Oakwood Chamber Players

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Nicole Peaslee

Oakwood Chamber Players and instruments.

Oakwood Chamber Players

The 40th anniversary season of the Madison ensemble Oakwood Chamber Players kicks off with “Fun and Games,” featuring works incorporating past musical styles into the contemporary sound of the composers' own times. The program includes D’un matin de printemps (Of a Spring Morning) by 20th century French composer Lili Boulanger, Ralph’s Old Records by current American composer Kenji Bunch, and works by Benjamin Britten and François Devienne. Concerts take place at 7 p.m., Sept. 13, at Oakwood Village-Prairie Ridge; 7 p.m., Sept. 14, at Oakwood Village-University Woods; and 2 p.m., Sept. 15 at Arts + Literature Laboratory; tickets and more info at oakwoodchamberplayers.com.

media release:

Friday, Sept. 13, 7 pm, Oakwood Prairie Ridge, 5565 Tancho Drive, Madison

Saturday, Sept 14 at 7pm, Oakwood Village University Woods, 6205 Mineral Point Rd, Madison

Sunday, Sept 15 at 2pm, Arts and Literature Laboratory, 111 S. Livingston, Madison

The Oakwood Chamber Players are a dynamic group of Madison-based professional musicians who present concerts of historically and stylistically diverse chamber music animated by engaging verbal program notes. Their delightful, curated mix of wind and string instruments lends itself to introducing culturally significant works by living and lesser-known composers and shedding a new light on standard repertoire. These vibrant individual artists can be seen performing with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Capitol City Band, and the Madison Opera.

Join Oakwood as they kick off their 40th anniversary season, “Fun and Games,” on September 14-15! In a spirit of celebration, audiences will enjoy music by composers both historical and living, who have explored musical conventions and nostalgic styles through a contemporary lens. 

Oakwood’s milestone season dawns with works by two French composers of different eras, 20th century Lili Boulanger and 18th century François Devienne, a contemporary of Mozart. Boulanger’s “D’un Matin du Printemps/Of a Spring Morning,” originally for orchestra, is a lively arrangement for flute, oboe and piano. A fresh, youthful vibe is captured by the remarkable young composer, whose life and musical impact were tragically cut short at a mere 24 years of age. Devienne’s Trio in B flat Op. 61 #5 displays the flutist composer’s expertise in writing for woodwinds.

The program will showcase Phantasy Quartet for oboe and strings by 20th century legend Benjamin Britten, who is widely recognized for his contribution to English vocal music. The British composer was one of many in his generation to honor the traditional “fantasia,” an improvisatory-style form dating back to the 1500’s. 

The American composer Kenji Bunch gives a nod to the not-so-distant past in his 2015 work for winds, strings, and piano. Inspired by his father’s personal collection of 78 RPM records, Bunch incorporates influences of folk fiddling, Hollywood glam and jazz into his eclectic work “Ralph’s Old Records.” 

Oakwood’s core performers also serve as a team of artistic directors: Marilyn Chohaney (flute), Valree Casey (oboe/English horn), Nancy Mackenzie (clarinet), Amanda Szczys (bassoon), Marie Pauls (viola), and Maggie Townsend (cello). These vibrant individual artists can be seen performing with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Capitol City Band, and the Madison Opera.

Tickets are $25 general admission, and $20 for students and seniors, with advance purchase available at oakwoodchamberplayers.com.

You are cordially invited to embark on an unforgettable concert year with Oakwood, a long-standing pillar of “outside the box” chamber music in Wisconsin!