The New York Kammermusiker, a small double-reed chamber music ensemble performing classical music and theater, will perform a free concert open to the public on Tuesday, June 28, at 7 p.m. at the North Dakota Heritage Center. “Music and Theater from the Time of Shakespeare” will be performed in the Russell Reid Auditorium as part of a month-long “Shaking up Shakespeare” festival sponsored by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. This concert will feature music and theater from the time of Shakespeare as well as a special celebration of North Dakota, with music dedicated to Theodore Roosevelt and narration by actor Bjorn Pederson. For more about Shaking up Shakespeare events, go to history.nd.gov.
 
The New York Kammermusiker is a unique chamber ensemble that travels the world presenting music from the Renaissance through contemporary periods. This group is known for their experimental and improvisatory performances — often performing music written for their own unique sound. The New York Kammermusiker draws from some of the world’s finest musicians for their performances. This tour will include a contrabassoonist who will bring a low-pitched bass sound to the ensemble.

Formed in 1969 by North Dakota native Ilonna Pederson, this non-profit organization reintroduces the instruments and the music of the double-reed band to modern audiences. The group prepares modern scores from long-neglected musical manuscripts they seek out in their travels so that they can bring the music to modern listeners. The ensemble offers performances in a lively, interactive manner, giving historical and cultural context to help the music come alive. This is their tenth consecutive year of performing in their director’s home state.

Pederson’s recent New York appearances include the Metropolitan Opera, the 13th Street Repertory Theatre, and the Midtown International Theatre Festival, as well as Shakespeare OP, and the Hudson Shakespeare Company in New Jersey.
 
For more information about this performance and Shaking up Shakespeare events, contact State Historical Society Curator of Education Erik Holland at eholland@nd.gov, history.nd.gov, or call 701.328.2792.