Chicago Chamber Players to Serve Up a Classical Music Brunch at City Winery

The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players (cp2) serve up a heaping portion of Handel, Mozart, and J.C. Bach at City Winery Chicago (1200 W Randolph St, Chicago) in "Handel & Eggs."

Along with chamber classics, a versatile cp2 quartet performs film music by Ennio Morricone (composer of the Godfather soundtrack), a "Gypsy Tango" by Jacob Gade, and James Stephenson's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, inspired by the colorful children's book by Chris Van Allsburg.

Doors open at 11:00 A.M., and brunch will be available for purchase before and during the performance. Casual attire is encouraged.

IF YOU GO:

Handel & Eggs

A Classical Music Brunch

Sunday, November 20, 2016, Noon

City Winery Chicago (1200 W Randolph St, Chicago)

Program:

G.F. Handel: "The Arrival of Queen Sheba" from Solomon

Alessandro Marcello: Concerto for Oboe and Strings in C minor (feat. in The Firm)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Quartet for Oboe and Strings in F Major, K370

Ennio Morricone: "Gabriel's Oboe" from The Mission

J.C. Bach: Quartet in Bb Major

Jean Francaix: Quatuor for English Horn and Strings

James Stephenson: The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

James Gade: Gypsy Tango

Featuring:

Deb Stevenson, Oboe
Thomas Yang, Violin
Rose Armbrust Griffin, Viola
Steven Houser, Cello

"Handel & Eggs" is the second concert in the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players (cp2) Fall 2016 Series at City Winery Chicago. The third and final concert in the series is St. Nick in Shades II (December 18).

The Chicago Philharmonic Society is a collaboration of over 200 of the highest-level classical musicians performing in the Chicago metropolitan area. Governed under a groundbreaking structure of musician leadership, the Society presents concerts at venues throughout the Chicago area that cover the full spectrum of classical music, from Bach to Britten and beyond. The Society's orchestra, known simply as the Chicago Philharmonic, has been called "one of the country's finest symphonic orchestras" (Chicago Tribune), and its unique chamber music ensembles, which perform as the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players (cp2), draw from its vast pool of versatile musicians. The Society's outreach programs connect Chicago-area youth to classical music and provide performance opportunities for members of the community. Founded 26 years ago by principal musicians from the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Chicago Philharmonic currently serves as the official orchestra of the Joffrey Ballet, continues its decades-long association with the Ravinia Festival, and presents symphonic concerts in Chicago's North Shore region and, since May 2016, at the Harris Theater.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Deb Stevenson has been a freelance oboist in the Chicago area for over twenty years. In addition to her work with the Metropolis Quartet & Symphony, she also performs frequently with the Chicago Philharmonic, Lake Forest Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Apollo Chorus. Deb can be heard on recordings including Strauss's "Alpine Symphony" and Stravinsky's complete "Firebird" with the Chicago Symphony. Deb teaches at Wheaton College and maintains her own active teaching studio.

Violinist Thomas Yang is familiar to his audiences through his work as concertmaster of Metropolis Symphony, as well as the violinist of Metropolis Quartet and Trio Capriccio and first violinist of the Chicago Classical String Quartet. Mr. Yang is a member of the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Chicago Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and many other musical organizations. Mr. Yang's solo performances have included works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Vivaldi, Ysaye, and Vaughan Williams.

Violist Rose Armbrust Griffin received her Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School, Artist Diploma from The Curtis Institute of Music and Master of Music from Indiana University. Rose is currently a member of the Chicago Philharmonic and The Lake Forest Symphony. Rose's chamber music performances include concerts at The Kennedy Center, Avery Fischer Hall, and Ravinia's Steans Institute. Currently, she is an active member of the International Chamber Artists and The Jupiter Chamber Players.

Steven Houser began playing the cello at age 13, teaching himself for a period of 6 years. He began formal lessons at the onset of his college years, first at Olivet College in Michigan, and then at DePaul University in Chicago, studying on scholarship with Frank Miller. Mr. Houser currently plays principal cello with the Metropolis Quartet and Metropolis Symphony as well as with the Lake Forest Symphony, Park Ridge Orchestra, and is also a member of the Chicago Philharmonic and the Grant Park Symphony.