St. Luke's is a gathering of outstanding musicians whose purpose is to bring the beauty of music and the enlightened communication that is unique to music to as broad an audience as possible.

• St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble is a group of 21 virtuoso artists who perform nationally and internationally, and make up the core of the Orchestra of St. Luke's. The Chamber Ensemble was formed in 1974 at the Church of Saint Luke in the Fields in Greenwich Village and excels in performances of chamber works, music for chamber orchestra, chamber operas, and premiere performances of works by leading American composers. Each season, the Chamber Ensemble performs a diverse array of series, exhibiting the versatility and cohesiveness that have become St. Luke's hallmarks.



• Orchestra of St. Luke's has earned a reputation as America's foremost and most versatile chamber orchestra since its inception in 1978 at the Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, New York. In addition to its yearly collaborations with renowned artists on special projects and recordings, the Orchestra is presented by Carnegie Hall in an annual subscription series. The Caramoor International Music Festival is the summer home of the Orchestra of St. Luke's where they perform as orchestra-in-residence. The Orchestra averages 55 musicians, with members of the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble serving as its principal players. Donald Runnicles, St. Luke's Principal Conductor from 2001 through 2007, succeeded Sir Charles Mackerras, who served as music director from 1998 through 2001, and Sir Roger Norrington, who served as music director from 1990 through 1994.



• St. Luke's Arts Education Program annually introduces nearly 20,000 New York City school children to opera, dance, and chamber music through free live performances throughout the city. Using the performances as a focal point, St. Luke's free in-school workshops serve children in twenty-one public schools in economically depressed neighborhoods. The workshops are designed not only to give these underprivileged children a more comprehensive, intensive experience, but also to enhance and deepen musical understanding and provide inspiration for the students' own creative efforts. Of the more than one million children reached by this program since its establishment in 1976, approximately 90% are African-American, Latino and Asian. The Program is made possible with support from Con Edison, The Bay Foundation, The Josephine Bay Paul and C. Michael Paul Foundation, the New York Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts and others.



• Residencies and Touring are an ongoing part of St. Luke's educational activities. Recent residencies include performances, master classes, and outreach programs at Bushnell Auditorium in Hartford, CT and at the Quick Center for the Performing Arts at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. The St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble performed in Monterrey, Mexico in April 2003. Past tours have included: U.S. and Canadian performances with Philippe Herreweghe; a 13-city tour of the United States with André Previn, culminating in a performance at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC; a tour of Europe with Philippe Herreweghe and his Chapelle Royale Choir; Japanese and European tours with guest soloist and conductor Jaime Laredo; and a tour of the midwest with Roger Norrington and a performance in 2003-2004 with Norrington at Dartmouth College.



• Recordings have documented St. Luke's exceptional artistry and have introduced the Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble to national and international audiences. In Spring 2003, St. Luke's inaugurated its own CD label, St. Luke's Collection, with the release of a recording of Mozart's Symphonies 39 and 41 "Jupiter," conducted by Donald Runnicles. St. Luke's has recorded on the Sony Classical, Angel/EMI, Nonesuch, BMG Classics, Telarc, Deutsche Grammophon, London/Decca, RCA, Philips Classics, Koch International and Arabesque labels. Its discography of over 70 recordings includes three Grammy-award winning releases: John Adams's Nixon in China (Nonesuch), Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915 (Nonesuch) with Dawn Upshaw, and Bel Canto with Renée Fleming (Universal). Other St. Luke's collection recordings include HAYDN: Morning, Noon & Evening, Wedding Gifts: featuring the music of J.S. BACH, HANDEL: With Valour Abounding, and a double CD of Bach's six Brandenburg concertos.



• Commissions and premieres of contemporary music have always been a part of St. Luke's regular season. St. Luke's has premiered over 100 works by such composers as John Adams, Joan Tower, Anthony Davis, Nicholas Maw, André Previn, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, Jay Greenberg, Daniel Bernard Roumain, and Pamela Z. Commissioning projects extend beyond music to several new dance pieces for the Arts Education Program, including works choreographed by Bill T. Jones and Pascal Rioult.



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