The Inwood Chamber Players is a distinguished ensemble of top-tier freelance musicians from the New York City metropolitan area, formed specifically to perform at Inwood Art Works Community Concerts. This unique group brings world-class musical experiences to an underserved Northern Manhattan community.
Organized by music director Gilbert Dejean, a bassoonist and Inwood resident, the Inwood Chamber Players made their debut in May 2022, and since that time have presented seasonal concerts for Inwood Art Works. The ensemble was created with the express purpose of enriching the cultural landscape of Inwood through high-quality musical performances. By bringing together exceptional musicians who have performed with renowned ensembles including the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, American Ballet Theater, Orpheus, The Orchestra of Saint Luke’s, and numerous Broadway shows, Mr. Dejean has assembled a group capable of delivering performances of the highest caliber.
The Inwood Chamber Players present a diverse repertoire of classical music, with a particular focus on popular works by European masters. Their programs often feature unique arrangements by Dejean, among others, adding a fresh perspective to beloved compositions. Examples of previous programs include the following:
- Mostly French: This program showcased popular classical music by French composers such as Gabriel Pierné, Claude Debussy, and Gabriel Fauré, alongside works by John Philip Sousa, Johannes Brahms, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.
- The Mighty Winds: This program featuring an introduction to the instruments of the wind quintet featuring works by Georges Bizet, Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Giaccomo Puccini, Franz Strauss, Julius Fucik, Johannes Brahms, and John Phillip Sousa.
- Dances Through the Centuries: A concert featuring lively dance pieces for Woodwind Octet. Composers in the program include Ferenc Farkas, Gordon Jacob, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms, Antonin Dvorak, Emile Waldteufe, and Peter Lawrance.
- European Masters: A classical program featuring arrangements of works by Johannes Brahms, Franz Doppler, Maurice Ravel, Ottorino Respighi, Giacomo Puccini, Georges Bizet, Sergei Prokofiev, Amilcare Ponchielli, and Antonín Dvořák.
- The Magic of Mozart: A concert dedicated to the timeless compositions of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, presented through Gilbert Dejean’s distinctive arrangements.
- Holiday Concerts: Annual performances featuring highlights from Handel’s “Messiah” and Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” specially arranged by Dejean to capture the spirit of the season.
Through their performances, the Inwood Chamber Players demonstrate a commitment to musical excellence and community engagement. Their unique position as a locally-focused ensemble allows them to tailor their programs to the interests and tastes of the Inwood community, creating a strong bond between the musicians and their audience.
Through our On Air podcast digital platform, IAW makes live captures of many of these concerts available in both video and audio formats on major distribution channels such as Apple Podcasts and YouTube. This allows us to extend our reach far beyond the physical confines of our local community to national and international audiences, amplifying the impact of the event.
Recent Performances
Meet the musicians, filmmakers, writers, theater makers, and artists of all stripes that make their home in what we affectionately call “Upstate Manhattan”.
Inwood Art Works presents
On Air Concert: Selections from The Nutcracker
A holiday concert performed by the Inwood Chamber Players with arrangements by Inwood resident, Gilbert Dejean. This concert was recorded on December 8, 2024 at 2pm at Good Shepherd Auditorium – 620 Isham Street.
Program:
Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Excerpts from The Nutcracker
· Overture miniature
· Waltz of the Flowers
· March
· Trepak
Benjamin Britten – Harp Interlude from A Ceremony of Carols
Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Excerpts from The Nutcracker
· Dance of the Mirlitons
· No. 14 Pas de Deux
· Mother Gigone
· Act I Scene 6
Harp Interlude – We Three Kings
Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky
Excerpts from The Nutcracker
· Danse Arabe
· Scene 8th – In the Pine Forest
· Waltz Finale and Apotheosis
Musicians:
Rie Schmidt – Flute 1, Kaoru Hinata – Flute 2 (Doubling Piccolo), Michelle Farah – Oboe 1, Setsuko Otake – Oboe 2 (Doubling English Horn), David Gould – Clarinet 1, Meryl Abt – Clarinet 2, RJ Kelly – Horn 1, Tim McCarthy – Horn 2, Sarah Boxmeyer – Horn 3, Patrick Milando – Horn 4, Liann Cline – Harp, Patti Wang – Bassoon 1, Yuki Higashi – Bassoon 2, Deb Spohnheimer – Double Bass
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Inwood Art Works
