Downtown Concert Series Launches New Season With Internationally Recognized Pianist

The Downtown Concert Series is getting ready to launch its third season with a stellar lineup of acclaimed artists who bring world class performances to the historic and intimate venue of .

Opening with pianist Shai Wosner on Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m., the series will kick off with a solo piano performance that has been hailed as “inventively conceived and impressive” by the New York Times. Wosner has attracted international recognition for his exceptional artistry, musical integrity and creative insight. Born in Israel, he enjoyed a broad musical education from an early age, studying piano with Emanuel Krasovsky as well as composition, theory and improvisation with André Hajdu. He later studied at The Juilliard School with Emanuel Ax.

Wosner international reputation includes highly acclaimed performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as performances at London’s Wigmore Hall and the 92nd Street Y in New York, a duo recital tour with violinist Jennifer Koh and a feature on NPR’s All Things Considered. In Europe, he has appeared with the Staatskapelle Berlin, Gothenburg Symphony, Barcelona Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Orchestre National de Belgique and Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam among others and debuted with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra during the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth.

Wosner brings tremendous versatility and a spirit of partnership to his life’s work, and his performance sets the stage for an outstanding season of music in the Downtown Concert Series.

Concert performances continue with harpist Bridget Kibbey on Nov. 17.

As hailed by the New York Times, Kibbey "...made it seem as though her instrument had been waiting all its life to explode with the gorgeous colors and energetic figures she was getting from it."

On Feb. 16 Martha Bartz will be joined by the pianist Mory Ortman as they present a cabaret performance that will delight Valentine’s Day audiences. Bartz has graced stages from the Metropolitan Room and Carnegie Hall in New York City to New Jersey’s Great Auditorium sharing her unique ability to move her beautiful silky sound seamlessly between musical art forms.

The season will close on May 18 with the stunning string quintet, SYBARITE5.

“Their rock star status in the classical crossover world is well deserved. Their classically honed technique mixed with grit and all out passionate attack transfixes the audience...” describes The Sarasota Herald Tribune. SYBARITE5 stands out as the first string quintet ever selected as winners of Concert Artists Guild International Competition in its 60 year history, and is a fitting culmination to a concert season brimming with a dazzling array of musical brilliance.

Season tickets for the four concerts are available for $80 until Sept. 22.

Tickets for concerts are $25 and $10 for students 18 and younger. Seating is limited and tickets should be purchased in advance.

The Downtown Concert Series is hosted at St. Peter’s Church. For additional information and to purchase tickets call (732) 431-8383 or visit DowntownConcertSeries.org.