-fundraiser
Musical Poetry: Settings of Cherished 19th and 20th Century Poems
at Poets House, 10 River Terrace
String quartet from Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra, Richard Weidlich, baritone
The Soldier's Tale
Music by Igor Stravinsky
Text by C. F. Ramuz, adapted by Jody Oberfelder
Directed & choreographed by Jody Oberfelder
With creative input from the performers of Jody Oberfelder Dance Projects
Performed by the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by KCO Music Director Gary S. Fagin
Soirée-fundraiser; home of Laurie and Howard Kaminsky
Quintet from Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra
Tamra D’Ann Paselk, soprano
The power and the spirit of New York City were celebrated when the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra was joined by visionary performer Rinde Eckert portraying master builder Robert Moses in excerpts from KCO Music Director Gary S. Fagin's new composition, "Robert Moses Astride New York."
Soiree-fundraiser; home of Madelyn and Steven Wils
String quintet from Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra
Nancy Hume, soprano; Jack Putnam, reade
Soiree-fundraiser; Davis Johnson Park, Tenafly, NJ, hosted by Jason and Susan Balaban
String quartet from Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra
Nancy Hume, sopran
Program
Schumann (arr. Fagin): Five Movements from Kinderscenen, Op. 15
Telemann: Concerto for Four Violins in C major
Fagin: Suite for Strings (world premiere)
Chopin (arr. Fagin): Grande Valse Brilliante, Op. 18
Mozart: Ein Musikalischer Spass (A Musical Joke), K. 522
The KCO’s performance of “Musical Tales and Adventures” on January 16, 2010, in the World Financial Center Winter Garden drew a full house. Every seat was filled and almost every patch of marble staircase was occupied.
First concert program at Trinity Church
Romanze from Sechs Klavierstücke, Opus 118 (Brahms), Symphony No. 47 in G (Haydn) and Come Sunday (Ellington). This concert kicked off the fall season of Trinity Church’s Concerts at One series.
South Street Seaport Museum Gala; Cipriani at 42nd Street
KCO String quartet
September 24, 2009
Soiree-fundraiser; home of Audrey Manley & Thomas Fritton
String quartet from Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra
Elizabeth Dabney, soprano; Peter Clark, baritone
Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra; Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts
Frederick the Great: Symphony No. 3 in D major
Mozart: Clarinet concerto in A major
Jose Franch-Ballester, soloist
Haydn: Symphony No. 47
Ellington/arr. Fagin: Ellingtonia Suite for clarinet and orchestra Jose Franch-Ballester, soloist
Soiree-fundraiser; home of Robby Ameen & Anita Suarez
String quartet from Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra
Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra concert; John Street United Methodist Church
Handel: Concerto grosso in C (Alexander’s Feast)
Bartok: Roumanian Dances
Fagin: Hungarian Suite for Violoncello and Strings (world premiere)
Astrid Schween, soloist
J. S. Bach: Cantata No. 4 (Christ lag in Todesbanden)
Seraphim singers
Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra concert; World Financial Center Winter Garden
Fagin: Inaugural Fanfare (world premiere)
J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C
Corigliano: Suite from The Red Violin
Sarasate: Zigeunerweisen
Elizabeth Pitcairn, soloist
J. Strauss: Blue Danube Waltz
Soiree-fundraiser; home of Lee & Jordan Gruzen
Elizabeth Pitcairn violin; John Novacek, piano
February 28, 2008
Kick-off fundraiser; @Seaport Space
Octet from Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra