Music

February 18th, 2024 at 4 p.m.

Winter Recital At Deerfield Presbyterian Church

The next recital at Deerfield Presbyterian will be on Sunday, February 18th at 4:00 PM. It will feature Gideon Whitehead, classical guitarist, and Eric Just, clarinetist, accompanied by Evelyn Larter, the church’s Director of Music.

Gideon Whitehead is quickly establishing himself as an outstanding and captivating artist. He has been featured on radio broadcasts from W-QXR in New York, W-WFM in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, and television appearances on WHYY-TV and YArts in Philadelphia. In 2012, he made his New York City debut in a concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a chamber musician, Gideon has had the honor of collaborating on numerous occasions with world-renowned violinist and Philadelphia Orchestra Concertmaster David Kim. He has been featured in solo performances throughout Philadelphia as well as in collaboration with Mimi Stillman and the Dolce Suono Ensemble. Committed to serving the community through his music, he frequently performs for residents at retirement living centers and nursing homes and presents the classical guitar to school children of all ages as both education and entertainment. He completed his Artist Diploma at the Curtis Institute of Music in May, 2014 studying with renowned guitarists Jason Vieaux and David Starobin.

Philadelphia-area clarinetist Eric Just is currently serving as acting principal clarinet with the Akron Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with many orchestras nationwide, including the New World Symphony, Symphony in C, the NJ Capitol Philharmonic, and the symphonies of Hartford, Canton, Lancaster, Reading, and Bakersfield. Eric received his Master’s degree in clarinet performance from California State University, Fullerton, where he was a student of Burt Hara, Håkan Rosengren, and Andrew Lowy. His undergraduate studies were at Temple University with Paul Demers. A proponent of new music, Eric has premiered works by Jan Krzywicki, Maurice Wright,  John Dickson, Jon Sonnenberg, Jake Gunnar Walsh, and many others. He is an adjunct professor at Point University in West Point, Georgia, and also teaches at the Csehy Summer School of Music.

There is no charge for the Deerfield recital – a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series. A Meet-The Artists reception will follow. The church, located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street, is handicap accessible.

December 3rd, 2023 at 4 p.m.

Favorite Music of Christmas

The popular Annual Christmas Recital at Deerfield Presbyterian Church will be held on Sunday, December 3rd at 4:00PM. Jenny Anne Flory, mezzo soprano, and Daniel Taylor, tenor and cellist, will be accompanied on piano by Evelyn R. Larter, the church’s Director of Music. This will be a delightful program of favorite Christmas arias, songs and carols.

Mezzo-soprano, Jenny Anne Flory, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, graduated with her MM in Opera Performance, as a member of the University of Maryland Opera Studio (May 2017). She is currently a Second Year Resident Artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Ms. Flory recently sang Zerlina in AVA’s Spring 2023 production of Don Giovanni.  In November 2022, she had her professional Mainstage debut as Siebel in Detroit Opera’s production of Faust. In the summer of 2023, Ms. Flory traveled to Graz, Austria to participate in the American Institute of Musical Studies Opera Studio. She has also studied and performed in summer opera festivals in Italy. Flory recently sang the mezzo solo in the Duruflé Requiem with the Greater Philadelphia Choral Society (May ’23), and the mezzo solos in Handel’s Messiah Part II/III at Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia (April ’23) She currently studies under the tutelage of Bill Schuman at AVA.

Noted for his “solid, ringing tenor that was rich and intense,” and as a “mellifluous talent you should watch for” by Opera Today, Daniel Taylor is establishing himself with a voice of power, sensitivity, and musicianship. A member of the chorus at Opera Philadelphia since 2012, he has also sung various roles for the company. In addition to Opera Philadelphia, he has performed operatic works with a number of other organizations including The New York Philharmonic, Curtis Opera Theater and Temple University Opera Theater. Outside of opera, Daniel is a member of the Grammy award winning new music chamber choir, The Crossing, and has sung a number of solos with the group. With a MM in vocal performance from Temple University, and a BM in cello performance from the Peabody Conservatory, he has also performed extensively as a cellist and early music specialist on baroque cello and viola da gamba.

There is no admission charge for the recital; a freewill offering will be received. The recital will be followed by a “Meet the Artists” reception.  For more information and directions, call (856) 455 1222

September 10th, 2023 at 4 p.m.

Eveyln Larter – Piano and Organ, with Special Guest Emilie Park – Violin

The first recital in the new series at Deerfield Presbyterian will be given by Evelyn R. Larter on Sunday, September 10th at 4:00 PM. Celebrating twenty years as the church’s Director of Music, she will perform music by Couperin, Bach, Rachmaninoff, Lemmons and Doucet on the church’s highly regarded Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ, and on piano.  Special guest artist Emilie Park, violin, will perform some of Ms Larter’s own compositions, including the first performance of two recently commissioned pieces.  

Evelyn Larter was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and is an honors graduate of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music in concert piano and general music education. She is a widely published composer of sacred choral anthems and instrumental hymn arrangements. In 2020 her collection of hymn arrangements for piano trio, How Sweet The Sound, was recorded and released by the Elite Artists Trio, a Steinway Artists ensemble in Taiwan, under the title Amazing Grace. Evelyn is a regular recitalist at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, home of the world’s largest organ, and was one of six organists featured in a recent CD of movie music recorded there, titled The Big Screen On The Boardwalk.

Emilie Park began her study of the violin at the age of nine under the instruction of Mr. Lee Snyder of Settlement Music School of Philadelphia.  As a young artist, she won First Prize in the Ambler Symphony Orchestra Competition and the Outstanding Young Christian Artist Competition.  As a result, she has performed as soloist with both Ambler Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Biblical University Orchestra. Mrs. Park is a founding member of the recently formed New Jersey Chamber Orchestra, and was previously a violin faculty member of Settlement Music School of Philadelphia for 12 years.

There is no charge for the Deerfield recital – a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series. A Meet-The Artists reception will follow. The church, located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street, is handicap accessible.

Unable to attend in person?  Join us via Zoom – CLICK HERE

May 14, 2023 at 4 p.m.

The Harvey String Duo Return

The last recital in the current series at Deerfield Presbyterian Church, will be on Sunday, May 14th at 4:00 PM. The guest artists will be The Harvey String Duo from Philadelphia, whose last appearance was hugely popular with the appreciative audience.

Cassia Harvey, cello, and Myanna Harvey, violin, have played and performed together since childhood. Theirs is a partnership that spans teaching, writing, publishing, and playing. Myanna and Cassia have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and the Philadelphia Academy of Music. They have also performed at such venues as the Reading Public Museum, the German Society of Pennsylvania, the Trinity Center for Urban Life, the Ethical Society of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and at the Bournemouth International Music Festival, where they won first prize. Myanna’s playing is featured on the CD release Duos and Trios from Four Centuries, and Cassia plays on The Russian Cello: Rare Treasures from Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union.  They have written and published over two hundred books for strings and have sold upwards of 55,000 books to customers in over 50 countries. They also maintain active teaching studios. Their program at Deerfield will include classical, sacred, folk and popular music; they will be joined at the piano by Evelyn R. Larter, the church’s director of music, for a few selections. Learn more about the artists at www.theharveystringduo.com.  

There is no charge for the recital – a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series. Following the recital there will be a Meet-the-Artists reception. The church is located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street and is handicap accessible.

February 12, 2023 at 4 p.m.

An Exciting Pipe Organ Recital 

The next recital in the current series at Deerfield Presbyterian will be on Sunday, February 12th at 4:00 PM when Colin Howland will perform on the church’s highly regarded Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. Colin’s formative musical years were spent as a student and assistant to Keith Chapman, who presided over the largest playing musical instrument in the world at that time, the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia. Colin is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and Baylor University, and he currently serves as Director of Music and Organist at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. He has been active as an organ recitalist for over 35 years, playing concerts throughout the United States, and as far away as England and China. Orchestral performances have included collaborations with the Irving Symphony, the Richardson Symphony, the Plano Symphony, and the Florida Pops Orchestra. Colin is also a founding member of the Philadelphia Organ Quartet, a unique ensemble which arranges and performs music for four organs and organists! His program at Deerfield will include music by Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Vierne and other composers. There is no charge for the recital – a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series. A Meet-The Artist reception will follow. The church, located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street, is handicap accessible.

December 4, 2022 at 7 p.m.

Favorite Music of Christmas

The Annual Christmas Recital at Deerfield Presbyterian Church will be held on Sunday, December 4th at 7pm.  Returning to perform this year are soprano Priscilla Coblentz, and bass Robert C. Joubert, accompanied by pianist Evelyn R. Larter, the church’s Director of Music. Eric Just, clarinet, will also participate. Their program will include arias from Handel’s Messiah, and many favorite Christmas Songs, Carols and Spirituals.

Priscilla Coblentz is a rare, true lyric soprano. Her voice is combination of power and beauty. Born and raised on a dairy farm and ranch in Chouteau, Oklahoma, she received scholarships to attend Oklahoma City University’s School of Music. Priscilla has performed the title soprano roles of Puccini’s Tosca, Suor Angelica & Madama Butterfly. She has also performed the role of Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana, Musetta and Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme. In December 2013 she performed at Pennsylvania Society in New York City where the Vice President of the United States was the honored guest. She has performed “God Bless America” for the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizen’s Bank Park and “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the Reading Phillies on numerous occasions. She has sung in Poland and regularly tours in Italy. She lives in Chester County, PA with her husband Aaron Cohen.

Robert C. Joubert has appeared with Bronx Opera, Lake George Opera and Philadelphia Opera Collective. As a recital and concert soloist, Rob has appeared in performances including Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, and Mozart’s Mass in C. Awards have included 1st place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition for the Central New York/Finger Lakes Region, Adult Division, as well as being selected as a finalist for the Merola Opera Program, San Francisco. Robert holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance (2006) and a Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance (2004) from The Greatbatch School of Music, Houghton College. In addition to his performing activities, Mr. Joubert serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Shawnee High School in Medford, New Jersey

There is no admission charge; a freewill offering will be received.  The recital will be followed by a “Meet the Artists” reception.  For more information and directions, call (856) 455 1222.

October 2, 2022 at 4 p.m.

The New Jersey Chamber Orchestra

The 2022-23 Recital Series at Deerfield Presbyterian will begin on Sunday, October 2nd at 4:00PM, with a concert by The New Jersey Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Hong. They will bring an exciting program of music by Bach, Glinka and Borodin. The New Jersey Chamber Orchestra (NJCO) is New Jersey’s newest professional orchestra, featuring distinguished musicians and special guests including performers from The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Hailed by Kurt Masur as “One of the most talented young conductors of his generation,” Thomas Hong enjoys the privilege of being one of many successful protégés of the great Maestro. Having won titled positions with the Dallas, Pittsburgh and Seattle Symphony Orchestras as well as Orchestre National de France, Hong has conducted countless concerts with those orchestras, ranging from classical to community, educational and pops concerts. Presently, he is the artistic director and conductor of the University of Pennsylvania Orchestras.

There is no charge for the recital: a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series.  The church is located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street, and is handicap accessible. 

Zoom Link

May 15th, 2022 at 4 p.m.

A Cello & Piano Recital

The next recital at Deerfield Presbyterian will be on Sunday, May 15th at 4:00PM, and will feature Israeli cellist Oded Hadar, who is making his first appearance in the Deerfield Recital Series. He will be accompanied by Evelyn Larter, piano, in a program of music by Bach, Schumann, Brahms and Fauré.

Recipient of the Audience Choice Prize in the prestigious 2015 Aviv Cello Competition, Oded Hadar has performed worldwide as both soloist and chamber musician. He has been the recipient of several major scholarships and prizes internationally and maintained the prestigious “Outstanding Musician” status during his three years of service in the Israel Defense Forces, concertizing across Israel and France as a result. Summer festival appearances include the Perlman Music Program, the Salzburg Music Festival, the Brussels Chamber Music Festival and the Northern Lights Chamber Music Festival among others. As a member of the chamber music ensemble “Manhattan Chamber Players” from 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hadar performed regularly in many of the most prestigious chamber music halls across the US, Israel, and South America, including Carnegie Hall and Tel Aviv Museum. 

Born in Tel Aviv, Mr. Hadar began his cello studies at the age of six. After studying at Tel Aviv University with Hillel Zori, he received his Master’s Degree from the New England Conservatory, studying with Paul Katz. He now resides in New York City, performing regularly across the US and Israel. Along with his active career as a musician, Mr. Hadar is currently pursuing a master’s Degree in clinical psychology at Columbia University in New York City.

Evelyn Larter has been the Director of Music at Deerfield Presbyterian since 2003. An honors graduate of The Royal Scottish Academy Of Music in concert piano, she is a widely published composer and a regular recitalist on the world’s largest organ at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City.

There is no charge for the recital: a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series.  The church is located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street, and is handicap accessible. 

March 18th, 2022 at 7 p.m.

A Flute and Piano Recital

The next recital in the current series at Deerfield Presbyterian will be on Friday, March 18th at 7:00 PM with Megan Emigh Carroll, flute, and Graeme Burgan, piano. Their program will include music by Beethoven, Prokofiev and other composers.

 Megan Emigh Carroll is a prizewinner of some of the world’s most prestigious flute competitions, including the 2009 Kobe International Flute Competition and the 2008 Jean-Pierre Rampal Competition, and has soloed with such orchestras as the Basel Symphony Orchestra, Kobe City Chamber Orchestra and Orchestre National d’Île-de-France. Her performances have been broadcast on radio and television by Radio France, NPR, NBC and other local stations. Most recently, Megan was featured in concert and interview on the radio program “Music Makers of Philadelphia” produced by Jim Cotter and WHYY. Megan graduated from the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division and Basel Musik Akademie with honors. She is an adjunct faculty member of Rutgers and Cairn Universities and a passionate teacher and educator.

A native of Australia, Graeme Burgan is an exciting and versatile pianist working within opera, chamber music, musical theatre and jazz. He has performed at events including the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the Philadelphia Lieder Society, the Melbourne Recital Center, the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Friday Musicale in Jacksonville and The Philadelphia Orchestra’s Sound All Around program. Graeme is a faculty member of Cairn University and Moravian College; he is also the Executive Director of  Csehy Summer School of Music.

There is no charge for the recital – a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series. A Meet-The Artists reception will follow. The church, located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street, is handicap accessible.

December 5, 2021 at 7 p.m.

A Mezzo Soprano, Tenor, and Piano Recital

The next recital at Deerfield Presbyterian will be on Sunday, December 5th at 7:00PM, and will feature Priscilla Wortman, mezzo soprano, Luke Norvell, tenor, and Evelyn Larter, piano.

More information coming soon.

October 10, 2021 at 4 p.m.

A Violin and Organ Recital

The next recital at Deerfield Presbyterian will be on Sunday, October 10th at 4:00PM, and will feature Andrew Stump, violin, and Aaron Patterson, organ.

Our recital series begins with two young students from the famous Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. Andrew Stump hails from Woodbridge, Virginia, and studies French horn. He is also a highly skilled violinist. A Philadelphia native, Aaron Patterson is in his third year of organ studies with Alan Morrison; he is an assistant Wanamaker Grand Court organist, and also assistant organist at Tenth Presbyterian Church. 

There is no charge for the recital: a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series. The church is located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street; the sanctuary is handicap accessible.

June 6, 2021 at 4 p.m.

An Afternoon of Song

The next recital at Deerfield Presbyterian will be on Sunday, June 6th at 4:00PM, and will feature Branch Fields, bass, and Paul Jones, piano, both making return visits to the recital series. Branch Fields has been engaged throughout North America and beyond in opera, musical theater, and concert. 2020 began with a musical theater showcase tour of Europe with Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City, partnering with churches in Krakow, Vienna, and Munich to do outreach concerts. He was bass soloist in Beethoven’s 9th symphony with the Carmel Symphony (IN) and Gulf Coast Symphony in Fort Myers. On March 7th he was a guest artist for the Lackey Clinic’s 25th Anniversary Banquet, which raised $250,000 that night to serve people who can’t afford healthcare. Engagements are starting to return now, and Branch will be performing with the Charlottesville Opera in their Broadway in the Park concerts on June 10th and 11th and with Goodspeed Musicals in Connecticut, who are planning to open their season in September with South Pacific.

Canadian pianist and conductor, Paul Jones, has enjoyed a multi-faceted career as a performer, university professor, and church musician over the past 25 years. His graduate degrees in piano and conducting are from Indiana University where he was a doctoral conducting fellow and studied piano with Menahem Pressler. Prior piano teachers included Edward Auer, Martin Canin and Samuel Hsu. Dr. Jones has served four universities and seven churches, has written two books on church music, composed 200+ compositions, recorded eleven albums, performed in 14 countries, and accompanied eight Metropolitan Opera stars as well as many top-tier orchestral soloists.  

There is no charge for the recital: a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series.  Due to social distancing requirements, seating is limited. Please email DeerfieldRSVP@gmail.com to reserve your seat(s). The church is located at 530 Old Deerfield Pike, Deerfield Street; the sanctuary is handicap accessible.

April 18, 2021 at 4 p.m.

Recital Series Returns To Deerfield Presbyterian Church

The long-running recital series at Deerfield Presbyterian, suspended for the last year, will resume on Sunday, April 18th at 4:00PM. The guest artists will be The Harvey String Duo from Philadelphia.

Cassia Harvey, cello, and Myanna Harvey, violin, have played and performed together since childhood. Theirs is a partnership that spans teaching, writing, publishing, and playing. Myanna and Cassia have performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and the Philadelphia Academy of Music. They have also performed at such venues as the Reading Public Museum, the German Society of Pennsylvania, the Trinity Center for Urban Life, the Ethical Society of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, and at the Bournemouth International Music Festival, where they won first prize. Myanna’s playing is featured on the CD release Duos and Trios from Four Centuries, and Cassia is playing on The Russian Cello: Rare Treasures from Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union.  They have written and published over two hundred books for strings and have sold upwards of 55,000 books to customers in over 50 countries. They maintain active teaching studios. Their program at Deerfield will include classical, sacred, folk and popular music; they will be joined at the piano by Evelyn R. Larter, the church’s director of music, for a few selections. Learn more about the artists at www.theharveystringduo.com.

There is no charge for the recital – a freewill offering will be received to benefit the recital series.  Due to social distancing requirements, seating in limited. Please email DeerfieldRSVP@gmail.com to reserve your seat(s).

Evelyn R. Larter, Director of Music and Organist

 

Anna & Erik Meyer

 

Evelyn Larter with Emilie Carter Park (left; violin) and Esther Jane Kulp (right; mezzo soprano), December 2019.

 

Lynne Beiler, Cellist & Davyd Booth, Pianist with Evelyn Larter – Sept 30, 2018

The Gospel According to Bach ~ Oct 28, 2018 Seated: Cheryl Elliott, Dottie Free, Tom Elliott, Pamela Fay, Ron Lipscomb. Standing: Rev Ken Larter, David Fay. Not seen: Evelyn Larter on organ.

 

AGO Members Recital – SouthWest Jersey Chapter May 2018