Our Musicians
Accomplished Professionals
All of our musicians are accomplished professionals. Many of them are graduates of conservatories and colleges such as Juilliard, Eastman, Curtis, and the Boston Conservatory. World-renowned musicians such as Julius Baker, former flutist with the New York Philharmonic, have performed with the Ensemble.
Doansburg Musicians Perform Around the Globe
Doansburg musicians perform throughout the year in venues all around the world, in addition to their annual series scheduled by the Doansburg Chamber Ensemble. Many have performed at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. It is not uncommon to find a number of the musicians on tour throughout the year. Doansburg Chamber Ensemble performances serve Putnam County, Orange County, Dutchess County, Westchester County, Fairfield County, the Hudson Valley, and the New York metropolitan area. Our performances are attended by residents of Carmel, Mahopac, Brewster, Ridgefield, Poughkeepsie, Cold Spring, Danbury and a number of other communities.
Intelligent, upbeat performances
Critics have described the Ensemble as deserving credit for providing intelligent, upbeat performances of high quality. The collaboration of well-matched musicians and imaginative programming was noted to have brought vitality, energy and artistry to the music. (Francis Brancaleone, Gannett Suburban Newspapers)
Additional Featured Performers
Janey Choi
Canadian violinist/teaching artist/concert host, Janey Choi has performed, taught, and collaborated with artists across the globe, engaging audiences of all ages and genres. Recipient of numerous awards including National First Prize in the Canadian Music Competition, an Artists International debut recital at Carnegie Hall, she has participated in such festivals as Mostly Mozart, Norfolk, Taos, Bar Harbor Music Festival, the Spoleto Festivals in the U.S. and Italy, Festival Musical de Santo Domingo, the Santa Fe, Sarasota & Berkshires Opera companies. Highlights of recent years include performances with such groups as the Atrikk Ensemble, Ardelia Trio, Orchestra of St Luke’s, as substitute Concertmaster of Broadway’s &Juliet and Aladdin, on tour with Adele, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, and Stevie Wonder, curating an interactive chamber series at the cell theatre in NYC, and her debut as a host of the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts. She has held education posts for the New York Philharmonic, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Binghamton University, and has presented educational programs for Carnegie Hall Family Day, the College Music Society National Conference, Concert Artists Guild, Lincoln Center Institute, and Tokyo College of Music. Dr. Choi holds advanced degrees from the Juilliard School and Rutgers University where her major teachers were Joseph Fuchs, Joel Smirnoff, Harvey Shapiro and Arnold Steinhardt. She enjoys organizing chamber music readings, hiking, playing hockey and doing jigsaw puzzles with her husband and two daughters. For more information, please visit www.JaneyChoi.com
John Frisch
JOHN FRISCH, Oboist; appears frequently as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Based in New York, he has played for many area orchestras, including the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Alvin Ailey Dance Company, EOS, Harmonie Ensemble, Jupiter Symphony, Long Island Philharmonic, New York City Opera, New York Pops, Stamford Symphony, Queens Symphony and for the Mostly Mozart Festival, and the Lincoln Center Festival. He has played for such Broadway productions as Les Misérables, Man of La Mancha, and Fiddler on the Roof. As a member of the New York Kammermusiker, a double-reed consort, he has toured internationally and recorded for Dorian Records. Mr. Frischholds a D.M.A. from the CUNY Graduate Center. He received his BA in Philosophy from Columbia University and his M.M. from the Yale School of Music, where he studied with Ronald Roseman.
Susan LaFever
SUSAN LaFEVER, French Hornist; has performed as a soloist in concerts throughout the United States, Western Europe, Mexico and Japan. Called “bold and striking” with “a confident lyric quality” by the New York Times, she has partnered with some of the world’s finest musicians. Ms. LaFever has appeared at the American Landmark Festivals at Federal Hall, St. Bartholomew’s Tuesday Chapel Concerts, and the Noonday Concert Series at St. Paul’s Chapel, all in Manhattan. Ms. LaFever has soloed with such groups as the Lincoln Civic Orchestra, Rutgers University Orchestra, South Orange Symphony Orchestra and with the Bergen Youth Orchestra. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska and Manhattan School of Music. Ms. LaFever maintains a private studio and has given master classes at the University of Iowa, Western Illinois University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has presented clinics and performed at several Northeast Horn Workshops, the International Women’s Brass Conference and the International Horn Symposium. She has also recorded for Phoenix USA Records. Ms. LaFever is the Director of The Ridgewood Singers.