Concordia Santa Fe
"Harmony in the High Desert"
a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
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Performance Art
by Gail Perry, Washington, D.C. October 2009
Concordia Santa Fe’s concert on October 11, 2009 “The Surreal Life,” titled to correspond with the New Mexico Museum of Art’s current exhibition, aptly featured the element of surprise, juxtapositions and the unexpected. Concordia’s performance was one of the best afternoons I have experienced in a long time. The tone was set by the surrealistic artwork of Santa Fe artist Mark Fossard, commissioned specially for this concert. Dr. Kevin Sedatole, Professor of Music from Michigan State University, guest conducted Concordia Santa Fe in works by Halvorsen, Debussy, Wolfenden, Tichelli, de Meij, and Maslanka. The ensemble’s musicians were wholeheartedly enthusiastic with Sedatole’s selections and direction. From beginning to end, Sedatole and the ensemble’s woodwind, brass and percussion musicians painted the auditorium with a cascade of surrealistic images in sound. Contrary to the descriptions set forth in the program notes, I imagined marching metrodomes; long, flaxen hair that beguiled; and enticed exotic dancers to the sea – long tresses morphed into gigantic waves creating a perfect storm. And, that was just the first half of the concert.
Amazing Ensemble
by Martin Piltch, Los Alamos, New Mexico, July 2009
[Concordia Santa Fe concert June 28, 2009]
Concordia Santa Fe adds a fresh dimension to the enjoy-ment of classical music pieces. For instance, the beginning of “Hoedown,” from the Aaron Copland score for the ballet Rodeo, is very fast, originally scored for strings which are so
Professional Wind Ensemble Thrills
by Shari Nierman, Lincoln, Nebraska. July 2009
My first experience attending a Concordia Santa Fe wind ensemble concert was on Sunday, June 28, 2009, and it was filled with amazement and delight.
This group of professional musicians, which comes together for a mere four rehearsals with a guest conductor immediately preceding each concert, performs with the technical precision, glorious tone quality, and magnificent musicality one would expect from a nationally-
