This chamber ensemble began when an ensemble of virtuoso musicians got together in 1974 and started to perform concerts at Greenwich Village’s Church of St. Luke.. It comprises 24 musicians who have now become the artistic core of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, founded in 1979, which is a chamber orchestra based in Hell’s Kitchen, New York. The ensemble is regularly heard in the orchestra’s Chamber Music Series.
The music the ensemble performs is featured each season by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in district programs at Brooklyn Museum, Merkin Hall and The Morgan Library and Museum with works that range from pieces that are far less commonly performed to works that have retained their popularity throughout the years and are regularly played.
Recordings the ensemble has performed on are many and include J.S.. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos, Beethoven: Chamber Works (Septet/Sextet/Duo), Byron Bellows: Lazy Afternoon, Copland: Appalachian Spring/Nonet for Strings/Two Pieces for String Quartet, Dvorak:/Doppler: String Quintet in G major/The Woodbird Op. 21, Gershwin: Oh Kay!, Handel: With Valour Abounding, Mozart: Divertimenti K.287, Mozart: Divertimento No. 11 in D Major K.251/Divertimento No.10 in F Major K.247, Franz Schubert: Overture in C for String Quintet d.8/String Quintet in C major D.956 along with Chamber Music of Ewan Ewazen with the American Brass Quartet and Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons with Kyung Wha Chung.
Sources:
- https://oslmusic.org/bios/st-lukes-chamber-ensemble/
- https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/SLCE.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestra_of_St._Luke%27s
- https://www.guidestar.org/profile/51-0201839
- https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2024/02/21/St-Lukes-Chamber-Ensemble-0800PM
- https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-10037/
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/st-lukes-chamber-ensemble-mn0001793625
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/3067048-St-Lukes-Chamber-Ensemble