Winter concert series returns to Bayard Cutting Arboretum

This cold winter, the Islip Arts Council (IAC) warmly welcomes you to enjoy six musical afternoons at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum during the annual winter concert series.

Workers once cared for the Cutting family’s horses and carriages in the turn-of-the-century Carriage House. Now, the multifunctional building on the beautiful 700 acre State Park hosts educational programming and events, such as the anticipated IAC winter concert series.

Each concert will feature talented new musicians and a few returning fan-favorites. Parking will be limited and on a first-come, first-served basis, so attendees are asked to arrive early and plan accordingly. All concerts in the series are free admission and will begin at 1 p.m.

The concert series is funded by the NYS Natural Heritage Trust as part of their mission to further public programs for parks and recreation in the State of New York.

“Bayard Cutting Arboretum Carriage House is a great venue for the winter series,” noted Executive Director of the Islip Arts Council, Lynda Moran. “The staff and music committee are thrilled with this series and thank Natural Heritage Trust for the continued support.”

Serenade Duo - February 2

Gerry Saulter (guitar) and
Michella La Porte (flute)

With their warm stage presence and performances of culturally diverse repertoire, Serenade Dup shares music of the world. Serenade Duo has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Canada as performers, educators, and “Global Chamber Music” advocates. As five-time Artists International Distinguished Chamber Music Award Recipients, the Duo has performed at Carnegie Hall and Merkin Concert Hall.

Extra Chi - February 9

Terrence Purtell (piano) and
Michelle Lisi (flute)

Terence Purtell is an exemplary pianist, organist, vocalist, composer/arranger, conductor, musical director, and music curator. With the ability to master several woodwind instruments across multiple musical genres, Michelle Lisi has traveled the East Coast performing and competing as both a soloist and member of numerous ensembles.

Queensound - February 16

Linda Teixeira (soprano) and Helena Kim (piano)

Helena Kim has been an active performer as a pianist, organist and conductor. Kim participated in various productions of New York Grand Opera under the direction of late Maestro Vincent La Selva, and studied orchestral conducting under his tutelage. In 2019, she was the music director of Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island, and conducted the opera “The Gondoliers” with great success.

Linda Teixeira is a Long Island-based soprano, music educator, and co-founder of Queens Sound, a music group that has performed classical and contemporary works around the country at concert series and festivals.

Quintessence - March 2

Laura Mole (violin), Jody Ratner (viola), Susan Lehr (cello), Karen Gellert (double bass), Elinor Zayas (piano), and Hiroko Nakahara (guest violinist)

As a freelance performer, Karen Hansen Gellert plays with the Long Island Choral Society and Mineola Choral Society, among others.

Hiroko Nakahara has performed in recitals and chamber music ensembles across the world and has appeared as a soloist with the Japan Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic and Tanglewood Festival Orchestra.

Jody Ratner enjoyed a career as a public school orchestra teacher and enjoys judging at NYSSMA festivals throughout New York State and playing chamber music with colleagues.

Laura Mole  is a member of both Queens Symphony and Orchestra of Long Island. Mole is currently a violin professor at Long Island University Post Campus and Adjunct Professor at CUNY Queens College.

Pianist Elinor Abrams Zayas is well-known to Long Islanders as a piano soloist, chamber musician, collaborative artist and educator. She studied at both Juilliard’s Pre-College Program and Manhattan School of Music.

Piano Duo - March 9

Elinor Zayas and Karen Baer

Pianist and educator Elinor Abrams Zayas co-founded the cello-piano duo Cross Island with cellist Suzanne Mueller and also formed the chamber ensemble Nepenthe in 1984, which performed widely across Long Island.

Karen Faust Baer enjoys a multifaceted career in solo piano performance, chamber music, choral conducting, accompanying and pedagogy. A scholarship student from the age of six, she received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance at Juilliard.

Cambiata Cello Duo - March 16

Paul Finkelstein and Suzanne Mueller

Cellist Suzanne Mueller has been Summer Sunday Concerts Artist-in-Residence at Old Westbury Gardens since 2003. In addition to Cross Island, she currently performs as a founding member of Trio Ardiente with pianist/tanguera Claudine Robins and performs and records with folk duo Hungrytown and as a member of the McCarron Brothers (and Sister) jazz quintet.

Cellist Paul Lawrence Finkelstein studied at Indiana University with Professor Fritz Magg where he received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees. Finkelstein performed in Masterclasses given by the Beaux Arts Trio, Midwest Cello Forum and a Masterclass given by renowned cellist Janos Starker.