Sinfonietta Nova, a new orchestra in West Windsor focused on professional instrumentalists from the area, performs its inaugural concert on Saturday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 177 Princeton-Hightstown Road, West Windsor. The program features Beethoven Symphonies No. 4, op. 60 in B-flat Major, and No. 7, op. 92 in A Major. Tickets are $15.##M:[more]##
Gail Lee of West Windsor is the founder, artistic director, and conductor, as well as the director of music ministries at the First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck since 2001. Many of the musicians attended West Windsor and Plainsboro schools and went on to major in musical performance at colleges, universities, and conservatories.
Lee was born in Taiwan, graduated from Rutgers University, and received a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Northwestern. Past positions include assistant professor at Alfred University, conductor of the Alfred University Orchestra, and artistic director and conductor of the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra.
Lee works extensively in North America, Europe, and Asia as a conductor. She has worked with Seattle Symphony, the Women’s Philharmonic (San Francisco), the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the Kaohsuing City Symphony (Taiwan), the North Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, Miskolc (Hungary), the Filharmonie Hradec Kralove, the Janacek Filharmonie Ostrava, the Silesian Opera Theatre (Czech Republic), and the Varna State Philharmonie (Bulgaria).
She has a long relationship with the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, formerly known as Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. During her tenure there, she conducted numerous concerts of many genres including opera, ballet, and its Youth Festival Orchestra.
Lee and her husband, Joseph Hetman, have lived in West Windsor since 2000. He has his own music-related endeavor, selling specialty lubricants for brass instruments.
“The professional-quality musical performances and cultural enrichment to the central New Jersey area promote awareness and appreciation of classical music through orchestral concerts and educational programs in local schools, aimed at fostering music appreciation,” says Lee. “We are devoted to inspire and engage the audience with innovative programming, to offer unique perspectives on the classic repertoire, and a fresh look at works by living composers.”
“Attending live performances is an inspiring component of the musical experience and Sinfonietta Nova presents a dazzling mix of interactive orchestral, chamber, and operatic performances,” says Lee. “We strive to be a group that will have strong ties with local schools by fostering music appreciation, providing easy access for students to see their teachers perform, and opportunities for some students to play with their teachers in concerts.”
Violin I members include Kevin Tsai, concertmaster; Pei-Yin Hsieh, Haim Soicher, Grace Lee, and Ileana Ciumac. Violin II musicians include Ann Marie Pocklembo, Chika Mimura, Eric Qian, Jun Sung Ahn, and Mary Anne Walker.
Flute musicians include Seth Rosenthal and Elissa Beddia. Oboe musicians include Cathy Weinfield and Brian Toth. Clarinet players include Mark Sloss and Barbara Santoro. Bassoon player is John Humenik. Viola musicians include Dan Martinho and Louise McClure. French horn musicians are Amy Krueger and Michael Sayre.
Violoncello players include Peter Brooks, Ted McClure, Suzanne Dicker, and Katherine Seymour. Trumpet players are Don Tighe and Joseph Hetman. Timpani player is Adrienne Ostrander and Christopher Clark is on contrabass.
The season continues with a program featuring music by Strauss, on Saturday, January 3; a tribute to George Antheil in March; and a bicentennial birthday of Mendelssohn in June. — Lynn Miller
Concert, Sinfonietta Nova, Princeton of Peace Church, 177 Princeton-Hightstown Road, West Windsor. Saturday, November 22, 7:30 p.m. Inaugural concert by new orchestra features Beethoven Symphonies 4 and 7. Reception follows. $15. 609-462-4984. www.sinfoniettanova.org.
