Christopher North made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut with the ACMA (Association of Classical Musicians and Artists) Orchestra on Saturday, November 18th, at 8 pm. As the Principal Conductor Of ACMA, North led the enthusiastic 22-piece volunteer chamber orchestra in Weill Recital Hall performance of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto (featuring Gary Mayer as soloist) and the world premiere of his own composition, "(on the) Verge Of,"  a fantasia on a theme dedicated 'for Lorna.' Dr. Lorna Breen, an emergency room physician and cellist, was known to North through their association with the New York Late Starters Orchestra. North, also a singer and multi-instrumentalist, has graced the Carnegie Hall Stern Auditorium multiple times since Fall 1997, performing as a vocalist with the Russian Chamber Chorus of NY, the New York Choral Artists (NY Phil and Chicago Phil), American Symphony Orchestra, among others. He has also showcased his talent as a bassist with countless MidAmerica Productions  (including Messiah, works by John Rutter)  and the Young People's Chorus of NYC, among others. Additionally, he has performed as a solo singer/guitarist, opening for the Ft. Worth Symphony in a Children's Holiday Concert featuring John Lithgow.

Dedication:

'(on the) Verge Of' is a fantasia born from a single theme—a motif that reflects the ebbs and flows of a quixotic life. It stands as an ode to the transformative power of embracing life's challenges and joys, while celebrating the noble pursuit of music-making at every level and at all ages.
This work is dedicated “for Lorna”, for Dr. Lorna Breen, a compassionate emergency room physician and cellist, whose unwavering dedication touched countless lives, leaving an indelible mark on the world and my life. (I remember her radiant smile upon locking in a tricky syncopated rhythm with the NY Late Starters Orchestra.) I took a single melodic thread, a growing phrase with steps and leaps, and follows this theme’s aspirations as it metamorphoses, stretches and dances. As it approaches seemingly inevitable landings, this fantasia echoes the trials and triumphs we all encounter - the highs and lows, the joys and sorrows including expectations and surprises, that shape our shared experience - all the while, acknowledging we may never land where or how we planned, if we ever truly land at all... The music encapsulates the essence of forward motion, resilience and the courage to transcend limitations, urging us to release the fear of imperfection and embrace the beauty found in the “rubs” of life and music, in dissonances and in our “mistakes.”(Half steps, also known as Minor 2nds, the smallest interval in the diatonic scale, give way to Major 7ths, the biggest stretch within an octave, just short of the “perfect” octave.) It is my sincerest desire that this musical journey serves as a tribute to the remarkable souls who embodied the spirit of unwavering quiet dedication in all aspects of life, coupled with the wondrous noisy joy found in the pursuit of making music, especially music just beyond our grasp.www.drlornabreen.org

Score: OTVO_V7