The Orion Ensemble Sets 24th Season

The Orion Ensemble, winner of the prestigious Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, announces its 24th season, Miniatures and Masterworks, featuring a variety of familiar and rarely heard compositions.

Orion performs each of its four concert programs at venues spanning the Chicagoland area, including the PianoForte Studios in downtown Chicago, the First Baptist Church of Geneva and the Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston.

The season opens with "Collage of Colors," with guest violist Stephen Boe, considered one of the finest chamber musicians in Chicago. The program includes a work written for Orion in 1996, James Wintle's Pontoon-Bridge Miracle for clarinet, violin and piano; Alexander von Zemlinksy's Trio in D Minor for clarinet, cello and piano, Op. 3; and two works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: the Duo in B-flat Major for violin and viola, K. 424 and the Quartet in E-flat Major for violin, viola, cello and piano, K. 493. Performances take place September 18 (Geneva), September 25 (Evanston) and September 28 (Chicago).

"Serenade by Three: Orion Beginnings" spotlights Orion's three original members: clarinetist Kathryne Pirtle, violinist Florentina Ramniceanu and pianist Diana Schmück. The program features Edward Yadzinski's Bartók Dances for clarinet and piano, based on Béla Bartók'sRomanian Folk Dances, Sz 56 (1915); selections from Enrique Granados' Goyescas for piano, Op. 11 (1911); Aram Khatchaturian's Trio for clarinet, violin and piano (1932); three pieces from John Williams' score for the multiple Academy Award-winning film Schindler's List for violin and piano (1994); and Srul Irving Glick's The Klezmer's Wedding for clarinet, violin and piano (1996). Performances are November 6 (Geneva), November 13 (Evanston) and November 16 (Chicago).

Orion welcomes back guest violist Stephen Boe for its third concert program of the season, "Connections," which takes its name from a work written for Orion, Robert Kritz'sConnections for clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano (2001). Also on the program are Gustav Mahler's Quartet in A Minor for violin, viola, cello and piano and two works by Rebecca Clarke: Trio for violin, cello and piano (1921) and Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale for clarinet and viola (1941). Performances are March 12 (Geneva), March 15 (Chicago) and March 19 (Evanston).

The season concludes with "Wit and Passion," with violist Stephen Boe joining Orion for a program featuring two works by Jean Francaix--Trio for violin, viola and cello (1933) and Trio for clarinet, viola and piano (1990)--and Johannes Brahms' Quartet in G Minor for violin, viola, cello and piano, Op. 25. Performances are May 21 (Geneva), May 24 (Chicago) and May 28 (Evanston).

Also during the season, Orion hosts a fall benefit November 19 at 12 noon at Dunham Woods Riding Club in Wayne, Illinois and appears on the broadcast series "Live from WFMT" October 3, 2016 and March 20, 2017 at 8 p.m. Orion also tours, performing in chamber music series across the country.

For the fourth year, Orion continues its educational initiatives under the banner Janet's Stage, a one-of-a-kind collaboration with the orchestra departments and chamber music ensembles at partner high schools in Fox Valley, the western suburbs and Chicago. The Orion musicians provide multifaceted, year-long student support. The program offers practical, individualized learning through master classes and chamber music coaching, performances for students and parents at each school, invitations to attend Orion concerts and the opportunity for student ensembles to perform on the Orion concert stage.

Orion also works with ensembles at the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and presents programs with students from the Chicago High School for the Arts.

The Orion Ensemble

Founded in 1992, The Orion Ensemble, winner of the prestigious Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming for its critically acclaimed millennium celebration "An Inside Look at Contemporary Music," features a roster of four superb musicians--Kathryne Pirtle (clarinet), Florentina Ramniceanu (violin), Diana Schmück (piano) and Judy Stone (cello)--who have performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia, as an ensemble and individually in solo, orchestral and other chamber music roles. The Chicago Tribune called Orion "one of Chicago's most vibrant, versatile and distinctive ensembles," and the Chicago Sun-Times said Orion is "what chamber music should be all about: Individual virtuosity melded into a group personality." The Orion Ensemble is supported in part by grants from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund and generous donations from its patrons.

The Orion Ensemble performs its 2016-17 concert programs at three Chicago-area venues: the PianoForte Studios, 1335 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago on Wednesdays, September 28, November 16, March 15 and May 24 at 7:30 p.m.; the Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston on Sundays, September 25, November 13, March 19 and May 28 at 7:30 p.m.; and First Baptist Church of Geneva, 2300 South Street in Geneva on Sundays, September 18, November 6, March 12 and May 21 at 7 p.m. Single tickets are $26, $23 for seniors and $10 for students; children 12 and younger are free. A four-ticket flexible subscription provides a 10 percent savings on full-priced tickets. For tickets or more information, call 630-628-9591 or visit orionensemble.org.

Photo by Devon Cass