Programs

  • Program 1 [2018]

    The American Classical Orchestra, Inc. ("ACO") presented five concerts at Lincoln Center (four at Alice Tully Hall and one at David Geffen Hall), two concerts at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, a Spring Gala benefit concert at the Central Park Boathouse, a Salon concert for patrons at the University Club, and a special Symphonic Symposium at St. Michaels Church Sanctuary. The ACO continued to present its award-winning education program Classical Music for Kids at no cost to New York City public schools. The 2016-2017 Season orchestral highlights included the Opening Night concert on September 22, 2016, with mezzo-soprano Avery Amereau in a performance of Berliozs Les Nuits dt; the four violinists Judson Griffin, Lisa Rautenberg, Cynthia Roberts & Jrg-Michael Schwarz playing Vivaldis Four Seasons with the ACO on October 25, 2016; the ensemble performing six Bach Cantatas on November 29, 2016 with the American Classical Orchestra Chorus; the Symphonic Symposium on March 13, 2017 led by Artistic Director Thomas Crawford this interactive forum explored the evolution of Beethovens 9th Symphony; the subsequent ACO performance of Beethovens 9th at David Geffen Hall on April 11, 2017, which was preceded by a Concert Preview led by Mr. Crawford with full orchestra; and the Italian Masters season finale on May 11, 2017, with leading violinist Krista Bennion Feeney performing the concertos of Nardini and Paganini.The Gala and Salon concerts allowed our patrons to appreciate the unique sonorities and sensitive sound of the period instruments in an intimate setting. In March 2017, the Brandenburg at the Boathouse Gala magnified the brilliance of several ACO principal musicians whom performed Bachs Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. The June 2017 Salon concert at the University Club featured virtuoso harpist Victoria Drake performing new transcriptions of works by Bach and Beethoven, among others. The program also included the Debussy Trio, a rare moment in which an ACO concert ventured past the 19th century. The Classical Music for Kids (CMK) program, A Visit to the Piet, revolved around Antonio Vivaldis position as music director at the Ospedale della Piet, a school for orphan girls in 18th century Venice. Despite being orphaned, these girls were trained at the highest musical level. They developed into talented musicians, and formed the first female orchestra of this caliber. The ACO school assembly program brought this uncanny story to life with three female violinists and Maestro Vivaldi performing a musical play about their music lessons at school. It centered on the girls' pursuit of excellence through the beauty of music and group effort. All musicians were dressed in 18th century costume while performing the Four Seasons for 21st century elementary school children.The ACOs New York City concerts in the 2016-17 season were attended by 5,732 people, and 280 attended the sold-out performance at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. Through our ongoing free ticket program for students at LaGuardia Community College, we distributed 150 tickets for our concerts at Lincoln Center. The Classical Music for Kids (CMK) program was brought to 22 schools in New York City and reached 3,000 students.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2017 – Jun 30, 2018
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.1M

  • Classical Music Education Programs

    During its 2019/20 Season, The American Classical Orchestra, Inc., (ACO) presented three concerts at Lincoln Centers Alice Tully Hall; two salon concertsone at the National Arts Club, the other at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church; a choral concert at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer; and a family concert, with an instrument petting zoo, at the Norwalk Concert Hall, in Norwalk, CT. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent shutdown of all concert venues, ACOs last Alice Tully Hall concert of the season was cancelled. Throughout the 2019/20 season, Thomas Crawford, ACOs Founder and Artistic Director, continued his tradition of giving concert previews before each Alice Tully Hall performance. In them, he demonstrates themes and compositional techniques relevant to the music about to be heard, and does so with insight, wit, and precision, using members of the orchestra and their instruments to bring his vivid explanations to life. Audience members often remark that Maestro Crawfords concert previews help them hear the music in a new way, allowing them to understand what the composer was after. The season ended abruptly with a concert of baroque music on March 12th, the last night Lincoln Center was open before the lockdown caused by the coronavirus crisis. The program included works by Bach, Corelli, and Vivaldi, and featured three impressive soloists and other members of the orchestra in important roles.Classical Music for Kids (CMK) scheduled almost 60 on-site school performances for the 2019/20 school year and performed 30 before the lockdown kicked in. Two workshops were scheduled; one was actually taught. Three family concerts were scheduled; two were given. One private concert was scheduled but cancelled. While still performing, CMK produced two different programs: The Magic Recorder (featuring Horacio Franco and Stephanie Corwin, with other members of the orchestra) and Prokofievs ever-popular Peter and the Wolf (with Maestro Crawford and members of the ACO in costumes that reflected the characters they playedthe hunter, the duck, the cat, the bird, and the wolf). The students, who, with the help of CMKs informative Teachers Guide, were prepared in advance by their teachers, engaged enthusiastically throughout the program, sometimes mimicking the sounds of the animals they heard and challenging the wolf, during the question-and-answer period, to defend himself for swallowing the duck.In March of 2018, ACO launched the first of three anticipated Cycles of its Sfzp Project, an initiative designed to heighten public awareness of the fortepiano. Each annual cycle includes an international fortepiano competition, fortepiano master classes, and a fortepiano chamber concert (where the winner of the competition is announced). The winner then plays at an ACO Alice Tully Hall concert the following season. Cycle II, which focused on the works of Beethoven, including a marathon of his piano sonatas, would have been performed at various venues, including the New York Society for Ethical Culture, in May of 2020. It got cancelled, due to the pandemic.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2020 – Jun 30, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $620.1K

  • Program 1 [2024]

    Live performances returned for the 2021-2022 season after restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted. In addition, Classical Music for Kids releaseda video production of "Peter and the Wolf". It was so well received ACO formed a partnership with WNET Groups Kids Media and Education Department, which sawthat "Peter and the Wolf" was posted on PBS Learning Media, where it is now available to schools across the country and can be seen worldwide.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $786.8K