 An Introduction
The Orchestra
The Chamber Ensemble
Board of Directors
Administration
Orchestra of St. Luke's
St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble
Recordings
Arts Education Program
News from St. Luke's
Special Projects
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"There is one orchestra very few people seem to disagree about. In the last couple of years, everyone I know, it seems, has come back from hearing the Orchestra of St. Luke's with great excitement about the quality of the playing and the experience."
—Anne Midgette, The New York Times
"For one longtime admirer, this versatile orchestra is about something else as well, fire: an alert, energetic style of performance, animated by a strong rhythmic pulse."
—James R. Oestreich, The New York Times
"Its playing is tight, polished and vigorous, and its musicians sound fully at ease in a broad stretch of the repertory."
—Allan Kozinn, The New York Times
"When it comes to playing Mozart, it doesn't come much better than the Orchestra of St. Luke's."
—Anne Midgette, The New York Times
"St. Luke’s is an orchestra of remarkable range."
—Bradley Bambarger, The Newark Star-Ledger
"Concert for concert, St. Luke's is the best orchestra in the metropolitan area; its players are flexible, well-schooled, enthusiastic and musical."
—Peter Goodman, New York Newsday
"The Orchestra of St. Luke's . . . plays with an authority and assurance that rivals the leading full-force music organizations."
—Andrew Patner, The Chicago Sun Times
"The Orchestra simply blew the lid off Beethoven's Symphony No. 5. Here was an example of real joy in music-making: rhythms were crisp, attacks were incisive; a fresh musicianship and commitment were everywhere in evidence."
—Susan Elliott, New York Post
"The Orchestra of St. Luke's [is] perhaps the most flexible and adventurous collection of players in town."
—Martin Bernheimer, Financial Times (London)
"buoyant music-making"
—Joel Lobenthal, The New York Sun
"The real standout here was the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, which continues to cement its reputation as the best orchestra in New York City."
—Ben Finane, Classics Today
"It began as a church gig, the sort of engagement young musicians take on simply to have a chance to work in their art form. But a quarter century later, it is one of the most visible performing arts bodies in New York City. … Under its current music director, Donald Runnicles, the group is diversifying now more than ever."
—Daniel Schlosberg, The New York Sun
"Every time I play with the Orchestra of St. Luke's it reminds me of why I became a musician. Keep inspiring us all!"
—Yo-Yo Ma, cellist
"The terrific musicians of the Orchestra of St. Luke's create such a wonderful atmosphere that fills each experience with so much joy. They are one of New York's greatest treasures."
—Renée Fleming, soprano
"I hold a special place in my heart for the Orchestra of St. Luke's and David Zinman, who collaborated with me on my first Nonesuch recording, Knoxville: Summer of 1915. These are my favorite kinds of musicians, who display an honesty and love that creates the ideal warmth I so appreciate in the process of preparation and performance."
—Dawn Upshaw, soprano
"From the first moment, there was a chemistry . . . It was like being in this electrical energy field, and I was there to harness and guide it."
—Donald Runnicles, Principal Conductor,
Orchestra of St. Luke's
"St. Luke's plays like angels."
—Lorin Maazel, conductor
"I honestly believe it's the foremost chamber orchestra in the United States . . . They can play anything and can do it with great verve and enthusiasm."
—André Previn, conductor and pianist
"Show me a finer chamber orchestra than St. Luke's."
—Sir Charles Mackerras, St. Luke's Conductor Emeritus
"St. Luke's performances are passionate, bold, joyous. It is simply one of the most irresistible orchestras I have ever known."
—Sir Roger Norrington, St. Luke's Conductor Emeritus
"It’s the clear glee that the members of the orchestra have in performing. I love their music."
—Audience Member (2007)
"Hearing Haydn with the Orchestra of St. Luke's is a hallmark of Western Civilization. In a word, Divine."
—Audience Member (2007)
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"New York City's own St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble...has earned a reputation as one of the most versatile and galvanic ensembles in the U.S... The playing is spirited and cohesive."
—David Simmons, WQXR
"gorgeously polished, brimming with zesty color and alert precision… adagios filled with pathos, andantes replete with a sense of newness and discovery.. propulsive and vibrant"
—Daniel Ginsberg, The Washington Post
"St. Luke's nimbleness and dexterity, as well as an enviable lightness of sound, more than carried the day. There was a decided sense that the players were truly enjoying themselves and this type of unabashed pleasure was charmingly infectious."
—Fred Kirshnit, The New York Sun
"Energetic, broad-boned, and with a seat-of-the-pants quality . . ."
—Allan Kozinn, The New York Times
"What distinguishes the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble is its make-up: 21 virtuoso musicians who are in demand all over the world for their musical prowess."
—Kevin Filipski, The Brooklyn Papers
"It's a pleasure for me to work with these musicians -- they bring such creativity to what they do."
—Joan Tower, composer
"This adventurous group, a roster of musicians from the estimable Orchestra of St. Luke's, has found an engagingly informal way to present contemporary music in its afternoon "Second Helpings" concerts."
—Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times
"Small venues where one can hear new music without emptying one's wallet or feeling out of place are few indeed, which is why this weekend's Second Helpings concert at the Chelsea Art Museum is so refreshing."
—New York Magazine (06/07/04)
"I was very impressed with the ensemble's talent and energy and I really couldn't have chosen a better performance to attend.”
—Audience Member (2007)
"How glorious! We were moved by every piece you played - thrilled when a single note was sounded and it was as if played by one instrument - struck by what excellent musicians you all are.”
—Audience Member (2007)
"…the audience on their feet applauding, in a captivating space - who could ask for anything more?!"
—Audience Member (2007)
"I was completely drawn in by their extremely deep level of communication with each other. Their music making was completely free from any sort of 'emotional tension' and flowed completely organically."
—Audience Member (2007)
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"The liveliness is consistently joyful, serving as a reminder that Bach penned this set not merely to impress but to delight."
—Andrew Farach-Colton, Gramophone
"Vivacious, elegantly phrased performances."
—Nicholas Anderson, BBC Music Magazine
"[A] fine set of the Brandenburg Concertos, glowingly recorded . . . Everything is expertly played."
—Julian Haylock, International Record Review
"These are excellent, modern-instrument performances flavored by a fine sense of period style. The St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble boasts an impressive roster of talent, and every soloist makes a distinguished contribution to the proceedings."
—David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
"I think the real reason Bach wrote this music was to express the sheer joy he felt in making music. And no one has expressed that joyousness and abandon better than this splendid ensemble... The result is a pure delight."
—Godell, American Record Guide
"I've finally found my "desert island Brandenburgs."
—Grammy Award-winning record producer Thomas Z. Shepard
"Fresh and invigorating . . . The news surrounding a release of Mozart's Symphonies Nos. 39 and 41 with the Orchestra of St. Luke's conducted by Donald Runnicles is that it comes from the ensemble itself, on a new label called St. Luke's Collection."
—James Oestreich, The New York Times
"Highly enjoyable performances of two of Mozart's greatest symphonies."
—Misha Donat, BBC Music Magazine
"A quiet revolution in the classical recording industry continues to swell with the arrival of yet another new label run by a high-profile orchestra. . . . New York's esteemed Orchestra of St. Luke's enters the fray with a sparkling new recording of Mozart's Symphonies Nos. 39 and 41, led by principal conductor Donald Runnicles."
—Steve Smith, Billboard
"In an auspicious debut for its new in-house label, the esteemed Orchestra of St. Luke's shows what it can do, and how much it knows, about these late Mozart repertory standards, Symphonies 39 and 41. . . . The composer's turbulent genius is duly served."
—Josef Woodard, The Los Angeles Times
"The performances of Mozart's Symphonies No. 39 and No. 41 are superb-taut, zippy, and fully sensitive to the balance of elegance and dramatic urgency in the composer's last symphonies."
—Joshua Kosman, The San Francisco Chronicle
"Timeless classics in vibrant new readings."
—WQXR Gold Star Recording
"Whether led from the first violin stand by Krista Bennion Feeney or Mitsuru Tsubota, these gorgeous readings of Haydn's early concertante symphonies irresistibly combine elegance, virtuosity and florid melody."
—Lawrence Vittes, Gramophone
"The St. Luke's musicians are experienced hands at Haydn . . . they've developed a trim, energetic style that is perfectly suited to this music. But what I liked best about these performances is the degree to which the players capture the youthful freshness of the works, and the supreme clarity they bring to Haydn's orchestral textures."
—Allan Kozinn, New York Times
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"Nurturing . . . ambitious outreach programs."
—Chamber Music Magazine
"The whole thing was as pleasing as a big banana split!"
—Jeannette Sanchez, 5th grade, P.S. 19Q
"In the performance the orchestra played beautifully as though they were playing for the president."
—Jordy Quiridumbay, 5th grade, P.S. 19Q
"The way you played was fantastic. I really felt the music in me."
—Solana Ma, 3rd grade, P.S. 19Q
"I am happy to report that all 11 of the students enjoyed every minute. . . . Thank you so much for the opportunity to have come to this fine production."
—Mary Kaiser and her musical students from the Hungerford School
"I thank you for your program, for the enthusiastic teaching artists and for positively impacting the lives of our students."
—Susan R. Potoroka, ESL teacher at M.S. 131
"I understood the story that was being told, just by looking at the dance. That's amazing because I thought a story could only be told with words…[Dido and Aenaes'] movements were inspiring to me. It told a great love story."
—P.S. 3 Fifth Grade Student (2008)
"My favorite part was everything because it was fascinating and a once in a lifetime experience."
—P.S. 3 Fifth Grade Student (2008)
"My reaction was happiness because I saw my first opera."
—P.S. 3 Fifth Grade Student (2008)
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Acclaim for St. Luke's