Sunday, April 25 at 3:00pm, SteamPlant Theater, 220 W. Sackett Ave. Salida, CO
Explore new musical moments with the haunting clarinet sounds of Brent Buemi with violinist Lynda O'Connor from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. They will join renowned pianist Jo Boatright in the performance of "Sonata in a Major for violin and piano" by Cesar Franck, "Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano Op. 5" by Alban Berg, and "L' histoire du Soldat" (The Soldier's Tale) (1918) by Igor Stravinsky with Allen Lane, narrator. A special concert with special musicians.There will be an informance at 2 :00pm. Tickets are $15 (adult) and $8 (student), and may be purchased at the SteamPlant Theater, at the Salida and Buena Vista Chambers of Commerce as well as at the door prior to the performance. For more information, contact Marie at (719)395-2097.

Sunday, June 6 at 3 :00pm, Valley Fellowship Church, 608 S. San Juan Ave., Buena Vista, CO
Share in the joy of Vivaldi's famous "The Four Seasons" performed by solo violinist Jason Erwin, who will be accompanied by the Walden Chamber Music Society Ensemble with Harvey Boatright, flute, Darren Sagawa, violin, Matt Diekman, viola, Camilla Bonzo, 'cello, and Jo Boatright, harpsichord. After the intermission enjoy the light opera buffa "La Serva Padrona" (the Maid Becomes Mistress) (1733) by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi with soprano Tina Lovejoy, baritone Keith Williamson, and actor Norman Spivy who will be accompanied by Harvey Boatright, flute, Jason Erwin, violin, Carrie Beeder, violin, Darren Sagawa, violin, Matt Diekman, viola, Camilla Bonzo, 'cello, Joel Bonzo, double bass and Jo Boatright, harpsichord. A superb afternoon concert with great musicians. There will be an informance at 2 :00pm. Tickets are $15 (adult) and $8 (student), and may be purchased at the Salida and Buena Vista Chambers of Commerce as well as at the door prior to the performance. For more information contact Marie at (719)395-2097.

A Thanksgiving Treat

Sunday, November 29 at 3:00pm, SteamPlant Theater, Salida, CO Come and enjoy an afternoon concert of incredible music of famous American showtunes and the classical piano quintet"The Trout" by Schubert with Donnie Ray Albert, internationally acclaimed dramatic baritone who will join the Walden Ensemble to sing "Die Allmacht" and  "Erlkonig" by Schubert, "I Got Plenty O'Nuttin" from "Porgy and Bess" and "For You, For me, Forevermore" by George Gershwin,  "If Ever I Would Leave You" from "Camelot" by Frederic Loewe, "Ol' Man River" from "Showboat" by Jerome Kerns, and "Praline and Fudge" by Robert X. Rodriguez.  Jason Erwin, violinist, Matt Diekman, viola, Camilla Bonzo,'cello, Joel Bonzo, double bass and pianist extraordinaire Jo Boatright will interpret the famous " Piano Quintet in A Major, 'The Trout', Op. 114" by Schubert. A musical event not to be missed.

Dramatic baritone Donnie Ray Albert has performed with major opera companies and orchestras in North America and Europe, among them are : La Scala, Covent Garden, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, and San Francisco. Recent engagements included Los Angeles Opera's productions of "Hansel and Gretel" (Peter) and "The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" (Trinity Moses); "La Fanciulla del West" (Jack Rance) with the Prague National Theater, "Carmina Burana" (soloist) with Madison Symphony Orchestra, "Il Trovatore" (count di Luna) with Cincinnati May Festival and Mendelssohn's "Elijah" with the Plano Civic Chorus and Austin Conspirare.

Summer of 2006 saw him make his Metropolitan Opera Parks' debut as Germont in "La Traviata". In 2008 Mr. Albert created the role of Frederick Douglas in Lyric Opera of Kansas City's world premiere of "John Brown"; he will appear in recitals and concerts in Dallas as well as Cincinnati May Festival [Fauré "Requiem" and Berlioz "Romeo and Juliet" (Laurent)].

Mr. Albert can be heard on RCA's PORGY AND BESS (Grammy Award 1977 - Best Opera Recording and the Grand Prix du Disque) and EMI's EINE FLORENTINISCHE TRAGÖDIE conducted by James Conlon. Also, with Maestro Conlon conducting, Mr. Albert can be heard as Trinity Moses on the 2007 DVD of Los Angeles Opera's THE RISE AND FALL OF THE CITY OF MAHAGONNY. More information on Mr. Albert's career can be found on his website: www.donnierayalbert.com

For more information on this unique concert, contact Marie at paule@chaffeeco.net; (719) 395-2097

Princeton Peak Piano Retreat is Back

Throughout the year Chaffee County is fortunate to host many outstanding musical events. But the Summer is a special season for music lovers in our area. One of these events is the Princeton Peak Piano Retreat (PPPR) which takes place July 26 through July 31. Founded by professional musicians Jo and Harvey Boatright, the fifth annual PPPR is sponsored by the Walden Chamber Music Society. Ten musicians, among whom are young talented students (14-20 years old) mixed with seasoned professionals and coming from the front range, California, Texas and Minnesota, and one local amateur, will participate in Master classes and give a recital on Friday, July 31 at 7:00pm. For the first time there will also be an open rehearsal Friday, July 31 at 10:00am. In addition to the two newcomers Dylan Love and Ariea Xu, the returning pianists are Taylor Andrews, Bonnie Dove, Katy Hoyer, Pieter Orlandini, Cathy Motter, Anne Oliver, Marie-Paule Truitt and Caleb Wenzel. Thanks to the generosity of several Buena Vista residents, the musicians are able to practice on local instruments outside of the master classes.

The retreat is a special opportunity for the participating musicians to hone their skills under the guidance of Jo Boatright, once called "the lioness of the keyboard". Formerly of Dallas, TX, Ms. Boatright studied piano with the late Hungarian pianist Madame Lily Kraus, one of the 20th century's premier performers of Mozart, Beethoven and Bartok. In addition to her national and international performance career as a soloist with symphony orchestras, including the Boston Pops, Ms. Boatright co-founded the Grammy award-nominated modern music ensemble Voices of Change. She also co-founded the Walden Music Ensemble and continues to be the pianist for the Walden group subscription concert seasons in Chaffee County.

The 2009 PPPR Master classes repertoire is to be chosen from the following composers: Bach, Chopin, Faure, Ginastera, Listz, Mendelsonn, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, and other surprises.

The retreat is a unique opportunity for our local people who are interested in observing the Master classes which are scheduled in the morning from 9:30am to 12:30pm Monday, July 27 through Thursday July 30. Cost per each morning session is $20.00. Because of limited seating and for specific details concerning the repertoire of each session, call 395-2097.

Reservation is also a must for the open rehearsal and the evening recital and reception, which include all the PPPR musicians who participate in the Master classes. Both are scheduled on Friday, July 31 at the Boatrights' residence in Buena Vista. Cost is $10.00 for the 10:00am open rehearsal and $15 for the 7:00pm evening recital. Email your reservation to paule@chaffeeco.net or call at 395-2097 no later than Thursday, July 30 as the seating is very limited.

May 3, 2009 - BUENA VISTA VENUE Valley Fellowship Church, 608 S. San Juan, Buena Vista

Harvey Boatright, flute, Jason Erwin, violin, Carrie Beeder, violin, Matt Diekman, viola, Camilla Bonzo, cello, Jo Boatright, harpsichord, Tina Lovejoy, soprano, Keith Williamson, baritone, Norman Spivy, baritone, Coffee Cantata (BWV 211) for soprano, baritone and ensemble - J.S. Bach Concerto for viola - George Telemann - Trio Sonata in c minor from "The Musical offering", for flute, violin and continuo by J.S. Bach

The Walden Chamber Music Society, recently praised for its « musical program that expressed excellence and beauty beyond measure », is proud to announce its first concert in Buena Vista, scheduled Sunday, May 3, 2009 at 3:00pm at the Valley Fellowship Church, 608 South San Juan with a free informance at 2 :00pm.

For this concert, the Walden musicians offer another premičre in our area with its largest group of musicians and singers, and Jo Boatright playing the harpsichord. The concert opens with «Trio Sonata in c minor» from the «The Musical Offering» composed by John Sebastian Bach and performed by Jason Erwin, violin; Harvey Boatright, flute; Camilla Bonzo, 'cello and Jo Boatright, harpsichord. This piece is part of a collection written by Bach on a musical theme given to him by Frederick the Great in 1747.

The second work presented by the Walden is «Concerto in G for viola and ensemble» composed by Telemann and performed by Matt Diekman, viola, Jason Erwin and Carrie Beeder, violins, Camilla Bonzo,'cello and Jo Boatright, harpsichord. It is one of the most famous concertos for viola written by Telemann.

The second part of the concert features «The Coffee Cantata for soprano, tenor and baritone with ensemble» by John Sebastian Bach, performed by Tina Lovejoy, soprano; Keith Williamson, baritone, Norman Spivy, narrator; Harvey Boatright, flute; Matt Diekman, viola; Jason Erwin and Carrie Beeder, violins; Camilla Bonzo, 'cello and Jo Boatright, harpsichord. This unique Bach piece involves an irrate father and a naughty daughter over the addiction to coffee, all supported by the inimitable Bach sound. This concert is the Walden last 2008-2009 season concert.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students. They are on sale at the Buena Vista and Salida Chambers of Commerce, at The Trailhead in Buena Vista and will also be available at the door prior to the performance.

March 22, 2009 - Steam Plant Theater

Paul Garner, clarinet, Lynda O'Connor, violin Camilla Bonzo, cello, Jo Boatright, piano - Works by Olivier Messiaen: "Fantasie for violin and piano", "Le Merle Noir for flute and piano" (the Blackbird); and "Quatuor pour la fin du temps" (Quartet for the end of time).

The Walden Chamber Music Society is pleased to announce its special Lent concert with works by Olivier Messiaen Sunday, March 22 at 3 :00pm at the SteamPlant Theater in Salida with a free informance at 2:00pm conducted by pianist and Walden co-founder Jo Boatright.

In honor of the hundred anniversary of Olivier Messiaen's birthday celebrated around the world and as a special Lent gift, the Walden Chamber Music Society presents "Quartet for the End of Time" with clarinetist Paul Garner from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, guest violinist Lynda O'Connor from Ireland, and Walden flutist Harvey Boatright, cellist Camilla Bonzo and pianist Jo Boatright.

Messiaen composed "Quartet for the End of Time" while he was a prisoner in a German prison camp for the four instruments available at the time : a broken down piano, a cello with only 3 strings, a  'crippled' violin, and a clarinet. It was first performed in Stalag VIIIA in January 1941. Messian wrote that he had been directly inspired from the Book of Revelations following passage: "And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow on his head, his face was like the sun and his legs like pillars of fire… Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land…, and standing on the sea and on the land, he raised his right hand toward Heaven and swore by He who lives for ever and ever… saying : 'There will be no more Time; but the days when the seventh angel is to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled.'" The musical language is essentially ethereal, spiritual, mystical, a special gift during this special period.

Paul Garner is Associate Principal and E-flat clarinetist of the Dallas Symphony. Prior to his Dallas appointment he held positions in the orchestras of New Orleans and Denver, and was a member of the United States Military Academy Band at West Point. Mr. Garner is Principal Clarinetist of Music in the Mountains in Durango, has performed with numerous orchestras throughout the country, and is active in several Dallas area chamber music series, including those of the Nasher Sculpture Center, Fine Arts Chamber Players, Crowley Chamber Music Series at the University of Dallas and the Hubbard Chamber Music Society. He has been a contributing writer for The Clarinet, and has presented master classes at universities and music festivals throughout the country. He is presently on the faculty of the Southern MethodistUniversity where he teaches clarinet and chamber music.

The second part of the concert will present the southwest premiče of "Fantasie for violin and piano" and "The Back Bird for flute and piano", both works also composed by Messiaen.

Walden Chamber Music Society, March 22, 2009 Concert from left to right:
Jo Boatright, piano, co-founder of the Walden, Lynda O'Connor, violin, Camilla Bonzo, 'cello, Harvey Boatright, flute and Paul Garner, clarinet

February 8, 2009 - Steam Plant Theater

Harvey Boatright, flute Camilla Bonzo, cello Jo Boatright, piano Christine Schadeberg, soprano - Songs by Beethoven, Ross Bauer, Charles Ives, Brahms, Stravinsky and "Vox Balaenae" by George Crumb

For this concert, the Walden musicians offer two very different performances : the first one is "Vox Balaenae" (Voice of the Whale) composed by George Crumb in 1971 and performed by flutist Harvey Boatright, cellist Camilla Bonzo, and pianist Jo Boatright. The three musicians will wear masks and play their instruments in a very different and challenging way, resulting in earie sounds of the humpback whale, a seagull and other surprises. This performance calls upon nature without man, the ocean, and eternity.

The second part highlights the acclaimed soprano Christine Schadeberg, whose concert and stage performances have taken her to Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers and across the country and Europe in solo recitals, chamber music concerts and orchestral appearances, including the New York, Dallas, Chicago and Memphis orchestras. She recently performed at the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, and was featured at the international Music festivals of Riga, Latvia and Caracas, Venezuela. Critic Allan Kozinn from the New York Times, Martin Bernheimer from the Los Angeles Times, Andrew Porter from the New Yorker, and John Ardoin from the Dallas Morning Star all have praised her mastery, the beauty of her sound, her extraordinary ability to communicate with an audience, « the always amazing Christine Schadeberg ».

For the February 8, 2009 concert, Ms. Schadeberg accompanied by the Walden musicians, will perform four songs by Beethoven in German, Cossack and Russian. Accompanied by pianist Jo Boatright she will sing five songs by Charles Ives (1874-1954). Cellist Camilla Bonzo will add her unique sound to two songs by Brahms. The concert will end with Igor Stravinsky' s « the Owl and the Pussycat » and the « Pastorale » which will bring back the five Walden musicians together.

Maria Schleuning, violin, Jo Boatright, piano Sonatas for violin and piano by Beethoven, Sarasate and Brahms

On October 5 at the SteamPlant Theatre in Salida the Walden Chamber Music Society opened its 2008-2009 season with a concert which will be remembered for a long time. Many still talk of an afterglow. Indeed, what a concert with violonist Maria Schleuning from the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and renowed pianist Jo Boatright ! Who will forget the playful « Spring Sonata in F for Violin and Piano, Op. 24 » by Beethoven, with its Mozartean nostalgic second movement which brought quiet tears ? Both musicians and the audience went wild with the « Carmen Concert Fantasy, Op. 25 » by Sarasate, a violin virtuoso piece if there ever was one. All the passion, seduction, taunting of the famous Bizet's opera resonated on the SteamPlant stage. A smoking violin and a sultry piano, what a combination ! A standing ovation and four curtain calls expressed the appreciation of the audience for the breathtaking musical duo. The second part of the concert was reserved to Brahms' romantic daydreaming of unfulfilled love with his « Sonata for Violin and Piano in d minor, Op. 108 ». At times soft, at other times strong melodies were exchanged between the two instruments. Again the tender sounds of the second movement contrasted with the fast tempo of the fiery conclusion. Many among the appreciative audience commented on the outstanding music quality proposed by the The Walden Chamber Music Society musicians.

July 21- 25, 2008 - Princeton Peak Piano Retreat. A whole body approach to the study of piano

April 20, 2008 Phantasy RhapsodiesTrio 3:00 P.M.

The Walden Chamber Music Society will present its last concert of its 2007-2008 season on Sunday, April 20 at 3:00pm at the Steamplant Theater, 220 W. Sackette Ave. at G Street in Salida.

The program will open with « Phantasy Quartet » for oboe, violin, viola, and cello by Benjamin Britten. First performed in 1933, this quartet echoes 17th century viol music, while highlighting the oboe and strings.

« Two Rhapsodies for oboe, viola, and piano » by Charles Loeffler will follow. Both delicate pieces written in 1905 are created around two French poems : « the Pool » and « the Bagpipe ». They are often been recommended by musicians as « little gems ».

The concert will close with Felix Mendelssohn's « Piano Trio in d minor » for violin, cello and piano, probably the composer's most well-known chamber music composition and easily his most beloved for its romantic lyricism.

March 16, 2008 Pierrot Lunaire 3:00 P.M.

The Walden Chamber Music Society of Colorado will present an area musical premiere on March 16, 2008 at 3:00pm at the Salida SteamPlant Theater, 220 W. Sackett Av. at G Street.

Jo Boatright and Camilla Bonzo will perform « Sports et Divertissements » for piano, narrator, and slides by Erik Satie. In this 1914 multi-media project, Satie provided music to drawings made by Charles Martin, that depict various sports such as « golfing », « fishing », and recreations such as « the swing », « hide-and-seek », « the pique-nique » or « the tango ».

Following that light early XXth century bagatelle, the Walden musicians will perform a much more somber piece « Pierrot Lunaire » for voice and chamber ensemble by Arnold Schoenberg. This extraordinary song cycle consists of « songspeech », an idea exclusive to this 1912 piece.

Picture: March 2008 Poster Contest Winner: Brianna Garcia

November 18, 2007 Opening Season Concert 2:00 P.M.

For the opening concert of the 2007-2008 season of the Walden Chamber Music Society- Colorado, violinist Maria Schleunig, clarinetist Paul Garner, cellist Camilla Bonzo, and pianist Jo Boatright will perform The Red Violin Caprices by John Corigliano and works by Bartók and Brahms at the Steam Plant Theater in Salida, Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 2:00pm.

Picture: Paul Garner, Camilla Bonzo and Jo Boatright
Picture taken by Jonathan Schwab