Orchestra 914 | Kids Out and About Westchester

Orchestra 914

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PO Box 461
Pleasantville , NY , 10570
Phone: (917) 946-4389
41° 8' 0.0132" N, 73° 47' 32.694" W
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As many of you may know, in 2020, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of our founding as The Chappaqua Orchestra by becoming Orchestra 914. We didn’t just change our name, though; we undertook a major transformation. We broadened our geographical reach to include all of Westchester County and we made a commitment to providing educational, multicultural and inspirational orchestral experiences to increasingly diverse audiences. And we didn’t stop there: we created a new website, produced new marketing materials, hired a new music director, and showcased nine chamber and orchestral concerts, among them an inclusive concert for children with special needs and a full orchestra performance celebrating Latin American composers. We celebrate these many successes while also acknowledging the devastating impact of COVID-19 on our organization. The pandemic has severely affected the morale and lives of our musicians and audiences, and its harsh economic consequences have led us to an unprecedented financial shortfall that is challenging our ability to present our programs and concerts.

 Since its founding, inspired by its first chairman, Jacob A. Evans, and music director Boris Koutzen, The Chappaqua Orchestra has always emphasized high musical standards.  Notable artists who have appeared with the orchestra include Edward Arron, Timothy Fain, Joseph Fuchs, Kikuei Ikeda, Ruth Laredo, Andrew Litton, Vanessa Williams, and Eugenia Zuckerman.  Distinguished conductors of the orchestra have included Jesse Levine, Norman Leyden, Andrew Litton, James Sadewhite and Wolfgang Schanzer.

 

The orchestra includes both professional and professional-level volunteer musicians, most of who are Westchester residents. The orchestra has performed at venues such as the Jacob Burns Film Center, the Seven Bridges Middle School and Horace Greeley High School Auditoriums, the Chappaqua Library, the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua, Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, The Presbyterian Church of Mt. Kisco, Wallace Auditorium, and the Paramount Center for the Arts.  The Chappaqua Orchestra enhances the arts education program in the Chappaqua Public Schools through small ensemble performances in the elementary schools, joint concerts with the Horace Greeley High School Orchestra and Chorus, a mentoring program for selected music students, and annual family concerts geared toward young audiences.  The orchestra also fosters the development of new artists and smaller chamber groups by showcasing their performances in smaller venues.