Gateways Chamber Players: A Fiddler's Tale

• Alex Laing, clarinet
• Monica Ellis, bassoon
• Billy R. Hunter, Jr., trumpet
• Weston Sprott, trombone
• Wesley Sumpter, percussion
• Tai Murray, violn
• Patricia Weitzel, double bass
• Phylicia Rashad, narrator
• Damien Sneed, conductor

An all-star lineup of leading musicians comes together to perform two iconic works: Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale Suite and Wynton Marsalis' A Fiddler's Tale. Written with novelist C.F. Ramuz as a work that could be produced easily and economically during World War I, Stravinsky's suite tells of a soldier who deals with the devil, rising to fame and fortune, but crumbling when the devil returns to reclaim his soul. Created as a response to The Soldier's Tale Suite, Marsalis' A Fiddler's Tale brings the story into the present and into his own sound world, pulling in elements of jazz, blues, ragtime, and more. All members of the Gateways Music Festival, this special ensemble includes members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Imani Winds, The Phoenix Symphony, and more.

About Gateways Chamber Players

https://www.gatewaysmusicfestival.org/about-the-gateways-chamber-players

About Fortas Chamber Music Concerts

https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/festivals-series/fortas-series-page/

About Alex Laing, clarinet

https://www.alexlaingmusic.com/

About Monica Ellis, bassoon

Monica Ellis — a 2024 Grammy Award winner and three-time nominee — is a bassoonist, entrepreneur, and founding member of the wind quintet Imani Winds, which for over a quarter-century has dazzled audiences with dynamic playing, adventurous programming, and a commitment to outreach, new works, and collaborations. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Ellis studied bassoon with Mark Pancerev and went on to receive her bachelor of music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, studying with George Sakakeeny. She received her master’s degree from The Juilliard School and her Professional Studies Certificate from Manhattan School of Music in the Orchestral Performance Program, studying with Frank Morelli at both institutions. She has appeared as solo bassoon with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, and Chineke! Orchestra in London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Recording credits include 10 studio albums with Imani Winds.

About Billy R. Hunter, Jr., trumpet

https://www.metorchestramusicians.org/portfolio/billy-r-hunter-jr-principal-trumpet/

About Weston Sprott, trombone

https://www.westonsprott.com/

About Wesley Sumpter, percussion

https://www.wesblakemusic.com/

About Tai Murray, violn

http://www.taimurray.com

About Patricia Weitzel, double bass

https://arts.psu.edu/faculty/patricia-weitzel/

About Phylicia Rashad, narrator

Phylicia Rashad is an American actress. She is dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University and best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the sitcom The Cosby Show which earned her Emmy Award nominations in 1985 and 1986. She also played Ruth Lucas on Cosby.

About Damien Sneed, conductor

https://www.damiensneed.com/