The Island Symphony Orchestra and the Seatuck Environmental Association

The Island Symphony Orchestra will celebrate the return of spring on Sunday, March 23 with the world premiere of “Sinfonietta Pastorale,” a work composed by Music Director, Eric R. Stewart. Inspired by songs of birds of New York State, the piece will be performed by guest artist, New York Philharmonic piccolo and flutist, Mindy Kaufman. The program will also feature “The Beauty of Birds,” an art exhibition curated by Seatuck Environmental Center.  For details visit www.seatuck.org

About Music Director / Composer Eric R. Stewart:

A native of Buffalo NY, conductor/composer Stewart reached out to Seatuck Environmental Association naturalist, John Turner, to learn about birds native to New York State.  His Sinfonietta translates the calls of the mourning dove, whip-poor-whil, black-capped chickadee, dark-eyed junco, and piping plover into written music. The composition showcases Kaufman’s technical mastery of the instrument, as well as her superb lyricism and musicality. Said Stewart, “The process of composing this piece was very special to me. I drew on childhood memories in Buffalo, New York, surrounded by snow, hearing nothing but the birds calling one another. From the very beginning of the piece, I tried to paint this picture with the music: a serene backdrop, sprinkled with the songs of these birds and warm reflection of the sunlight off the fresh snow.”

About Guest Artist, Mindy Kaufman:

Piccolo and flutist Mindy Kaufman joined the New York Philharmonic in 1979 at the age of 22. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Bonita Boyd, Walfrid Kujala, and James Galway. Ms. Kaufman has appeared as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of former Music Directors Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, and Lorin Maazel. Since September 2014, Ms. Kaufman has been teaching for the Shanghai Orchestra Academy. A sought-after commercial musician, she has performed on more than 45 film sound tracks. The March 23rd program will also feature the Concertina for Flute by Cécile Chaminade, and Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony Number 6. The Great South Bay Audubon Society will provide audience members with a printed guide to the birds featured in Stewart’s Sinfonietta Pastoral.