Vincent Youmans -- Sometimes I'm Happy

ORION CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Fourth Concert of the 2023-2024 Season
Sunday, May 26, 7:30 p.m. - Nichols Hall, Evanston
ORION CORE ARTISTS
Kathryne Pirtle, Clarinet
Florentina Ramniceanu, Violin
Judy Stone, Cello
Diana Schmück, Piano
ORION GUESTS
Bradley Williams, Jazz Piano
Morgan Pirtle, Jazz Vocalist
Amy Jill, Jazz Vocalist
Recognized as one of Chicago’s finest chamber music groups, ORION ENSEMBLE is the winner of the prestigious Chamber Music America/ ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming. John von Rhein of The Chicago Tribune calls Orion “one of Chicago’s most vibrant, versatile and distinctive ensembles.” With the possibilities inherent in its unique combination of instruments-piano, string trio, and clarinet-Orion offers exciting interpretations of standard repertoire, introduces audiences to rarely- performed masterpieces, and inspires composers with commissions for new works. Orion’s cutting-edge programs feature diverse works by composers ranging from Mozart and Brahms to William Bolcom and Chick Corea to Paul Schoenfield and Augusta Read Thomas.
BRADLEY WILLIAMS , is a Chicago-based pianist, composer, vocalist and producer. He is a Grammy-nominated pianist/arranger for Woody Herman’s “Thundering Herd,” with whom he toured in the mid-80s. Settling in Chicago, he is known to such venues as the Green Mill and the Gold Star Sardine Bar, serving as Music Director.
MORGAN PIRTLE, is an independent singer-songwriter and multi- instrumentalist based in Chicago. At a young age, she was greeted by the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald and Carole King echoing through her musical home. This early introduction to music led her to pursue a degree in Vocal Jazz at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Her in-depth studies of the genre led her to naturally blend jazz with other contemporary influences, painting ethereal and impactful soundscapes with her music.
AMY JILL , began her performing career on the Robert E. Lee Showboat in St. Louis as a singer/dancer. She studied Jazz Performance at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and holds a Master of Music Degree from DePaul University. After a stint at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, she made her home in Chicago performing as a pianist/vocalist and teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music.