“Landscapes” is a concert that celebrates musical snapshots of various forms of national voice. Maurice Wrights’ music in this program tackles the musical sound of Scotland and America. We had to pair his music with Henri Dutilleux’s Sonatine and Aaron Copland’s Duo for Flute and piano because these two composers whose work is so extremely representative of their nation’s landscape seemed to fit together so naturally.
Both Copland and Dutilleux’s work is so intensely representative of their countries' sound they are aptly paired with Wright’s work that so clearly communicates his intended narrative through his voice. Additionally each piece is representative of a great love of humanity through evocative musical gestures. Dan and Chelsea feel strongly about this program in that much of it was written with their artistry in mind. This is a concert that you won’t want to miss!
Landscapes Program
Sonatine -- Deutilleux
Plaint's and Air's --Wright
Jacobite Variations for solo piano -- Wright
Excursions, Op. 20 I. Un Poco Allegro -- Barber
Canzone for Flute and Piano --Barber
Duo for Flute and Piano -- Copland
Sonata 2017 -- Wright
About the Performers
Chelsea is recognized for her rich and versatile tone, as well as captivating narrative power in her playing. She is principal flute of The Revolution Winds and the
ENA Ensemble, as well as a member of Network for New Music. Chelsea frequently works with composers premiering and recording new music. She has appeared on several composer’s albums as a soloist and chamber musician. Chelsea frequently performs with The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philly Pops, The Capital Philharmonic, The Ocean City Pops as well as many other regional orchestras. Most Recently Chelsea played the world premiere of “Hope is the thing with feathers” for solo flute and narrator written by Heidi Jacob. In addition Chelsea has toured internationally and domestically, performing as a soloist, orchestra member and chamber musician. Her performances have ranged from as close to home as the Kimmel Center and Carnegie Hall to as far as Sydney and Perth Australia.
Chelsea graduated from Temple University with her Masters Degree in 2016 where she studied with David Cramer. Since then Chelsea has had the opportunity to study in international Masterclasses with Lorna McGhee, William Bennett, and Denis Bouriakov. In 2014 Chelsea graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory in flute performance where she studied with Jonathan Snowden, one of Britain's première flute players, as well as Frances Lapp Averitt. Her previous primary teacher was Margaret Newcomb.
Philadelphia-based pianist Daniel Espie has been performing internationally for over fifteen years. Having received his MMus from the Royal Academy of Music in 2017 and his BM from Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance, Daniel has performed with large ensembles including the No-Name Pops, Ocean City Pops, and the Philadelphia Boys Choir Orchestra, as well as smaller chamber groups including Philadelphia-based ENA Ensemble.
Daniel is active in the Philadelphia musical theater community, having served as the Associate Music Director for the Walnut Street Theatre’s productions of Rocky the Musical (2022), The Little Mermaid (2021) and Young Frankenstein (2019), and Music Director for the University of the Art’s productions of Promenade (2021) and The Wild Party (2019). He conducted productions of Mary Poppins (2022) at Quintessence Theatre and Head Over Heels (2023) at Theatre Horizon. He recently finished an extended run as Associate Music Director of the Arden Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins (2023) and the Wilma Theater’s production of the new opera, Hilma (2024).
Accolades include the Jacobs Music Steinway Award (2013), the Dr. Millard E. Gladfelter Tribute Scholarship (2012), and second place in the Delius Prize at the Royal Academy of Music (2015). Daniel was the 2018 recipient of the Williamson Foundation Grant to continue studies in piano repertoire with Steven Smith of Penn State University.