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About

The American Chamber Orchestra is a 65-member ensemble based in Fairfield County, Connecticut. We perform high baroque, classical, and early romantic repertory, and selected modern works, regularly including young professional musicians in our programs as featured soloists. Founded in 2003 by Music Director Christopher James Hisey and a group of dedicated amateur musicians, we have presented more than 30 very successful concerts in Fairfield, Norwalk, and Bridgeport.

Highlights

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June 12, 2004, the orchestra performed the world premiere of ‘Symphony – Wind River’ by Rex Cadwallader, an Emmy award-winning American composer. 

 

February 11, 2006, we premiered Ed Thompson's orchestral suite 'Five in Fairfield,' depicting five places in Fairfield County.

 

In February 2011, the premiere of Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, a commissioned work by Dr. Rex Cadwallader, was presented and performed by Brett Altman.

ACO Tours

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In July 2005, the orchestra traveled to Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, presenting four concerts during the tour.  In July 2007, 83 members, family and friends traveled through Northern Italy, visiting Parma, Padua, Cremona, Lucca, Florence, Ravenna, Venice and Milan and giving four performances with well-attended audiences.  In July 2009, the American Chamber Orchestra traveled the Scottish Highlands giving three wonderful performances including one in a real castle!   The group's most recent trip to Spain in July 2012 included sightseeing in Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Zaragossa and Barcelona including three performances - the last of which was in a 12th century convent!   

Members of the American Chamber Orchestra, family and friends traveled to Southern England and Ireland in July 2015, performing at the Frome Festival and at the chapel at Dublin Castle.  Visited Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral and viewed one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta which celebrated its 800th Anniversary during 2015; visited the Roman Baths and took a ferry ride to Dublin where we visited the Old Jameson Distillery and Temple Bar along with Trinity College where we say the Book of Kells.   It was difficult to come back to the states!

 

The American Chamber Orchestra chooses the finest in orchestral literature to share with our audience.  Artists who have appeared with the orchestra include Jenny Lind Award-winning soprano Stephanie Gregory, trumpeter Zebediah Upton, violinists Edita Orlinyte and Jinyeong Jessica Lee, violists Fiona Winnig and Yaroslav Kargin, cellists Rebecca Patterson and Kangho Lee, pianist Assaff Weisman, and organist Ed Thompson. 

Meet the Orchestra

STRINGS

1st Violin

Katherine Altman, Concertmaster

James DeBitetto

Ronald Moore

Judith Benjamin

Kathleen Callaghan

Katherine Plager

Deborah Beams

Julie Ringelheim

Allen Levy

Viola

Margaret Liddell, Principal

Sam Omalyev

James McNutt

Greg Ullman

Samuel Silverfarb

Felix Vajdos

Ann Marie Mott

 

Bass

Walter Sudik, Principal

Jennifer Bradbury

Daniel Schlorff

2nd Violin

Linda Carpenter, Principal

Maggie Andrade

Susan Sherman

Christine Hall

Kirsten Karlan

Jenna Trunk

Marlow Hubbard

Thomas Longo

Anat Shiloach

Cello

Rachel Stein, Principal

Madeleine Corliss

Beth Pearce

Kevin Root

Genevieve Fabela

Karen Chalif

Pamela Pollak

Sophia Vellotti

Judy Wander

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WINDS & BRASS

Flute

Cora Megan, Principal

Paula Coutz

Peter Hadley

 

Oboe/English

Anthony Marra, Principal

Hilda Ramirez

James Thoensen

 

Clarinet

Amanda Hetric, Principal

Shire Feingold

 

Bassoon

Thomas Heilmann, Principal

Robert Buckner

Jonathan Stark

Horn

Thomas Jordan, Principal

Kathy Kuberka

Amanda Desperito

Wendy Dziurzinski

 

Trumpet

Patti DiMeglia, Principal

Daniel Jocis

 

Trombone

Richard Gosnay, Principal

David Rintoul

Peter Holmes

 

Tuba

Marcia Chithelen, Principal

PERCUSSION

Timpani/Percussion

Raymond Weber

Brett Altman

Steve Zagami

Our Board of Directors & Staff

Kathy Kuberka, President

Peter Hadley, Vice President

Daniel Schlorff, Treasurer

Linda Carpenter, Secretary

Judith Benjamin, Member at Large

Brett Alltman, Member At Large

Katie Callaghan, Member At Large

Amanda Desperito, Member At Large

 

Christopher James Hisey, Music Director & Conductor

Katherine Altman, Orchestra Manager

Webmaster, Karen Nicol

Tom Jordan, Past President

Contact us at: contact.aco@gmail.com

Write us at American Chamber Orchestra, P.O.Box 222, Greens Farms, CT 06838

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