DCINY to Present 'Requiem a deux' at Carnegie Hall, 6/7

Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) presents Requiem à deux, a pairing of two exquisite French choral masterworks: the Requiems by composers Gabriel Fauré, conducted by Craig Jessop, and by Maurice Duruflé, conducted by DCINY Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Jonathan Griffith. The Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Concerts Singers - comprised of ensembles from the US, Canada, Mexico, France and Spain - are joined by soloists Erica Miller, soprano, Leah de Gruyl, mezzo-soprano, and baritone Stephen Lancaster. In addition, the concert on Sunday, June 7 at 2:00 pm at Carnegie Hall features the New York premiere of Homage - A Folk Concerto for Flute and Orchestra by composer Dinos Constantinides and featuring flutist Iris Derke.

Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) distilled some of the most beautiful melodies he ever composed in his Requiem. Traditionally, a prayerful lament for the dead, Fauré's work is peaceful and serene, conveying a message of death as eternal rest rather than as a fiery retribution for sins committed in life. It was performed at Fauré's own funeral in 1924. Composer Maurice Duruflé's (1902-1986) transcendent Requiem is considered his finest work, combining medieval Gregorian chant melodies with modern orchestration and harmony.

Homage - A Folk Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (1988) is a folk-inspired work by the prolific Greek-American composer Dinos Constantinides. Noted for his music's "attractive quality of ritual mystery" by The New York Times, Constantinides' compositions have been performed throughout the US, Europe and Asia.

An acclaimed conductor, educator and lecturer, Jonathan Griffith has led performances across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Griffith is the 2014 winner of The American Prize in Conducting, in the professional orchestra division. The American Prize is a series of new, non-profit competitions designed to recognize and reward the best performing artists, ensembles and composers in the United States. In naming Griffith as its winner, the American Prize judges specifically noted his "energetic" and "committed" performances. Jonathan Griffith is co-founder and artistic director of DCINY which has brought together, under Griffith's artistic leadership, thousands of musicians and choral singers in concert at prestigious venues across the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Disney Hall.

Dr. Craig Jessop, Professor of Music, is the newly appointed and founding Dean for the Caine College of the Arts at Utah State University. Previously Dr. Jessop was music director of the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Head of the Department of Music at Utah State, as well as founder and Music Director of the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra and music director of the Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival. Dr. Jessop was a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force music programs. He has also been music director of the Maryland Choral Society, the Rhineland-Pfalz International Choir of Germany and the Omaha Symphonic Chorus. Dr. Jessop has also been active as a baritone vocalist, first as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and later with the choirs of Helmuth Rilling and John Rutter and with the Robert Shaw Festival Singers.

Iris Derke enjoys a diverse career as an entrepreneur, musician, executive, and producer. Ms. Derke is co-founder and General Director of DCINY, which has brought together several thousands of talented artists from across the globe in performance at prestigious concert venues around the world. As a flautist, Ms. Derke has appeared as soloist with the Polish National Symphony and the International Forum of New Music in Mexico City, and made her Carnegie Hall recital debut at Weill Recital Hall. Ms. Derke can also be heard on numerous studio recordings with Disney, Columbia/RCA, and Apple Computers for film, television and educational music software. She recently appeared as soloist with the TURKSOY Symphony Orchestra and Jonathan Griffith Singers on tour in Turkey.

Founded by Iris Derke (general director) and Jonathan Griffith (artistic director and principal conductor) Distinguished Concerts International is driven by passion, innovative vision, a total belief in its artists, and unwavering commitment to bringing forth unforgettable audience experiences. DCINY is a creative producing entity with unmatched integrity that is a talent incubator, a star-maker, and a presenter of broadly accessible, world-class musical entertainment. For more information about upcoming DCINY musical events around the world, please visit: www.DCINY.org.

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