Acclaimed for its outstanding performances and wide-ranging repertoire, The Chicago Ensemble presents chamber music through the ages by some of the world’s greatest composers drawn from in-concert recordings. The fifth and final program in this monthly virtual concert series will focus on the 20th Century American period and feature music composed by Piston, Etler, Barber, Copland, Bernstein, and Gottlieb. 

Purchase tickets: $10-$15 | This program is open to the public. 

Program Outline

Ensemble Guest Members: Michelle Areyzaga (soprano) & Elizandro Garcia-Montoya (clarinet)

Michelle Areyzaga has performed with Chicago Opera Theater, Lyric Opera’s “In the Neighborhoods”, New York City Opera, Chicago Light Opera Works and Orquestra Sinfonica del Estado de México. Her Pamina, part of Chicago’s Silk Road Festival, was aired on public television. Additional roles include Cunegonde, Sophie (Werther), Mimi and Musetta, Adele and Belinda. She appears regularly with Chamber Music Society Lincoln Center as well as the New York Festival of Song. She performed Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music under John Rutter. Oratorio solos include the Brahms Requiem and the Poulenc Gloria. Ms. Areyzaga recorded CDs of music by Gwyneth Walker, Lita Grier, and William Ferris. She has been heard frequently in WFMT live broadcasts.
 

Elizandro Garcia-Montoya, clarinet, born in Costa Rica, has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, and the State of Mexico Orchestra. A prizewinner in the 1999 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, he has played with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, Fulcrum Point, Pilgrim Chamber Players, Spektral Quartet, and Fifth House Ensemble. Mr. Garcia-Montoya has performed with several music festivals including Tanglewood, National Repertory Orchestra, International Festival at Round Top, Spoleto/USA, and Yale’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. He holds a bachelor’s from Baylor University and a master’s from Rice University. He also has a professional studies diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music and he has pursued additional post-graduate studies at DePaul University. Mr. Garcia- Montoya is the principal clarinetist of the New Hampshire Music Festival and the New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago. He teaches at DePaul Community Music School, People’s Music School, Elmhurst College and the Arts Academy.

Piston: Piano quintet – 1
Etler: Clarinet sonata – 1
Barber: Knoxville
Copland: Sextet – 1
Bernstein: Clarinet sonata – 2
Gottlieb: Impulsive

Presented by the International House Global Voices Performing Arts Series and The Chicago Ensemble.