F. Ludwig Diehn Concert Series

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Time for Three promo image shows three men posing for photo with cello.

Time for Three

Monday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall

Ranaan Meyer, Double Bass
Nick Kendall, Violin
Charles Yang, Violin

Grammy- and Emmy-winning ensemble Time For Three (TF3) defies conventions with their genre-bending excellence. Comprised of Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), the uniqueness of the trio鈥檚 instrumentation well matches their sound, which blends eras, styles, and traditions from classical to Americana to singer-songwriter. TF3鈥檚 collaborations with acclaimed contemporary classical composers and Pulitzer Prize winners, Jennifer Higdon and Kevin Puts, resulted in the Grammy Award-winning album, 鈥淟etters for the Future,鈥 conducted by Xian Zhang and featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra. Their charismatic performances on major stages, frequent collaborations with acclaimed artists like Ben Folds and Arlo Guthrie, and commitment both on and offstage to encouraging the next generation of musicians, all showcase Time for Three鈥檚 unwavering dedication to pushing creative boundaries and captivating audiences worldwide.

2023 - 2024 Season

John Sipher

John Sipher, trombone

Diehn Concert Series
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall, Diehn Center

John Sipher, principal trombonist of the Colorado Symphony, returns home to Virginia to present an eclectic recital of original compositions and arrangements. In addition to the standard trombone and piano instrumentation, John also brings a loop pedal to create a virtual trombone choir on the spot.听

Lysander Piano Trio

Lysander Piano Trio

Diehn Concert Series
Monday, October 16, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Chandler Recital Hall, Diehn Center

Itamar Zorman,听Violin
Michael Katz,听Cello
Liza Stepanova,听Piano

The Lysander Piano Trio has been praised by The Strad for its 鈥渋ncredible ensemble, passionate playing, articulate and imaginative ideas and wide palette of colors鈥 and by The Washington Post for 鈥渁n uncommon degree of heart-on-the-sleeve emotional frankness鈥 and 鈥渧ivid engagement carried by soaring, ripely Romantic playing.鈥 The group has developed a reputation for exciting programming, finding creative ways to connect well-known masterworks with pieces by lesser-known and underrepresented composers, discovering common threads across cultures and times. The Trio鈥檚 debut recording After A Dream (CAG Records) was acclaimed by The New York Times for its 鈥減olished and spirited interpretations.鈥 Its most recent album, Mirrors, featuring world-premiere recordings of six works the ensemble has commissioned or premiered, was released in early 2021 by First Hand Records.

In the 2022-23 season, the Trio performs at series around North America including New York鈥檚 Central Chamber Series, Connecticut鈥檚 South Windsor Cultural Arts, Florida鈥檚 Key West Impromptu Classical Concerts and Sanibel Music Festival, Wyoming鈥檚 WYO Theater, Lee University鈥檚 Presidential Concert Series, and the Chamber Music Society of Edmonton. This spring, the Lysander also launches its new tango-infused collaboration with Argentine bandoneon player and composer JP Jofre, with performances from Washington鈥檚 Dumbarton Concerts to Phoenix鈥檚 Hayden鈥檚 Ferry Chamber Music Series.

Monday, Dec 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall


Alex DeSocio Mug

Alex DeSocio, baritone
with the Norfolk Chamber Consort

Monday, Dec 4, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall

Described by听The New York Times听as having a 鈥渂uttery, booming baritone," Alex DeSocio (Wichita, KS), received his BM from Northwestern University and his MM at the University of Maryland. Alex has worked in many regional opera companies as a principal artist including, Fort Worth Opera, Pensacola Opera, Anchorage Opera, Opera Memphis, Livermore Valley Opera, Castleton Festival, Opera Santa Barbara, and the Pacific Opera Project. Awards include being a 2 Time-Metropolitan Council Audition Semi-Finalist, Winner/Laureate with the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

Alkemie Early Music

Alkemie Early Music Ensemble

Monday, Jan 29, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.听
Chandler Recital Hall

Alkemie exists to explore and share the life-affirming and alternative perspectives to be experienced in the sounds of centuries past. Comprised of singer-performers playing over a dozen instruments (including vielles, harps, psaltery, gittern, recorders, dou莽aines, and percussion), the ensemble has a particular interest in the porous boundaries between the court and folk music of the Medieval period. Grounded in historical performance practice and fed by a love of experimentation, Alkemie鈥檚 performance on the Indianapolis Early Music Festival in June 2018 was lauded as 鈥渆nchanting鈥 and 鈥渋ndicating [the] future health of the field of early music.鈥

Founded in 2013, Alkemie is based in Brooklyn and also performs nationally; since 2018 they have maintained a partnership with the Medieval Studies program at Fordham University. In addition to growing a series in NYC, Alkemie has been presented by the Amherst Early Music Festival, Arizona Early Music Society, Cambridge Society for Early Music, Capitol Early Music Series, Five Boroughs Music Festival, Johns Hopkins Program in Arts, Humanities & Health, Music Before 1800, and the European Early Music Network virtual Early Music Day festival. Alkemie also curated, recorded, and composed the music for the videogame Pentiment.

This season, Alkemie looks forward to debuting new programs featuring a collaboration with the Grammy-nominated duo Chapter House featuring 12th-century repertoire and the fables of Marie de France ("Call Me Marie"); an indie-rock troubadour collaboration with Charles Mueller and his band table tennis (鈥淔ine Companion鈥); and a collaboration with medieval luminary and composer Shira Kammen that focuses on the works of Guillaume DuFay ("Awesome is this Place").

Alkemie鈥檚 members are also committed to the lively teaching of medieval and Renaissance performance practice and history. Alkemie has been in residence at Fairmont State University and has created workshops and educational outreach programs for the Capitol Early Music Series, Ramaz High School (NYC), and at Fordham University. Alkemie members teach collegiate and amateur students at Case Western Reserve University, Fordham University, the Strathmore Arts Center, Amherst Early Music Festival, Pinewoods, the Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin, and through the Early Music Access Project.

.

Monday, Feb 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m
Chandler Recital Hall


Norfolk Letter Memorial in Bronze

Norfolk Letters

Monday, Feb 26, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall

Michael Rickelton, composer
Ross Tomaccio, baritone
Hsiao-Ying Lin, piano

Honoring fallen soldiers now for over 25 years, the Norfolk Armed Forces Memorial steadfastly commemorates the lives of all those who died serving their nation in times of war. The 22 bronze cast letters penned by fallen soldiers that live on in memoriam in downtown Norfolk will now be heard in new musical settings for voice and piano by composer Michael Rickelton.

Rickelton is a composer of 鈥渆xtremely attractive and thoughtfully shaped鈥 (Music Web International) music that 鈥渟eizes the ear鈥 (Gramophone). Composer Lori Laitman described Rickelton as having 鈥渁 great and clear gift for writing for the voice,鈥 and his works have found favor with singers across the country. He is joined by sought-after baritone Ross Tamaccio and collaborative pianist Hsiao-Ying Lin. Accompanied by additional works inspired by the soldier鈥檚 experience, the world premiere of听Norfolk Letters听continues in Norfolk鈥檚 distinguished tradition of honoring America鈥檚 military heritage.

Monday, Apr 8, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall


Lisanne Lyons Vocalist

Lisanne Lyons, jazz vocalist

Monday, Apr 15, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Diehn Concert Series
Chandler Recital Hall, Diehn Center

鈥淎 luminous, flutelike soprano鈥right tone and improvisational flair.鈥- The Washington Post

Sometimes sunshine, sometimes moonlight, Lisanne Lyons鈥 voice dances through a melody, teasing, inviting you along. A favorite of audiences for years as the featured vocalist for the Air Force Bands, this gifted singer has performed around the world, including a star turn in the national touring company of Cy Coleman鈥檚 Tony Award-winning City of Angels. Her solo CD 鈥淪mile,鈥 recorded with the John Toomey Trio, drew raves like this one from The Washington Post: "Lisanne Lyons鈥eminds us of the magic that can happen when the right singer, the right song and the right accompaniment fall into place. Blessed with a luminous, flutelike soprano, Lyons delivers a collection of cheery themes and dreamy ballads particularly well-suited to her bright tone and improvisational flair.鈥

Lisanne Lyon鈥檚 career began immediately following high school as the featured vocalist for the Air Force Bands. During her years in the service she performed and traveled worldwide with the 鈥淣orad Command Band, 鈥漈ravis AF 鈥淏and of the Golden Gate,鈥 and the U.S. Air Force Academy 鈥淔alconaires.鈥 She received her Bachelor鈥檚 and Master鈥檚 of Music and Doctorate in Music from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. As a student, she received two Down Beat 鈥淒ee Bee鈥 awards for Best Jazz Vocalist and one for Best Jazz Arrangement. She was also invited to be a featured performer with Joel Grey on the NBC televised Orange Bowl half-time show, 鈥淵ou鈥檒l Get a Kick Out of Cole.鈥 Shortly after school, Cy Coleman selected her to replace Monica Mancini in the national touring company of his Tony award winning 鈥淐ity of Angels.鈥

Dr. Lyons has performed with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau, Arturo Sandoval, Larry Elgart, University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, Roanoke Symphony, Palm Beach Pops, Las Olas Studio Orchestra, South Florida Jazz Orchestra, Sunrise Pops Orchestra, Sugar Pops Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Hallandale Pops Orchestra, Ars Flores Orchestra, Gene Krupa Orchestra with Michael Berkowitz, XL Big Band in Sweden, Harry James Orchestra, Artie Shaw Orchestra, and various bands across the country. She has also performed with many of the worlds top jazz artists such as Maria Schneider, Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Four Freshmen, Mose Allison, Jon Hendricks, Don Braden, Paul Bollenbach, Ted Rosenthal, Ira Sullivan, Duffy Jackson, Jim Pugh, Harold Jones, Dave Berkman, Eliane Elias, Claudia Acuna, Bucky Pizzerelli, Gary Burton, Dennis DiBlasio, John Fedchock, Walter White, Kevin Mahagony, and many others. Lisanne has recorded two solo CD鈥檚, 鈥淩ight as the Rain,鈥 and 鈥淪mile,鈥 with the John Toomey trio. 鈥淪mile鈥 was met with critical praise including the Washington Post and Cadence magazine. She is in demand as a performer, adjudicator, arranger, and conductor.

John Sipher

John Sipher, trombone

Diehn Concert Series
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall, Diehn Center

John Sipher, principal trombonist of the Colorado Symphony, returns home to Virginia to present an eclectic recital of original compositions and arrangements. In addition to the standard trombone and piano instrumentation, John also brings a loop pedal to create a virtual trombone choir on the spot.听

Lysander Piano Trio

Lysander Piano Trio

Diehn Concert Series
Monday, October 16, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. Chandler Recital Hall, Diehn Center

Itamar Zorman,听Violin
Michael Katz,听Cello
Liza Stepanova,听Piano

The Lysander Piano Trio has been praised by The Strad for its 鈥渋ncredible ensemble, passionate playing, articulate and imaginative ideas and wide palette of colors鈥 and by The Washington Post for 鈥渁n uncommon degree of heart-on-the-sleeve emotional frankness鈥 and 鈥渧ivid engagement carried by soaring, ripely Romantic playing.鈥 The group has developed a reputation for exciting programming, finding creative ways to connect well-known masterworks with pieces by lesser-known and underrepresented composers, discovering common threads across cultures and times. The Trio鈥檚 debut recording After A Dream (CAG Records) was acclaimed by The New York Times for its 鈥減olished and spirited interpretations.鈥 Its most recent album, Mirrors, featuring world-premiere recordings of six works the ensemble has commissioned or premiered, was released in early 2021 by First Hand Records.

In the 2022-23 season, the Trio performs at series around North America including New York鈥檚 Central Chamber Series, Connecticut鈥檚 South Windsor Cultural Arts, Florida鈥檚 Key West Impromptu Classical Concerts and Sanibel Music Festival, Wyoming鈥檚 WYO Theater, Lee University鈥檚 Presidential Concert Series, and the Chamber Music Society of Edmonton. This spring, the Lysander also launches its new tango-infused collaboration with Argentine bandoneon player and composer JP Jofre, with performances from Washington鈥檚 Dumbarton Concerts to Phoenix鈥檚 Hayden鈥檚 Ferry Chamber Music Series.

Monday, Dec 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall


Alex DeSocio Mug

Alex DeSocio, baritone
with the Norfolk Chamber Consort

Monday, Dec 4, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall

Described by听The New York Times听as having a 鈥渂uttery, booming baritone," Alex DeSocio (Wichita, KS), received his BM from Northwestern University and his MM at the University of Maryland. Alex has worked in many regional opera companies as a principal artist including, Fort Worth Opera, Pensacola Opera, Anchorage Opera, Opera Memphis, Livermore Valley Opera, Castleton Festival, Opera Santa Barbara, and the Pacific Opera Project. Awards include being a 2 Time-Metropolitan Council Audition Semi-Finalist, Winner/Laureate with the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

Alkemie Early Music

Alkemie Early Music Ensemble

Monday, Jan 29, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.听
Chandler Recital Hall

Alkemie exists to explore and share the life-affirming and alternative perspectives to be experienced in the sounds of centuries past. Comprised of singer-performers playing over a dozen instruments (including vielles, harps, psaltery, gittern, recorders, dou莽aines, and percussion), the ensemble has a particular interest in the porous boundaries between the court and folk music of the Medieval period. Grounded in historical performance practice and fed by a love of experimentation, Alkemie鈥檚 performance on the Indianapolis Early Music Festival in June 2018 was lauded as 鈥渆nchanting鈥 and 鈥渋ndicating [the] future health of the field of early music.鈥

Founded in 2013, Alkemie is based in Brooklyn and also performs nationally; since 2018 they have maintained a partnership with the Medieval Studies program at Fordham University. In addition to growing a series in NYC, Alkemie has been presented by the Amherst Early Music Festival, Arizona Early Music Society, Cambridge Society for Early Music, Capitol Early Music Series, Five Boroughs Music Festival, Johns Hopkins Program in Arts, Humanities & Health, Music Before 1800, and the European Early Music Network virtual Early Music Day festival. Alkemie also curated, recorded, and composed the music for the videogame Pentiment.

This season, Alkemie looks forward to debuting new programs featuring a collaboration with the Grammy-nominated duo Chapter House featuring 12th-century repertoire and the fables of Marie de France ("Call Me Marie"); an indie-rock troubadour collaboration with Charles Mueller and his band table tennis (鈥淔ine Companion鈥); and a collaboration with medieval luminary and composer Shira Kammen that focuses on the works of Guillaume DuFay ("Awesome is this Place").

Alkemie鈥檚 members are also committed to the lively teaching of medieval and Renaissance performance practice and history. Alkemie has been in residence at Fairmont State University and has created workshops and educational outreach programs for the Capitol Early Music Series, Ramaz High School (NYC), and at Fordham University. Alkemie members teach collegiate and amateur students at Case Western Reserve University, Fordham University, the Strathmore Arts Center, Amherst Early Music Festival, Pinewoods, the Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin, and through the Early Music Access Project.

.

Monday, Feb 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m
Chandler Recital Hall


Norfolk Letter Memorial in Bronze

Norfolk Letters

Monday, Feb 26, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall

Michael Rickelton, composer
Ross Tomaccio, baritone
Hsiao-Ying Lin, piano

Honoring fallen soldiers now for over 25 years, the Norfolk Armed Forces Memorial steadfastly commemorates the lives of all those who died serving their nation in times of war. The 22 bronze cast letters penned by fallen soldiers that live on in memoriam in downtown Norfolk will now be heard in new musical settings for voice and piano by composer Michael Rickelton.

Rickelton is a composer of 鈥渆xtremely attractive and thoughtfully shaped鈥 (Music Web International) music that 鈥渟eizes the ear鈥 (Gramophone). Composer Lori Laitman described Rickelton as having 鈥渁 great and clear gift for writing for the voice,鈥 and his works have found favor with singers across the country. He is joined by sought-after baritone Ross Tamaccio and collaborative pianist Hsiao-Ying Lin. Accompanied by additional works inspired by the soldier鈥檚 experience, the world premiere of听Norfolk Letters听continues in Norfolk鈥檚 distinguished tradition of honoring America鈥檚 military heritage.

Monday, Apr 8, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
Chandler Recital Hall


Lisanne Lyons Vocalist

Lisanne Lyons, jazz vocalist

Monday, Apr 15, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Diehn Concert Series
Chandler Recital Hall, Diehn Center

鈥淎 luminous, flutelike soprano鈥right tone and improvisational flair.鈥- The Washington Post

Sometimes sunshine, sometimes moonlight, Lisanne Lyons鈥 voice dances through a melody, teasing, inviting you along. A favorite of audiences for years as the featured vocalist for the Air Force Bands, this gifted singer has performed around the world, including a star turn in the national touring company of Cy Coleman鈥檚 Tony Award-winning City of Angels. Her solo CD 鈥淪mile,鈥 recorded with the John Toomey Trio, drew raves like this one from The Washington Post: "Lisanne Lyons鈥eminds us of the magic that can happen when the right singer, the right song and the right accompaniment fall into place. Blessed with a luminous, flutelike soprano, Lyons delivers a collection of cheery themes and dreamy ballads particularly well-suited to her bright tone and improvisational flair.鈥

Lisanne Lyon鈥檚 career began immediately following high school as the featured vocalist for the Air Force Bands. During her years in the service she performed and traveled worldwide with the 鈥淣orad Command Band, 鈥漈ravis AF 鈥淏and of the Golden Gate,鈥 and the U.S. Air Force Academy 鈥淔alconaires.鈥 She received her Bachelor鈥檚 and Master鈥檚 of Music and Doctorate in Music from the University of Miami Frost School of Music. As a student, she received two Down Beat 鈥淒ee Bee鈥 awards for Best Jazz Vocalist and one for Best Jazz Arrangement. She was also invited to be a featured performer with Joel Grey on the NBC televised Orange Bowl half-time show, 鈥淵ou鈥檒l Get a Kick Out of Cole.鈥 Shortly after school, Cy Coleman selected her to replace Monica Mancini in the national touring company of his Tony award winning 鈥淐ity of Angels.鈥

Dr. Lyons has performed with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau, Arturo Sandoval, Larry Elgart, University of Miami Concert Jazz Band, Roanoke Symphony, Palm Beach Pops, Las Olas Studio Orchestra, South Florida Jazz Orchestra, Sunrise Pops Orchestra, Sugar Pops Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Hallandale Pops Orchestra, Ars Flores Orchestra, Gene Krupa Orchestra with Michael Berkowitz, XL Big Band in Sweden, Harry James Orchestra, Artie Shaw Orchestra, and various bands across the country. She has also performed with many of the worlds top jazz artists such as Maria Schneider, Bobby McFerrin, Mark Murphy, Four Freshmen, Mose Allison, Jon Hendricks, Don Braden, Paul Bollenbach, Ted Rosenthal, Ira Sullivan, Duffy Jackson, Jim Pugh, Harold Jones, Dave Berkman, Eliane Elias, Claudia Acuna, Bucky Pizzerelli, Gary Burton, Dennis DiBlasio, John Fedchock, Walter White, Kevin Mahagony, and many others. Lisanne has recorded two solo CD鈥檚, 鈥淩ight as the Rain,鈥 and 鈥淪mile,鈥 with the John Toomey trio. 鈥淪mile鈥 was met with critical praise including the Washington Post and Cadence magazine. She is in demand as a performer, adjudicator, arranger, and conductor.

About the F. Ludwig Diehn Concert Series

Hampton Roads Community Foundation

The F. Ludwig Diehn Concert Series is made possible by an endowment established by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation and a generous gift from F. Ludwig Diehn. Concerts in this series bring significant classical and jazz musicians to Hampton Roads.听

Explore F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music Programs

The Diehn School of Music consists of award-winning faculty who are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their fields.