Brick Church Music Series holding woodwind concert in Deerfield

By CHRIS LARABEE

Staff Writer

Published: 04-11-2023 11:57 AM

DEERFIELD — Longtime fans of “The Brick Church” Music Series will get a rare treat to end the series’ 2022-2023 season, when its first woodwind concert in several years comes to town.

The Frisson Winds Trio, along with pianist Marika Bournaki, will perform on Sunday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the First Church of Deerfield, 71 Old Main St., marking the end of the music series until the next season starts in September. The event is a fundraiser for the church and a suggested donation of $10 to $20 is requested at the door.

The trio is made up of clarinetist Bixby Kennedy, oboist Tom Gallant and bassoonist Remy Taghavi.

“All four of the musicians are top-notch,” said First Church of Deerfield Artistic Director Jean Pitman Turner. “It will really interest our audience because they don’t really hear this combination [of instruments]. I’m really looking forward to that, as our audience is, too.”

While based in New York, several of the musicians have connections to the Pioneer Valley. Kennedy was formerly a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, while Taghavi is currently a bassoon lecturer at UMass.

The trio is one part of the Frisson Winds group, which brings together numerous classical music players. The overarching group is managed by Gallant, who Pitman Turner said is “one of the few virtuoso performers” of the oboe, uniting “the technical mastery of his instrument, along with charm and wits.”

Pitman Turner said Gallant performed in an ensemble for the church about 10 years ago and she reached out to him last year to set up a show.

“I haven’t had a woodwind in the Brick Church Music Series in several years,” she said, “and to his credit, he came back with this trio.”

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They’re expected to play pieces by Florent Schmitt, Mozart, Jean Françaix, Francis Poulenc and Mikhail Glinka, as well as a piano piece by Frédéric Chopin.

A reception will be held in Deerfield Academy’s Caswell Library following the performance. Masks are optional and handicap parking is located behind the church.

Reflecting on the 2022-2023 series, Pitman Turner said some “excellent” musicians have come to town. The Brick Church Music Series will return in September.

“You couldn’t find any better musicians than what we presented to our audience,” Pitman Turner said, “and they were thrilled.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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