North/South Consonance, Inc. Holds New Year's Celebration, 1/4

North/South Consonance, Inc. welcomes the New Year with a special free admission concert scheduled for Tuesday evening January 4, 2011 at the auditorium of Christ & St. Stephen's Church (120 West 69th St) -- between Broadway & Columbus) in Manhattan. Admission is free.

The concert will feature two rarely heard 20th century classics for clarinet and string orchestra by French composers Jean Francaix and Henri Tomasi; as well as a new work for clarinet and bass clarinet by Italian composer Federico Ermirio; and recently completed pieces by New York -based composers Edward Green and Max Lifchitz.

Performers will include clarinetists Arthur Campbell and Rocco Parisi accompanied by the acclaimed North/South Chamber Orchestra under the direction of its founder conductor Max Lifchitz.

All participants in the event are available to the press for interviews and may be contacted through our office at <ns.concerts@att.net>

North/South Consonance's 2010-11 season is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; grants from Columbia University's Ditson Fund and the American Federation of Musicians (Local 802); as well as contributions by many generous individuals.

For further information about all North/South activities including concerts and recordings please visit http://www.northsouthmusic.org/

About the Performers

Clarinetist Arthur Campbell has toured throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. Praised by Fanfare Magazine for his "exquisite playing" and described by the American Record Guide as a "terrific player" Campbell has premiered numerous works especially written for him by living composers. In great demand as a teacher, Campbell has held master classes at leading universities and conservatories in Canada, Europe, China and the US. A Professor of Music at Grand Valley State University in Michigan, his award-winning recordings are available on the Audite label.

Italian bass clarinetist Rocco Parisi studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory and the Accademia Chigiana in Siena before earning top prizes in various European competitions. He has appeared as soloist throughout Italy and in Germany, France Portugal, Turkey, China and Mexico and has given master-classes for the International Clarinet Association. Luciano Berio invited him to premiere the Sequenza IXc for bass clarinet and also to perform the Italian premiere of Chemins IIc for bass clarinet and orchestra. A professor of clarinet at the Antonio Vivaldi Conservatory, Parisi has recorded for the Taukay, Stradivarius, Nuova Era, Music Media and AOC Classic labels.

Max Lifchitz , composer/conductor, is a graduate of The Juilliard School and Harvard University. He was awarded first prize in the 1976 International Gaudeamus Competition for Performers of Twentieth Century Music held in Holland. The New York Times music critic Allan Kozinn praised Mr. Lifchitz for his "clean, measured and sensitive performances" while Anthony Tommasini stated that he "conducted a strong performance." Payton MacDonald, writing for the American Record Guide, remarked, "Mr. Lifchitz is as good on the podium as he is behind the piano."