Sherman Chamber Ensemble to Perform Annual BEST OF BAROQUE Concerts, 1/4-5

The Sherman Chamber Ensemble has announced its annual "Best of Baroque" concerts on Saturday, January 4th at 5:00 PM at Christ Church on Quaker Hill in Pawling, NY and on Sunday the 5th at 4:00 PM at St. Andrew's Church in Kent, CT. The program will include J.S. Bach's 2nd Brandenburg Concerto, the Vivaldi oboe concerto and a Handel Trio Sonata. Featured performers will be harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper, Susan Rotholz (flute), Eliot Bailen (cello), Peter Weitzner (bass) and others.

Last year's Best of Baroque concerts were praised by The Millbrook Independent as "stunning performances...inspiring and uplifting." SCE Artistic Director Eliot Bailen comments, "Once again we will be drawing on the defining masters of the Baroque repertoire - Bach, Vivaldi and Handel, and are especially pleased to be able to continue our tradition of featuring one of the beloved Brandenburgs. Ken Cooper is renowned for his musicianship as well as his musicological prowess and always delights audiences with his comments about the works and demonstrations of the instrument he plays. He and all of the musicians will be available to greet audience members at a reception with light refreshments following each concert."

Kenneth Cooper, harpsichordist, pianist, musicologist and conductor, is one of the world's leading specialists in the music of the 18th century. Renowned for his improvisations and his expertise in ornamentation, long-lost 18th century arts, he has revived countless musical works, lending them extraordinary authenticity as well as great vitality. The possessor of a PhD in musicology from Columbia University, Mr. Cooper is on the faculty there as well as at the Manhattan School of Music, where he is Chair of the Harpsichord Department and Director of the Baroque Aria Ensemble. As Music Director of the Berkshire Bach Ensemble, Kenneth Cooper has made a tradition of Bach at New Year's and is currently celebrating Berkshire Bach's 20th Season with a series of concerts centering on the different facets of Bach's work. Mr. Cooper has been heard at the Grand Canyon Music Festival, Washington Square Music Festival, Yale-Norfolk Summer Chamber Music Festival and the Little Orchestra Society's Vivaldi Festivals at Alice Tully Hall. He has appeared at Music@Menlo, at the Aspen and Marlboro Music Festivals, at Chamber Music Northwest and with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and has made noted Bach recordings with cellist Yo Yo Ma, violinist Ani Kavafian and flutist Susan Rotholz.

Tickets for the concerts, which are open to the general public, are $30 per person at the door ($25 for students and seniors); tickets may be purchased in advance at a $5 discount ($25/20) at www.shermanchamberensemble.org or by sending a check to Sherman Chamber Ensemble, P.O. Box 578, Sherman, CT 06784 For information and reservations, contact the Sherman Chamber Ensemble at 860-355-5930 or info@shermanchamberensemble.org.