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Concordance EnsembleConcord=agreement
Cor=horn
Cord=strings
Dance=dance
con·cor·dance (kn-kôrdns) n.
1. Agreement; concord.
2. An alphabetical index of all the words in a text or corpus of texts, showing every contextual occurrence of a word: a concordance of Shakespeare’s works.
3. Genetics The presence of a given trait in both members of a pair of twins.
Like many well-known chamber ensembles, the Concordance Ensemble presents masterworks in the classical tradition. Unlike most other groups however, there is flexibility in instrumentation and programming. With pianist Dr. Bang Lang Do at the core, Concordance has presented sonatas of Beethoven and Brahms, augmented by violinist Wes Luke; trios of contemporary masters Eric Ewazen, David Gillingham, and James Stephenson; and trumpeter Dr. James Sherry. Concordance is active in commissioning new works for small ensemble and has a partnership with composer/oboist Pat Morehead, 2003 Chicago Tribune “Musician of the Year” and founder of CUBE Ensemble Chicago.
Concordance has undertaken theatrical productions, as well, including works with dance and narration for the following: The Snowman, Alice in Oz, Musical Spooktacular, Requiem for Peace, Wiley and the Hairy Man, Snoopy, and Anthony Plog’s Animal Ditties, a jazz-influenced setting of Ogden Nash’s poems. Many of these have been collaborations with Amy Ressler , theatre professor and Artistic Director of the Great Midwestern Educational Theatre Company.
With the underlying principles of flexibility and collaboration, Concordance promotes and presents free improvisation as well as hybrid styles, including concerts with the Chicago Latin Jazz All-Stars, Argentina’s Los Pinguos, Madison Soundpainting Ensemble, the Unstrung Heroes Bluegrass Band, and MICE (Multimedia Improvisational Computer Ensemble). Concordance is exploring Ensembles which blends ancient musical instruments and traditions from China and beyond.
Concordance Principals
As a performing artist and accompanist, Bang Lang Do has given concerts in Portugal, Canada, France, Holland, Viet Nam, Thailand, and the U.S.. She has been recorded many times with Radio Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and numerous first prizes comprise the Eckhardt Gramattee, the Canadian National Competition, the Canadian Stepping Stone International competition, the Baldwin competition, the French Music competition, the Conservatory of music in Quebec as well as concerto competitions from several Colleges. She had toured across Canada as the winner of a competition, and toured the Midwest in 2003 with her husband, Dr. Jim Sherry, in a recital entitled “American Music”. Bang Lang is trained in Suzuki, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and was a member of the Music Teacher National Association and the Piano Guild for many years.
Dr. James Sherry earned his master’s degree from Yale University and his doctorate from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.
At Johns Hopkins University Sherry conducted the Johns Hopkins University Choral Society and served as director of bands for seven years. He has conducted Chicago’s All-City Meritfest Band in Symphony Hall, the Bangkok Opera, Southeast Asian Youth Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and the Baltimore School for the Arts Jazz Ensemble, as well as numerous public school music programs in Baltimore, Dubuque and Chicago.
GUEST MEMBERS
Wes Luke, violinist, M.M. University of Wisconsin Madison.
Dr. Patricia Morehead, composer, oboist, and teacher, PhD The University of Chicago
Composer and Oboist Patricia Morehead has created a body of work of exceptional richness and breadth. Spanning the repertory from solo works to works for orchestra, her music employs a palette of sounds and structures that entice the ear and seduce the mind.
For a complete bio, please visit Dr. Moorehead’s website.
Heather Huckleberry, oboist, teacher, University of Wisconsin-Platteville