The 2025 - 26 Season
Dates, times, programs, and artists subject to change.
Wind Beneath Our Wings
Chamber Series
Wednesday, October 8, 12:10 pm
Grace Church, White Plains
Harry Searing, bassoon
Rie Schmidt, flute
Ben Baron, clarinet
Music of Bach, Mozart, and Gershwin
If you're any kind of music lover, you have to love the bassoon. In the masterly and expressive hands of the great Harry Searing, the instrument takes flight. Joined by Rie Schmidt and Ben Baron, this trio of winds will lift you up.
This concert is offered free of charge with a donation suggested at the door to support Downtown Music.
The Art of the Violin
Main Stage Series
Sunday, October 19, 3:00 pm
Purchase Performing Arts Center
Eugene Drucker, soloist-leader
Bach: Violin Concerto in E Major
Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony
Bach: Violin Concerto in A Minor
Haydn: Violin Concerto in C Major
The first violinist of the legendary Emerson String Quartet leads the Phil. Three works of Bach and Haydn are by turns sublime, joyful, and enthralling. They surround a profound statement by Shostakovich on the horrors of war and the human cry against fascism.
I'm Taking a Me Day
Chamber Series
Wednesday, November 12, 12:10 pm
Grace Church, White Plains
Robin Bushman, violin
Liuh-Wen Ting, viola
Christopher Oldfather, piano
Mozart: Duo for Violin-Viola No. 2 in B-flat Major, K. 424
Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94a
Excellent idea! However you plan your Wednesdays, you'd be wise to include this 50 minute interlude of transporting music that offers a sense of inner power and communal peace. Your biggest decision is lunch afterward.
This concert is offered free of charge with a donation suggested at the door to support Downtown Music.
Clash of the Cellos II
Main Stage Series
Sunday, December 14, 3:00 PM
Purchase Performing Arts Center
The Phil’s Cello Section
with Eugene Moye, principal
and Jeanne Ireland, mezzo-soprano
When we first presented our all-cello ensemble in the Spring of '23, the plan was to have some off-beat fun. After delighting and enthralling two sold-out audiences, we brought it to our main stage later that year and it became one of our most popular programs. We immediately began working on Clash II, with an all-new program showcasing the cello's rich and inspiring sound, in music of Satie, De Falla, Bizet, Gershwin and more. With a dash of holiday flavor, and again featuring mezzo-soprano Jeanne Ireland for some all-time operatic favorites.
The Winter of Our Content
Chamber Series
Sunday, February 8, 2:00 pm
Crawford Mansion, Rye Brook
Deborah Wong, violin
Kyle Armbrust, viola
Maureen Hynes, cello
Gregg August, bass
Andrew Gordon, piano
Hummel Piano Quintet in E-flat Minor
Vaughan Williams: Piano Quintet in C Minor
The typical piano quintet would usually feature a string quartet (two violins, viola, cello) with piano. As Schubert had done for his Trout Quintet, both Hummel and Vaughan Williams replaced one of the violins with double bass, adding power and warmth to the sound. The Vaughan Williams quintet debuted in 1905, yet was not performed a second time until 1995. Once you hear it you will wonder why.
The Winter of Our Content
Chamber Series
Wednesday, February 11, 12:10 pm
Grace Church, White Plains
Deborah Wong, violin
Kyle Armbrust, viola
Maureen Hynes, cello
Gregg August, bass
Andrew Gordon, piano
Hummel Piano Quintet in E-flat Minor
Vaughan Williams: Piano Quintet in C Minor
The typical piano quintet would usually feature a string quartet (two violins, viola, cello) with piano. As Schubert had done for his Trout Quintet, both Hummel and Vaughan Williams replaced one of the violins with double bass, adding power and warmth to the sound. The Vaughan Williams quintet debuted in 1905, yet was not performed a second time until 1995. Once you hear it you will wonder why.
This concert is offered free of charge with a donation suggested at the door to support Downtown Music.
Clash of the Cellos II
Chamber Series
Sunday, March 22, 2:00 pm
Crawford Mansion, Rye Brook
The Phil’s Cello Section
with Eugene Moye, principal
and Jeanne Ireland, mezzo-soprano
When we first presented our all-cello ensemble in the Spring of '23, the plan was to have some fun. After delighting and enthralling two sold-out audiences, we brought it to our main stage later that year and it became one of our most popular programs. We immediately began working on Clash II, with an all-new program showcasing the cello's rich and inspiring sound, in music of Satie, De Falla, Bizet, Gershwin and more. Again featuring mezzo-soprano Jeanne Ireland for some all-time operatic favorites.
Clash of the Cellos II
Chamber Series
Wednesday, March 25, 12:10 pm
Grace Church, White Plains
The Phil’s Cello Section
with Eugene Moye, principal
and Jeanne Ireland, mezzo-soprano
When we first presented our all-cello ensemble in the Spring of '23, the plan was to have some fun. After delighting and enthralling two sold-out audiences, we brought it to our main stage later that year and it became one of our most popular programs. We immediately began working on Clash II, with an all-new program showcasing the cello's rich and inspiring sound, in music of Satie, De Falla, Bizet, Gershwin and more. Again featuring mezzo-soprano Jeanne Ireland for some all-time operatic favorites.
This concert is offered free of charge with a donation suggested at the door to support Downtown Music.
Majesty and Grace
Main Stage Series
Sunday, April 19, 3:00 pm
Purchase Performing Arts Center
Danail Rachev, conducting
Sterling Elliott, cello
Florence Price: Andante Moderato
Schumann: Cello Concerto
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1
Elliott is no longer a “rising star.” The 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient has since performed with major orchestras across the country, including NY, Boston, Cleveland, and LA. Mid-century composer Florence Price was the first African-American woman to be recognized as a classical composer. Beethoven’s First Symphony pays homage to his forbearers, Haydn and Mozart, but is very distinctly Ludwig’s unique and powerful voice.
Forged in Fire
Chamber Series
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 pm
Crawford Mansion, Rye Brook
Robert Chausow, violin
Martin Agee, violin
Michael Roth, viola
Eugene Moye, cello
Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F Major
Brahms: String Quartet No. 1 in C Minor
Both of these composers approached the string quartet form with reverence and some intimidation, with the examples of Haydn and Beethoven looming over them. Brahms is said to have destroyed over 20 string quartets before settling on this “No. 1,” and Prokofiev composed his “2nd” while an evacuee from Moscow as Nazi air raids bombarded the city.
Forged in Fire
Chamber Series
Wednesday, May 6, 12:10 pm
Robert Chausow, violin
Martin Agee, violin
Michael Roth, viola
Eugene Moye, cello
Prokofiev: String Quartet No. 2 in F Major
Brahms: String Quartet No. 1 in C Minor
Both of these composers approached the string quartet form with reverence and some intimidation, with the examples of Haydn and Beethoven looming over them. Brahms is said to have destroyed over 20 string quartets before settling on this “No. 1,” and Prokofiev composed his “2nd” while an evacuee from Moscow as Nazi air raids bombarded the city.