Bach's Lunch Concerts in Bradford, Olean

Everyone is invited to attend the sixth presentation of the Southern Tier Symphony’s " Bach’s Lunch, " concert April 15 at 1 PM at the First Presbyterian Church, 54 East Corydon Street, Bradford. " This concert is co-sponsored by the Greater Olean Association of Churches, and was started as a way to provide a unique opportunity to ‘pause for reflection’ during Holy Week. Everyone is welcome and we don’t require a ticket, although a free will offering is received. It allows us to ‘give back’ a little to the wonderful community that supports us, ” said Betsy Cashing, President of the Southern Tier Symphony Board of Directors in a news release sent to WESB.

The Southern Tier Symphony will complete its 11th season in May and has delighted audiences in the area. Each concert employs 50 – 65 musicians primarily from Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania. Musicians from Toronto, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Binghamton, and Rochester also come to perform. " Bach’s Lunch " will be performed by the Symphony's Chamber String orchestra of 12-15 players.

This year ‘s "Bach’s Lunch" performance will feature guest conductor, Bryan Eckenrode and principal flute, Julia Tunstall, both members of the Southern Tier Symphony. Mr. Eckenrode is taking the podium for John Whitney, who fell in January and injured his knee and is continuing rehabilitation.

Cellist Bryan Eckenrode graduated cum laude from SUNY at Stony Brook and holds a Master of Music degree from SUNY at Buffalo. Eckenrode has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, with Ars Nova, and as principal cellist of the British Columbia Mozart Festival Orchestra and is currently principal cello with the Western New York Chamber Orcherstra. He is a member of the Lexington String Quartet, and the chamber groups Voci D’Amore and Camerata.

Mr. Eckenrode records with the International Baroque Soloists, and he can be heard on the CD’s of many artists, including Ani DiFranco, Sixpence None the Richer, Seven Day Faith, Them Jazzbeards, John and Mary, and Alison Pipitone: not only as a cellist, but as a bagpiper and flutist. He has recorded the sound tracks of film scores for a number of silent movies being distributed on commercial DVD by the Turner Broadcasting Network. He has performed twice at Lincoln Center in New York and recently recorded the sound track for the PBS special – The Siege of Fort Erie – A Glorious Battle. He will be cellist with The Most Arts Festival 2014 at Alfred University.

Eckenrode is conductor and music director of the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chautauqua Regional Youth Symphony, the Prelude Strings Orchestra, and the Young Artists Orchestra of Jamestown. He conducted the Niagara All-County Festival Orchestra and the Erie All-County Festival Orchestra at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, and returns this year to conduct the Erie All-County Festival Orchestra. He has been guest conductor with the Western New York Chamber Orchestra. Eckenrode is the program coordinator for Artpark’s Music in the Woods series.

Eckenrode is an adjunct professor at Canisius College, Jamestown Community College, and director of the string department at Villa Maria College. Eckenrode is on the music faculty at the renowned Nichols School in Buffalo. He is married to the internationally acclaimed soprano, Cristen Gregory.

Julia Tunstall is a professional flutist based in Buffalo NY. She earned Masters and Doctoral degrees in Flute Performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester NY, where she studied with Bonita Boyd. She has played with professional symphony and opera orchestras across the country, and is currently principal flutist with the Southern Tier Symphony. Specializing in flute and piano literature, she plays in the Pas de Two flute and piano duo with Laura Peterson. She and Laura most recently presented a lecture concert on the music of Bela Bartok at the National Flute Association Convention in Las Vegas. A music community builder, she has been active in forming and supporting flute clubs throughout the country. She currently teaches at the University of Pittsburgh in Bradford, PA. An avid skier, she lives near Kissing Bridge in southern Erie County with her husband John Georger and daughter Emily.

"Bach’s Lunch" program will feature " Concerto #6 in E Minor for Flute " by Telemann, from the era of Bach, " Psalm for Strings " by Hartley, and the symphony’s own Peter Griesinger’s " String Symphony #3 in D."

“Bach’s compositions represent a period of music that lends itself to contemplation. We just like the ‘ring’ of ‘Bach’s Lunch’ and the idea of ‘feeding the soul’ during Holy Week, so we always use the name, ” said Cashing.

Admission is free and all are welcome. A free-will offering will be taken during the concert.

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