2022-23 Ensemble Program
Ensemble Program
NYFC Ensemble participants at the May 21, 2023 concert Photo: Jenny Cline
NY Flute Club Ensemble Program Reboot!
After a two-year pause, the Ensemble Program will resume in the fall. We meet once a month, usually on the third weekend, either Saturday or Sunday from 2:00-4:00 pm, September through April, and play a concert at the May Annual Meeting. We hope to resume rehearsals at Studios 353 at 353 W 48th Street. Dates will be finalized soon and posted below.
To join the ensemble:
- You must be a current member of the NY Flute Club.
- You must have proof of Covid-19 vaccination.
- No audition is required. We accept all levels of players.
NOTE: We are starting fresh! If you wish to participate in the ensemble program (even past members) you must email Denise & Mark at: ensembles@nyfluteclub.org. Please include your name, preferred email address, and instrument (C flute, piccolo, alto flute, bass flute, contrabass). For new members, include a short note describing your playing level (high school, college, amateur, professional).
We will email parts in PDF files. If you need a hard copy, please let us know.
NEW as of December 2021! Interested in playing in a group of two to four or five players in a player’s home? The NYFC has revived its matchmaking service for NYFC members interested in playing in a small ensemble. See the December 2021 NYFC Newsletter for details and/or contact Tereasa Payne at tereasapayne@hotmail.com.
Photos and reports of the NYFC Ensemble's activities in past seasons, starting with 2016-17, may be found here.
Meeting Schedule for the 2022-23 Season
| Date | Time | Location (if not Studios 353) | Event type |
| Saturday, September 17, 2022 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | In-person | |
| Sunday, October 16, 2022 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | In-person | |
| Saturday, November 19, 2022 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | In-person | |
| Sunday, December 18, 2022 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | In-person | |
| Saturday, January 21, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | In-person | |
| Sunday, February 26, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | In-person | |
| Saturday, March 25. 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | In-person | |
| Sunday, April 23, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | In-person | |
| Sunday, May 21, 2023 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Pearl Studios, Room 304 | In-person |
Our Sunday, April 23, 2023 Meet-up
Participants at the April 23 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
The NYFC Ensemble met on Sunday, April 23, for the final rehearsal before the May 21 concert, which will feature a program of pieces performed in previous concerts from 2016 to 2019. Seventeen members attended (two new and 15 returning).
The icebreaker question was "What brought you to the NY Flute Club?" Recent transplants to the NY/NJ/CT area joined to meet new people, and longtime residents were mostly looking for a place to play in a group.
Our Saturday, March 25, 2023 Meet-up
Participants at the March 25 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Twenty-two NYFC flutists (all returning and none new) met in the basement room at Studios 353 on Saturday, March 25. Co-director Mark Vickers led the group in readings of this year's repertoire, and ensemble member William Giannnone conducted his Bach transcription. Attention was directed to some issues with intonation and dynamics, with a noticeably positive effect.
The icebreaker question was prompted by the recent arrival of spring: "Tell us something you like (or dislike) about spring." People liked the extra light, the milder weather, and the pretty flowers; the most common dislike was the increased level of allergens. One item (more yardwork) managed to make both lists—a pleasant activity for one, but a chore for another.
Our Sunday, February 26, 2023 Meet-up
Participants at the February 26 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Seventeen NYFC flutists (all returning and none new) met in the basement room at Studios 353 on Sunday, February 26. Co-directors Denise Koncelik and Mark Vickers led the group in readings of this year’s repertoire, and ensemble member William Giannnone conducted his transcription of J.S. Bach's Sinfonia #1. Time was found to address issues with tempo (unintentional slowing from slow to slower) and intonation (mismatched octave G’s in The Sound of Music).
The icebreaker question “Tell us about a dish you like to make,” revealed that some people rely on their spouses to do the cooking, and left us with pleasant thoughts about desserts (apple pie and chocolate chip cookies), grilled cheese sandwiches, bean burritos and chili, a kale/potato dish, saag paneer with halloumi cheese, and vegan pizza.
Our Saturday, January 21, 2023 Meet-up
Participants at the January 21 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Twenty-three NYFC flutists (17 returning and six new) met in the basement room at Studios 353 on Saturday, January 21. Denise Koncelik led the group in readings of this year's repertoire and an updated version of a Bach transcription by ensemble member William Giannnone. Lauren Kurtz conducted On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss; co-director Mark Vickers was absent due to a prior work commitment. Two special visitors (NYFC president Jenny Cline and board member Chip Shelton) updated the group about two newly scheduled NYFC events.
The icebreaker question "Tell us about how you celebrate the start of the New Year" revealed that most people are pretty content with just a quiet evening at home, with the most memorable responses being "I change my batteries" and "I stay at home and watch Twilight Zone reruns." The one resolution shared ("Use less plastic") was admired by all.
Our Sunday, December 18, 2022 Meet-up
Participants at the December 18 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Sixteen NYFC flutists (15 returning and one new) met at Studios 353 on Sunday, December 18. Co-directors Mark Vickers and Denise Koncelik led the group in readings of past repertoire and a published Bach transcription by ensemble member William Giannnone.
The icebreaker question was “Tell us your name and how you came to get it.” Many first names came from a desire to remember a family member, and some last names were simpler or Americanized versions of longer ones. Most unusual: Xiao (Lester) Yu picked his English name out of a book as a grade-school student in China when he started studying English.
Our Saturday, November 19, 2022 Meet-up
Participants at the November 19 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Twenty-five NYFC flutists (24 returning and one new) met at Studios 353 on Saturday, November 19. Mark Vickers (now recovered) was ill; fellow co-director Denise Koncelik, assisted by Lauren Kurtz, led the group in readings of past repertoire and a "back-by-popular demand" arrangement of The Sound of Music.
The icebreaker question was "Tell us about your all-time favorite vacation in 100 words or less." We learned that we are quite a traveled group: three people cited fond memories of Morocco (and its camels), two Costa Rica, with other venues of note including Peru, New Zealand, Kenya, Taiwan, Aruba, as well as a few domestic locations in the USA. Not surprisingly, the company mattered as much as the place.
Our Sunday, October 16, 2022 Meet-up
Participants at the October 16 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Brian Klasewitz
Twenty-three NYFC flutists (19 returning and four new) met at Studios 353 on West 48th Street on Sunday, October 16. Mark Vickers led the group in readings of the repertoire introduced at the previous meeting; Denise Koncelik let the participants know that she and Mark welcomed suggestions for additional repertoire (including favorites from past years).
The icebreaker question was "What is your favorite drink?" About half the participants cited various types of coffee for the morning, and many favored red wine or a seltzer drink for the evening. Most unusual? Amy Appleton's mix of carrot, ginger and turmeric juices with tequila and lemon (something she ordered at a bar and is working to recreate at home). At the urging of Denise and Mark, Kathy Saenger also said a few words about her unusual Tee-shaped ergonomic headjoint.
Our Saturday, September 17, 2022 Meet-up
Participants at the September 17 ensembles meet-up. Photo: Denise Koncelik
We had 18 flutists for our opening Ensemble "reboot" rehearsal on Saturday, September 17th at Studios 353 in Manhattan. The three new members and 15 returning players produced a group that included four bass flutes, five alto flutes, and three piccolos. Mark Vickers conducted and we read through Ave verum corpus (Mozart), Simple Gifts (arr. Lombardo), On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss (Holsinger), Rhumba (Coolen), Traffic Jam (Lombardo), The Girl from Ipanema (Jobin), and Washington Post (Sousa).
The icebreaker question was "Where do you consider home?" Many claimed Manhattan, with Brooklyn (with four) a close second; New Jersey, Connecticut, and those with international roots accounted for the rest.
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