New Scarsdale Orchestra to Host First Concert this Weekend

The Ars Viva Chamber Orchestra (AVCO) with Musical Director Jesse Henkensiefken will be hosting their first benefit concert this Saturday, August 20th 2011 at 6:00pm in Scarsdale. The event is titled “Tour de France” and will include an array of French wines and champagnes paired with French composers. There will be an international line-up of AVCO personnel performing works by Ravel, Debussy, Saint Saens, Barriere, Satie and Delibes. Artists to perform include Russian pianist Tatiana Tessman, London soprano Alison Buchanan, and Director Jesse Henkensiefken and Julliard cellist Serafim Smigelskiy. Tickets can be bought through Paypal by clicking here. Tickets and event location will be sent electrically upon purchase. All ticket sales and donations will help fund the upcoming 2011-2012 season.

A native of Kansas, Musical Director Henkensiefken moved to New York with his wife Tatania when she was accepted at the Manhattan School of Music were she currently is working on her DMA in Piano Performance. The two began to teach cello and piano to Scarsdale students and got to know a few families in the area. Henkensiefken garnered support to move his Midwest Ars Viva Chamber Orchestra to New York and held meetings with some local organizations about creating a concert series. This Saturday will be their first Benefit Concert for the 2011-2012 season. The Ars Viva Chamber Orchestra (AVCO) is already planning to collaborate with the Scarsdale Ballet Studio and the Scarsdale New Choral Society for the first season. The orchestra will include musicians from Scarsdale and Westchester as well as some players from the city who were originally in the Midwest ensemble.

2011-2012 Season highlights include:

• All American Composers Kids Concert – Copland Appalachian Spring, Barber Summer of Knoxville with Soprano Alison Buchanan and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue featuring Tatiana Tessman. Event also includes student raffle to conduct the orchestra and instrument petting zoo.
• String Extravagaza – Senior Citizen Concert with performer meet and greet reception – Tchaikovsky and Suk String Serenades.
• Baroque by Candlelight – Works by Handel, Bach and Vivaldi and collaboration with Scarsdale Ballet Studio.
• Season Finale – Russian Explosions – Stravinsky Dumbarton Oaks, Prokofiev Lt Kiji Suite and Rachmaninoff Piano Concert No. 3 with Tatiana Tessman.

To donate or learn more about Ars Viva visit www.arsvivamusic.com .