The English Concert in America, Inc. (TECA) is a non-profit corporation created to strengthen ties between The English Concert and the United States. Members of TECA become closely involved with the life of one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras, particularly in the US.
TECA holds 501c3 status with the US Inland Revenue Service, enabling donations to be fully tax-efficient.
Performances
After many years of visiting the US, including a coast-to-coast tour with countertenor David Daniels in 2009, concerts with mezzo Alice Coote in 2010 at Carnegie Hall New York and the Library of Congress Washington, and a 9-city tour with Andreas Scholl in 2011, The English Concert visited New York City in October 2012 for concerts and private events in Manhattan and at Kykuit on the Hudson River.
In 2010 the New York Times critic wrote -
"The English Concert’s performance at Weill Recital Hall on Wednesday evening had plenty to recommend it, not least Rachel Podger’s magnificent violin playing in a pair of Vivaldi Concertos, and intensely dramatic accounts of Monteverdi and Handel vocal works with the mezzo-soprano Alice Coote."
And the Washington Post had this to say -
"...this customarily elegant group seemed to be channeling the brasher, more risk-taking approach of many Italian period-instrument bands, with boisterous attacks, daringly elastic phrasing, extravagant ornamentation and even some drumming on the double-bass. If ensemble unity was pushed to its limits, conductor Harry Bicket made sure the improvisatory verve didn't undermine cohesion."
Last month The English Concert fulfilled the first of its commissions from Carnegie Hall, New York to present three Handel operas-in-concert in three successive seasons, with his early operatic masterpiece, Radamisto. David Daniels led a cast that included Brenda Rae, Luca Pisaroni, Joélle Harvey and Patricia Bardon, and the performance was directed by The English Concert's Artistic Director, Harry Bicket, himself no stranger to conducting Handel at the Metropolitan Opera and other great US opera houses.
'The fine period-instrument band The English Concert deftly conducted from the harpsichord by Harry Bicket ... magnificently rendered ...' The New York Times
'... pure celestial joy ... this ageless music on period instruments led masterfully by maestro Bicket ...' The Examiner
The English Concert also gives regular private concerts for our valued supporters in New York City. Indeed, in 2009 we launched TECA at the renowned Knickerbocker Club on Fifth Avenue, where we returned for a recital by our leader Nadja Zwiener in May 2010.
Education
Hand in hand with performances we plan ambitious education projects in New York and other US cities –
- master classes for aspiring young harpsichordist-directors who study a wide range of Baroque repertoire intensively under the tutelage of Harry Bicket and the orchestra
- a 'Baroque Boot Camp' to bring gifted young musicians from varied musical backgrounds together to create new baroque-inspired work and workshops in inner city schools.
Get Closer
To receive more information about TECA or offer us support, please register for updates above or email Mona Cavalcoli, TECA Adminsitrator, tecinamerica@googlemail.com
Members of TECA
Anon • Renee Barrick • Bill & Bunny Beekman • Audrey A Boughton • Elizabeth & Ralph Brown Jr • Thatcher & Sally Brown • Elizabeth & Blake Cabot • Maria Campbell • Gregory C Carroll • Alex & Louise Dye • Brandon Fradd • Barrett Freylinghausen • Kathleen Gerard • Richard Gilder & Lois Chiles • Gordon & Maggie Gray • Edward & Susan Greenberg • Rachel & George Gumina • Alan Hilliker & Vivien Liu • Sophie Hughes • Christian K Keesee • Ionel & Miriam Klipper • Harold Koda & Alan Kornberg • Hans P Kraus Jr & Mariana Cook • Rebecca & Richard Lindsey • Gregory Lorenz & Carrie Sykes Lorenz • Ken Moore • Melanne Mueller • Ted & Berneil R Mueller • Nancy Newcomb & John Hargraves • Marc & Jean Ostrow • Gordon & Dailey Pattee • Anne & Joseph Pierson • Mary L Pierson • Mr & Mrs Leon Polsky • Luke Ives Pontifell • Tatiana Pouschine & Richa Strother • Emily & John Rafferty • Susan & David Rockefeller Jr • Andrew Solomon • Sarah Solomon • Sarah & Howard Solomon • Ann & Adam Spence • F Stanford Straton & Amy Straton • Hugh & Helene Tilney • James Torrey • Mr & Mrs Ronald L Welburn • Steve Winn • Grant & Hope Winthrop
Directors of TECA
Luke Ives Pontifell (President)• Melanne Mueller (Vice-President & Treasurer) • Bunny Beekman • Sally Brown • Nicky Oppenheimer • Anne Straton Pierson • Hugh J Tilney
551 Cedar Street, West Barnstable, Massachusetts 02668, USA
The English Concert in America, Inc. is a not-for-profit nonstock corporation organised under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Registered office: Corporation Service Company, 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of Newcastle, Delaware.
