Santa Fe Pro Musica is that rare musical organization: strongly committed to its community, while achieving national recognition. Founded in 1980 by Tom O’Connor (Music Director and Conductor) and Carol Redman (Education and Associate Artistic Director) Santa Fe Pro Musica has consistently expanded its repertoire, its audience, and its reputation. Entering its 31st season, Pro Musica embodies the founders' vision: a performing arts and educational music nonprofit organization that has grown into a major musical presence in Northern New Mexico and far beyond.
In its early years, Santa Fe Pro Musica’s repertoire consisted primarily of duos, trios, and quartets, and the organization specialized in performing Baroque music on period instruments. Pro Musica now presents a varied repertoire of music from the last four centuries, including works for chamber orchestra, chamber ensemble, and large-scale oratorios. The annual Baroque Christmas concerts—always sold out—are so popular that visitors from all over the world include them in their Santa Fe holiday plans. In addition to concerts by its Chamber Orchestra and Baroque Ensemble, Santa Fe Pro Musica presents world-renowned solo artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang and Ian Bostridge, while also offering audiences the opportunity to hear up-and-coming young performers like this season’s Jan Lisiecki and Chad Hoopes.
Santa Fe Pro Musica was highly honored at the end of 2007, when its recording of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde/The Song of the Earth, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Chamber Players, was nominated for a 2008 GRAMMY® Award in the classical music category of Best Small Ensemble Performance.
Our Mission: Santa Fe Pro Musica brings together outstanding musicians to inspire and educate audiences of all ages through the performance of great music.
By D.S. Crafts / For the Journal on Sun, Dec 25, 2011
Christmas in the Baroque period had its share of seasonal music. But concerts were not all Christmas music per se in that period. Generally, the idea was to create a festive atmosphere, whatever the music.
The Santa Fe Pro Musica Baroque Ensemble conjures just such a mood each year in its Baroque Christmas recitals, and graced by the thrilling soprano voice of Kathryn Mueller (alternating with Liesl Odenweller), one takes away a feeling of optimism most hoped for especially at this time of year. The historic Loretto Chapel was decked out in tasteful red and green holiday ornaments.
This year’s offering began with instrumental excerpts from Handel’s opera “Il Pastor Fido” (The Faithful Shepherd), based on one of the most successful plays of the 17th century. Though it had many previous settings, Handel was the first to set it as a full three-act opera, his first opera after permanently settling in London.
It harkens back to previously established musical traditions, such as the triple-time Pastorale and the string fury of La Gelosia. The story tells of a shepherd so in love with a shepherdess he is willing to suffer any punishment for her supposed transgressions. The eight excerpts highlighted various solo instruments. The sweet and stately Chaconne was a highly satisfactory musical resolution to the story.
Boismortier’s Sonata in G for oboe (Thomas O’Connor), bassoon (Danny Bond) and continuo that continued the program is an attractive, though often dark and idiosyncratic work in three movements by a composer highly popular in his own time.
The Vivaldi motet “In furore justissimae” brought Kathryn Mueller to the stage. She tore through the difficult opening with a vivacity and mastery of technique belying the rapid shifts of range and elaborate fioratura. The tortured intensity of “Tunc meus fletus” (Then shall my weeping) was capped off with a spirited and soaring Alleluia! Mueller’s is a sound as bright, clear and sharply focused as it is possible for a voice to be. Her soaring flights into the highest register are breathtaking. Couple that with a sensibility and expressivity that greatly illuminates any text. Simply, she is thrilling to hear.
Johann Gottlieb Janitsch’s Sonata da Camera brought exquisite playing from flutist Carol Redman and violinist Stephen Redfield in this charming work full of color and high spirits. The fluttery final Vivace turns on unexpected chromaticism.
As has become traditional, the concert ended with a series of ancient English carols in baroque-style arrangements, gorgeously sung by Mueller accompanied by the entire ensemble. “The Coventry Carol,” “Sussex Carol,” “Greensleeves” (sung as “What Child is This?”) and “Masters in this Hall” preceded Bach’s appropriately seasonal “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” from the 17th-century Lutheran hymn.
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Santa Fe Pro Musica Recording
Nominated for Grammy Award
Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Pro Musica is thrilled to announce that its recording of Gustav Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde/The Song of the Earth has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the classical category of Best Small Ensemble Performance. Nominations for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards were just announced; and the awards will be presented on February 10, 2008.
The Dorian/Sono Luminus recording, released in 2006, is a collaboration between Santa Fe Pro Musica, which specializes in the performance of works for chamber orchestra and chamber ensembles, and the Smithsonian Chamber Players, dedicated to exploring the worlds of the master instruments from the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. This performance of Mahler’s masterwork is based on the chamber orchestra transcription by Arnold Schonberg (completed by Rainer Riehn), and is conducted by Kenneth Slowik, artistic director of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, and features soloists John Elwes, tenor, and Russell Braun, baritone.
Thomas O’Connor, general director of Santa Fe Pro Musica, expressed his delight over the nomination. “Coming as a total surprise in the middle of our twenty-sixth season, this nomination is a wonderful validation of the success of Santa Fe Pro Musica, the Smithsonian Chamber Players, and the importance of the chamber orchestra repertoire and performance. The nomination is a great honor, and we are very grateful.”
BOARD OF TRUSTEES David Cost, President Revell Carr |
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Thomas O’Connor Biography
Thomas O’Connor is the Co-Founder, Music Director and Conductor of Santa Fe Pro Musica. Mr. O’Connor is also a highly regarded oboist who has performed extensively on modern and historical oboes. He has performed with all of the major classical music organizations in New Mexico including the Santa Fe Opera, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Music from Angel Fire and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. He frequently performs outside of New Mexico with festivals and orchestras including the International Festival at the Domaine Forget (Canada), Oregon Bach Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Oregon Festival of American Music, Philharmonia Baroque ˙Orchestra (San Francisco), San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival (California), Maryland Handel Festival, American Bach Soloists (San Francisco), the Bach Ensemble, Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Orchestra, and Boston Baroque. He was formerly the Artistic Director of the Ernest Bloch Music Festival at Newport (Oregon) and also served on the faculty of Texas Tech University. He has recordings with Sony, Telarc and Dorian including a GRAMMY® nominated disc of the chamber version of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde for Dorian Records. Mr. O’Connor is a graduate of the University of New Mexico and has pursued graduate studies at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri at Kansas City and at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Musicale, Montreux, Switzerland.
Artist Biographies |
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 Julie Albers – Cello – from Longmont Colorado, started violin at 2, switching to cello at 4, as a teenager moved to Cleveland to study at the Cleveland Institute of Music – major orchestral debut, Cleveland Orchestra 1998 – performances throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand – 2003 Gold Medal, South Korea’s International Music Competition – three year residency with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two – active with the Albers String Trio with her equally gifted sisters, violinist Laura and violist Rebecca – plays a Vuillaume cello (1872) |
 Danny Bond – Bassoon – lives in Taos NM, family home is in Mississippi, but his main jobs are in Amsterdam (Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century) and San Francisco (Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra) – solo diploma with distinction in baroque bassoon from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague in 1977, then appointed teacher at the conservatory, a position he held until 1992 – numerous orchestral and solo recordings, including Mozart Bassoon Concerto and Vivaldi concertos with Academy of Ancient Music and sonatas of Boismoitier, Corrette, Devienne, and Ozi. |
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 Brentano String Quartet – since its inception in 1992, the Brentano String Quartet has won the Cleveland Quartet Award, Naumburg Chamber Music Award, Royal Philharmonic Award (U.K.) – inaugural member Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, regular performances at Wigmore Hall (U.K.) including 2000-01 Quartet-in-Residence – performances in the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia – recordings Haydn and Mozart quartets, modern composers (Mackey, Adolphe, Wen-chung, Wuorinen) – actively commissions new works – named for Antonie Brentano whom many scholars consider to be Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved”. |
 Karen Clarke – Violin – solo appearances with Buffalo Philharmonic, North Carolina Symphony, Atlanta Baroque Orchestra – former member Baltimore Symphony, concertmaster Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, Tallahassee Symphony, Atlanta Baroque Orchestra – currently concertmaster Music City Baroque, Nashville – member Rogeri Trio, performing throughout the US – Professor Emeritus Florida State University, currently faculty Vanderbilt University – plays a Pietro Giacomo Rogeri violin, made in 1770, Cremona Italy – she loves playing anything Bach, but listens to bluegrass and jazz in addition to all eras classical. |
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 Deborah Domanski – Mezzo soprano – Santa Fe Opera 2008 Radamisto: "The lovely Deborah Domanski sings with luscious sound & lyrical refinement." – New York Times, The Metropolitan Opera (2013), Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Hong Kong, Pittsburgh Opera, New Orleans Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Tulsa Opera, Amarillo Opera, Juilliard Opera Center, American Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, Asheville Symphony – Her inspiration is expressed by J.S. Bach: “The aim of all music should be the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” |
 Kimberly Fredenburgh – Viola - currently assistant principal viola New Mexico Philharmonic, Associate Professor of Viola University of New Mexico – performs regularly with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra – former associate principal viola Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and faculty at Arizona State University, co-principal violist with the New World Symphony – Kim teaches master classes and performs in recitals across the US as well as Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Monaco – Kim’s viola was made in 1988 by Brian Skarstad (New York). She also plays baroque viola. |
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 Sally Guenther – Cello – after working in major US orchestras (Syracuse, Cincinnati, Metropolitan Opera) she moved to Norway, performing as cello soloist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (20 years) – relocated to New Mexico in 2004 to begin career as chamber musician and pedagogue – student of Janos Starker (Bloomington, IN) and Harvey Shapiro (Juilliard School) – plays a cello made in 1790 by John Betts (London) – composer/flutist father Ralph arranged music to fit the Guenther family quartet which was featured in the Sunday supplement “Parade Magazine.” |
 Chad Hoopes – Violin – 17 year old wunderkind – solo performances with the orchestras and symphonies in Cleveland, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and others – appearances on CBS Early Show, NBC, NPR, ABC, and PBS’s From the Top – soloist in the Emmy Award-winning 2007 television commercial for the Cleveland Indians Major League Baseball team – currently studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music and plays a 1713 Stradivari violin, courtesy of Jonathan Moulds. |
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 Jan Lisiecki – Piano – awards include the Révélations Radio-Canada Musique (2010), Diapason Décourverte (2010), Jeune Soliste des Radios Francophones (2011) – exclusive recording agreement with Deutsche Grammophon (at age 15) – performances with Orchestre de Paris, BBC Symphony, Leipzig Radio Symphony, Göteborgs Symfoniker, New York Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Orchestre Métropolitain (Montreal), Accademia di Santa Cecilia – festivals and recitals in Poland, Germany, Japan, North America, Italy, Guatemala, Korea, Scotland, France, including performing for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth – born in 1995 in Calgary to Polish parents. |
 Kathleen McIntosh – Harpsichord – Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Bravo! Vail Valley Festival, Esteban Salas Festival Havana, Musica Antigua Festival Lima, Deya Festival Mallorca, Tsuyama Festival Japan, Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, National Symphony of Vietnam Hanoi, Serenata of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Angelica Consort Los Angeles, McFish Duo, 20th Century Unlimited – premieres of works by Melinda Wagner, Tomiko Kohjiba, John Steinmetz, Carl Mansker and others – recordings with Gasparo and Maricam Studio – performs on instruments custom-made for her by John Phillips, harpsichord maker in Berkeley, CA. |
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 Kathryn Mueller - Soprano – solo performances with Santa Fe Pro Musica, American Bach Soloists, Portland Baroque Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony, Seraphic Fire, Les Sirènes, Arizona Opera, Phoenix Symphony, Santa Fe Desert Chorale – music degrees from University of Arizona and Brown University – 2011 Adams Fellow, Carmel Bach Festival – Finalist, 2012 Oratorio Society of New York Competition – recorded 2 Grammy-nominated albums with Seraphic Fire –marketing director for her family's Arizona winery, Canelo Hills – listens to NPR incessantly – aspiring mandolin player. |
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 Thomas O’Connor – Music Director, Conductor and occasional oboist of Santa Fe Pro Musica – appearances with Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Le Festival International du Domaine Forget (Canada), Oregon Bach Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Oregon Festival of American Music, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra (San Francisco), American Bach Soloists, Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, Boston Baroque – 2008 Grammy nominee – when not absorbed in music, Tom likes to explore the scenic highways and byways of Northern New Mexico, especially the ones with curves. |
 Liesl Odenweller – Soprano – delighted to return to perform with Santa Fe Pro Musica – new this year is the premiere of Venetia Antiqua Ensemble, with members of the Venice Baroque Orchestra, and their début season of concerts including Handel’s Esther – Liesl has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, and in concert and recital throughout Europe, North America – awards include Liederkranz Prize, International Bellini Prize, the Italian “Il Virtuoso” Prize – favorite roles include Queen of the Night, Gilda, Lucia, Konstanze, and Cleopatra. |
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 Susan Patrick – Organ – Albuquerque Baroque Players, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Desert Chorale, staff harpsichordist National Flute Association 2007 Convention – emerita faculty University of New Mexico – Bachelor’s degree Tulane University (Newcomb College), Master’s and Doctorate University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Susan especially likes French Baroque music and the challenging and creative art of accompanying other musicians. |
 Stephen Redfield – Violin – Concertmaster Santa Fe Pro Musica – performs with Victoria Bach Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, San Luis Obispo Festival, other festivals and orchestras in Canada, Mexico, Asia, Europe – won the Coleman and the Monterey Chamber Music Competitions, awarded Quartet Fellowships at Aspen and Chautauqua Festival – currently faculty University of Southern Mississippi and part-time art gallery manager – plays a Kloz violin (which was Mozart’s violin maker), and a baroque violin from the Haupt family of makers – favorite listening music is jazz. |
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 Carol Redman – Flute – Associate Music Director and Principal Flute, Santa Fe Pro Musica – performances with Smithsonian Chamber Music Society, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, festivals in California, Colorado, Oregon, Texas, Canada, Maryland, Germany, Japan – B. M. magna cum laude University of New Mexico – 2008 Grammy nominee Best Classical Album/Small Ensemble – Flute instructor New Mexico School for the Arts – Carol plays a silver Brannen Bros flute (Boston, 1998) and for Baroque performances she plays on a 1760 C.A. Grenser ebony copy made by Rod Cameron (Mendocino CA). |
 Katie Rietman – Cello – lives in New York City, originally from Amarillo, Texas – performed as a baroque cellist on over 40 CD recordings and numerous concerts and radio broadcasts with notable baroque and classical period instrument ensembles – concerts in 19 countries, and so far her favorites are Peru, Portugal, Italy, and Argentina – her cello just celebrated its 222nd birthday and was made by William Forster in London – she can't decide whether her favorite music is Handel or bossa nova. |
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 Gail Robertson – Viola – founding member Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra (Boston), member Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Wolf Trap Chamber Players, Pacific Symphony, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet – Principal Viola Mantovani Orchestra nationwide tours – first recipient of Austrian Government Ministry of Education Scholarship – after leaving the classical music world for seven years, it was flamenco and musical theater that renewed her passion for the classics – Gail plays violin, viola and baroque viola, and is the Santa Fe Pro Musica Champs Coordinator. |
 Brian Shaw – Trumpet – performs throughout North America on baroque, modern and jazz trumpets – prizewinner in international competitions – principal trumpet with the Dallas Wind Symphony, Conspirare, the University of Texas Wind Ensemble, Eastman Wind Ensemble – Eastern Illinois University (B.M.), the Eastman School (M.M.), University of Texas at Austin (D.M.A.) – currently Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Louisiana State University – not to be confused with any other Brian Shaw, including 2011 “World’s Strongest Man” or the former #20 for the Miami Heat. |
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 Dina Vainshtein – Piano – educated at Gnesin Institute of Music (Moscow), Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory of Music – prizes for Best Collaboration (International Tchaikovsky Competition, Moscow, 1998), Modern Music International Competition (Austria, 1997), All-Union Russian Piano Competition (1993) – performances at Ravinia Festival, Caramoor Festival, Music Academy of the West, Meadowmount, Heifetz International Music Institute – live performances WGBH (Boston), NPR Performance Today – soloist I Musici de Montreal, guest artist with Borromeo String Quartet – currently collaborative pianist for Walnut Hill School, New England Conservatory. |
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Allie Norris – Viola – Santa Fe Pro Musica Apprentice Artist 2012-2013 Season – Santa Fe Youth Symphony (5 years), New Mexico All State (3 years, principal viola All-State 2012 Symphonic Orchestra) – Santa Fe Concert Association EPIK Artist, Pro Musica Champs – performed in California, Texas, Germany and Czech Republic – studies with Allegra Askew at the New Mexico School for the Arts - plays a viola made for her by Christian Pedersen (Albuquerque) – when not doing classical, Allie listens to Joni Mitchell and alternative rock.
Per Tengstrand – Piano – prizes in the Long-Thibaud Competition, Geneva Competition, Cleveland Competition, Musician Award by the Swedish Arts Grants Committee – awarded Royal Medal Litteris et Artibus by King Carl XVI of Sweden – the subject of the highly acclaimed Swedish documentary “Solisten” – studied at Paris Conservatory (Premier Prix, Prix Spécial du Jury), Geneva Conservatory (Prix de Virtuosité) – his concerto and recital performances have taken him around the world; from his homeland Sweden to Asia, North America, and Europe – loves ice hockey and the New Jersey Devils.