Serving up Mostly Mozart: A Concert of ‘Shining Stars’

Julie Jordan Presents her 2023 International Shining Stars debut

Just as an inspired and experienced chef plans his celebration menu, a music director creates the excitement of the artistic process by finding a perfect balance of talent—only then is the experience a feast for listeners. Such a balance is what Julie Jordan hopes to achieve in her 15th anniversary season of Julie Jordan Presents with her 2023 International Shining Stars concert.

The stars, ranging over eight decades in their ages, come from three continents and are graciously supported by the top flight New York Concerti Sinfonietta, a group of freelance musicians who band together to collaborate for the concerto celebration. These seasoned conservatory graduates and renowned soloists/chamber musicians will accompany the piano, flute, and violin virtuosi in this concert.

These concerts focus on presenting the gifted and proficient music students of all ages and backgrounds, who are conservatory-ready: young and mature artists worldwide. The concert will take place in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall on June 3, 2023, Saturday at 8 p.m.

The Debut

Reflecting the global character from three continents, the New York Concerti Sinfonietta’s 2023 International Shining Stars will feature prizewinners from Ireland, Hungary, China, Italy, and the United States. These are the debuts of conductor David Tobin; flutist Johanna Keszei; pianists Stanley Sisskin, Tiantian Gao, Michael Errico, Giancarlo Facchi, Jason Flowers; and violinist Johnny Blake.

David Tobin, quickly developing a reputation as one Ireland’s leading classical musicians, is currently based in Berlin and tours regularly as a conductor, concertmaster, and violin soloist. He continues to work extensively with Maestro Daniel Barenboim and Maestro Ivan Fischer at Europe’s leading classical music festivals. After his huge success in his Carnegie Hall solo debut and return concerts with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta, Maestro Tobin was invited to make his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta. Tobin is adamant that classical music should be brought to a wider audience and is keen to achieve this in the coming years.

Conductor David Tobin, one of Ireland’s leading classical musicians, makes his Carnegie’s Weill Hall debut leading the New York Concerti Sinfonietta. (Courtesy of David Tobin)

The gifted Hungarian rising star Johanna Keszei, performing in her Carnegie Hall debut, opens the concert with the exquisite Allegro maestoso from Mozart’s Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major. At 22-years-old, Keszei is currently studying in Germany at the renowned Staatskapelle Berlin, and performing regularly at the State Opera House.

Hungarian flutist Johanna Keszei, makes her Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta performing Mozart’s Flute Concerto Movement I. Allegro. (Courtesy of Johanna Keszei)

The talented Irish 17-year-old Johnny Blake, who was just accepted into the European Youth Orchestra Academy in Mannheim, Germany this August, will play the first movement of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major K. 218.

Johnny Blake, a 17-year-old Irish violinist, was invited as a 2023 International Shining Star. He'll perform Mozart D Major Violin Concerto Movement I. Allegro. (Courtesy of Johnny Blake)

The Other Extraordinary Soloists

Four musicians share the extraordinary fact that they have achieved and sustained a thriving career in other fields, while nurturing their commitment and passion for music.

Stanley Sisskin, a software designer, has been a featured soloist and chamber musician for the past 12 years in the Julie Jordan Presents series. He returns performing the complete Piano Concerto in E-flat, K.271 (I. Allegro II. Andantino III. Rondo (Presto)), now known as “Jenamy.” The piece was dedicated to the daughter of Mozart’s dancer and friend, Jean-Georges Noverre.

Stanley Sisskin returns for his 12th season as soloist with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. He will perform the complete Mozart Piano Concerto in E-flat major, K. 271. (Courtesy of Stanley Sisskin)

Italian pianist Giancarlo Facchi makes his living in the fast lane of the financial industry in downtown Manhattan after he earned his Ph.D. in mathematics and cum laude degree from the Conservatory “Luca Marenzio” in Brescia, Italy. He performs Rachmaninoff Etude tableaux, Op. 33, No. 4 in D Minor, one of two Romantic pieces midpoint in the concert.

Italian pianist Giancarlo Facchi, who makes his living in the financial industry in downtown NYC, will perform Rachmaninoff Etude tableaux, Op. 33, No. 4 in D minor. (Courtesy of Giancarlo Facchi)

The other Romantic piece is played by New York-based eclectic pianist Jason Flowers, who hails from Minneapolis. He will offer his Schumann-Liszt Widmung. Flowers has performed through Europe and the United States and is now working as a middle school teacher in the Bronx.

New York-based pianist Jason Flowers will perform the Schumann-Liszt Widmung. (Courtesy of Jason Flowers)

Concerto soloist with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta is Michael Errico, a New York City orthopedist. Errico will perform the Allegro from Bach’s beautiful D minor Harpsichord Concerto, on the piano. He, like the Sisskin, Facchi and Flowers, all studied in the Evening Division at The Juilliard School and have been frequent completion winners and prolific performers.

Michael Errico, New York City orthopedist, will perform  movement I. Allegro from Bach's Harpsichord Concerto in D minor on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. as a soloist with the New York Concerti Sinfonietta in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. (Courtesy of Michael Errico)

In addition to the four adults, Shanghai-born Tiantian Gao also performs, closing the concert with another of Mozart’s first movements, a favorite piano concerto, No. 17 in G Major, K. 453. The delightful, 9-year-old competition winner was born in Shanghai and is a student of Shirin Goudarzi-Tobin at TuConservatoire in Ireland.

Born in Shanghai, 9-year-old Tiantian Gao studies with Shirin Goudarze-Tobin at TuDublin Conservatoire. (Courtesy of Tiantian Gao)

Julie Jordan Presents

A pianist, pedagogue, and impresario, Julie Jordan, a multiple concerto prize winner herself, began Julie Jordan Presents to spotlight talented youth as well as mature musicians. Her extensive experience in creating successful performance opportunities through her gifted students of all ages “debut” series, International Shining Stars, allows her to showcase cutting- edge performers, ranging from dynamic professionals and young chamber ensembles to conservatory star soloists.

Julie Jordan, founder and artistic director of New York Concerti Sinfonietta by one of her Steinway pianos in her Upper West Side studio in Manhattan on April 23, 2015. (Benjamin Chasteen/Epoch Times)

At the same time, her the series allows these “shining stars” the exciting opportunity to work with the professionals in her orchestra, with guest conductors, and in one of the best concert halls in the country.

On the faculty of The Juilliard School Extension and Evening Division (1985-2015), Jordan created the Piano Concerto Class as well as Solo and Collaborative Piano Class. She hopes to maintain her musical vision with the SF Sinfonietta planned for 2024 on the west coast.

To support the efforts of Dr. Julie Jordan’s New York Concerti Sinfonietta, contact: [email protected]

2023 International Shining Stars Concert Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall Box Office:  154 West 57th St/Seventh Ave. Tickets: CarnegieHall.org Discount code: NYC  ($20) Information: JulieJordanPresents.com or NewYorkConcertiSinfonietta.com Date: June 3, 8 p.m.