Music

Music Program

Music at FPCY includes:

• Hymns at every service, using our organ, grand piano, or electronic harpsichord
• Adult choir of about 25, who sing at most 10:45 a.m. services, and at spring and fall concerts
• Adult bell choir of 12-14, who play during services, 4-6 times per year
• Youth bell choir of about 10, who also play during services, 3-4 times per year
• Concert series of 5-6 concerts including both professional guest musicians, choir members, and our Music Director

Music Director – Simona Frenkel

Simona Frenkel has been the musical director of the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown since 2000, and is also an internationally acclaimed musician. A native of Kiev, Ukraine, she holds an M.M. degree in Performance from Juilliard School of Music in New York, and a Ph.D. in musicology from the Kiev Conservatory. In 1994, she became the youngest organist ever to receive the national award “Honored Artist of the Ukraine”. Ms. Frenkel is heard frequently in recitals in the United States, Europe, and the former Soviet Union. She has made numerous television and radio recordings.

Notes from the Music Program

written by Carol Jensen

Our music programs provide ways for youth to participate in the life of the church.  Simona Frenkel organized a youth handbell choir in 2002, and about 40 young people have been involved in it since then.  They learn general musical skills as well as the specific skills needed to play handbells.  Some of them have also contributed to the adult handbell choir or the adult choir.

Simona also encourages vocal development of talented youth.  Two outstanding examples are Sean McAuliffe and Amy Savino, who have amazed and moved us with their singing. Both of them had some prior experience with music, but Simona has encouraged and coached them.  They assert that they couldn’t be where they are without her teaching skills her support and caring.  Sean took voice lessons and sang in two choirs at the college he attended.  Amy has competed in the finals of a classical singing competition for high school students in Chicago, and attended a summer program at the Eastman School of Music.

All of us (and especially Simona!) are very proud of all these young musicians.   Simona invites more teenagers to join the handbell and choir programs.

New Harpsichord

Heartfelt thanks to Cal Weber and the donors to the Kathy Weber Memorial Fund for the harpsichord which has been placed in the sanctuary in memory of Kathy. The harpsichord was used for the first time at the Christmas 2010 concert! This gift is sure to enrich our worship services and music program and we are all most grateful.

Concert Series

The Concert Series was initiated in the Winter of 2001 as a musical outreach to the community, to provide high quality musical concerts at little or no cost. (Previously, an Organ Concert Series was held in 1995-1996). The Concert Series is organized and facilitated by the Concert Series Task force under the auspices of the Worship Commission. The funds to support the series are provided by annual donations of music patrons; the concert series is entirely self-supporting.

The concerts held over the years include:

2012-2013

• October 14^th, 2012 – Jazz Concert – The Cary Brown Trio
• December 2^nd, 2012 – Christmas Choir Concert – The Messiah
• February 10^th, 2013 – The Bob January Swing Dance Orchestra
• April 21^st, 2013 – Spring Choir Concert

2011-2012

• November 6^th, 2011 – Jazz Concert – The Cary Brown Trio
• December 11^th, 2011 – Christmas Choir Concert – Charpentier, Soler, Chilcott
• April 22^nd, 2012 – Choir concert with the “Juilliard 415″ Early Music Ensemble
• May 12^th, 2012 – Cabaret Evening

2010 – 2011

• December 5^th, 2010 – Choir concert – Handel’s  Messiah
• December 29^th, 2010 – Candlight Concert with David Baranowski
• March 6th, 2011 – Bob January Swing Dance Orchestra
• April 3rd, 2011 – The Yale Whiffenpoofs
• May 15th, 2011 – Choir Concert

2009 – 2010

• December 13th: The Adult Choir, Simona Frenkel, Director – Vivaldi Gloria
• December 27th: David Baranowski – Candlelight Concert
• April 25th: The Adult Choir, Simona Frenkel, Director – Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Chilcott Jazz Mazz, and several Rachmaninoff pieces

2008 – 2009

• November 16th:  The Cary Brown Trio
• December 7th: Simona Frenkel, Director – Handel’s  Messiah (Parts I and II)
• December 28th: David Baranowski – Candlelight Concert
• February 22nd: Carnaval – Bob January’s Swing Dance Band
• March 8th: Young Artists Concert – Special Music School NYC

2007 – 2008

• November 18th Varick String Quartet
• December 16th Simona Frenkel, Director – Bach Christmas Oratorio
• December 30th David Baranowski – Candlelight Concert
• Spring: Simona Frenkel, Director -  Schubert Mass in G, Lieder and Musical Schubertiana

2006 – 2007

• December 10th: Simona Frenkel, Director – Vivaldi Gloria, Bach Concerto
• December 27th: David Baranowski -  Candlelight Concert
• February 11th: Simona Frenkel Director – David Glukh and Handbells
• March 25th: Simona Frenkel, Director – “Billings to Broadway”

2005 – 2006

• December 4th: Simona Frenkel, Director – Selections from Handel’s Messiah and “Come Ye Sons of Art”
• December 28th:David Baranowski – Candlelight Concert
• March 5th:  The Yale Whiffenpoofs
• April 30th: Simona Frenkel, Director – “Pretty Much Mozart”

2004 – 2005

• November 14th: The Brass Apple Quartet
• December 5th:  Simona Frenkel, Director – Handel’s  Messiah
• January 9th:  Scarboro Trio
• February 13th: Cary Brown Trio (Jazz)
• April 10th: Simona Frenkel, Director  Spring Concert

2003 – 2004

• October 5th: Organ Concert with Stewart Holmes (children’s concert)
• December 7th : Simona Frenkel, Director Christmas Concert, variations on “Ave Maria”
• December 28th : David Baranowski Candlelight Concert
• February 8th: Cary Brown Trio (Jazz)
• Mrch 21st : Scarborough Trio
• April 25th Simona Frenkel, Director Spring Concert

2002 – 2003

• September 29; Annie and the Natural Wonder Band
• December 15th: Simona Frenkel Director – Handel’s Messiah
• December 29th; David Baranowski Candlelight Concert
• February 11; Christopher Lewis, Piano
• April 6th : Simona Frenkel, Director: Elijah
• May 4th: Bob January and his Satin Swing Band

2001 – 2002

• November 11: David Baranowski, Piano, Atsuko Takahata, Clarinet & Jeff Shah, Cello
• December 16th    Simona Frenkel, Director - Handel’s  Messiah
• April 29th :  Christopher Lewis, Pianist
• May 20th;  Kathleen Vande Berg, Director – the music of  Stephen Sondheim: from “Into the Woods”