Emmanuel Church to Host Musical Showcase Nov. 11

WESTON, Conn. -- Weston’s Emmanuel Episcopal Church welcomes back The Fontenay Chamber Players on Sunday November 11 at 4:00 pm in their Parish Hall, 285 Lyons Plain Road, Weston. The concert is free to the public, though donations are welcomed. There will be a champagne/wine reception following the performance; sodas and sweets will also be available. 

The Fontenay Chamber Players will deliver a varied selection of soothing, impressionist music from Lehar’s Merry Widow Waltz to Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances to the lush harmonies of Debussy and more. With their orchestral sound, the Fontenay Chamber Players are sure to delight concert goers. 

“We are very happy to welcome back the Fontenay Chamber Players. Their performance last year brought the audience to its feet. I expect we will have another memorable concert this year,” said John Boys, Senior Warden, Emmanuel Church.  

The Fontenay Chamber Players cited for a “radiant meshing of color” and “brilliant tour de force” was formed in 2003. It is comprised of seven musicians hailing from the tri-state area. Their name refers to a French town with a connection to the composer, Ravel, whose luminous Introduction and Allegro, is the group’s inspiration. The Fontenay has appeared at Caramoor, Dartmouth College, Bennington College, The Hat City Opera Company, Greenwich Academy, Sacred Heart University, and the Pequot Library to rave reviews. The group was also chosen for the artist roster of the CT Commission on Arts and Tourism.

Members include well-known professional performers: Maryly Culpepper, flutist, Wendy Kerner, harpist, Deborah Wong and Wei Tan, violinists, Chiu-Chen Liu, violist, Rob LaRue, cellist, and Julie Asuma Levene, guest clarinetist. Culpepper is currently principal flute of the Connecticut River Valley Orchestra, and has subbed with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. Kerner is the principal harpist with The Bridgeport, Norwalk and Ridgefield Symphonies. Wong is the concertmaster of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony. Tan is on the faculty of the Westport School of Music and is co-founder and Artistic Director of the New York International Artists Association. LaRue is a current member of VC3 (a three-cello ensemble) and of the Phoenix Chamber Players, ensemble-in-residence at the Leo Baeck Institute in New York City. And  Ausma Levene is a member of the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, Connecticut Lyric Opera Orchestra, and the Wallingford Symphony Orchestra.

For more information, call the Emmanuel parish office at (203) 227-8565 or visit www.emmanuelwestonct.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Weston will host a musical showcase with The Fontenay Chamber Players on Sunday, November 11 at 4:00 pm. The event will take place at their parish hall at 285 Lyons Plain Road, Weston, is free and open to the public. For details, visit www.emmanuelwestonct.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: Valentin Miskevitch