History
The core of the orchestra is the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, which was founded in 1974 as an ensemble of 21 to 22 musicians. The name of "St. Luke's" derives from the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, Greenwich Village, in Manhattan, where the ensemble first performed. Michael Feldman, a music teacher in Manhattan, was the first de facto conductor of the ensemble. The larger Orchestra of St. Luke's was formally founded in the summer of 1979 at the Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, New York, as the festival's resident orchestra. The organisation of the orchestra's musicians falls into a three-tier roster, with the second tier of 20 players utilised for chamber orchestra concerts, and the third tier of 20 to 30 musicians for use in concerts that require larger ensembles. The pool of musicians for the orchestra generally derives from freelance New York City musicians. The orchestra musicians themselves decide on the hiring and dismissal, and assignments, of the players, without a central music director.
The orchestra's first titled conductor was Roger Norrington, the music director from 1990 to 1994. Sir Charles Mackerras was the orchestra's second music director, from 1998 to 2001, but with limited administrative work and only for the designated 3-year period, per his request. Donald Runnicles was the orchestra's next titled conductor, with the title of principal conductor, from 2001 to 2007. In December 2011, the orchestra announced the appointment of its current principal conductor, Pablo Heras-Casado, with immediate effect, and with an initial contract through 2015.
The Orchestra of St. Luke's has premiered over 100 orchestral and chamber works by such composers as John Adams, Joan Tower, Anthony Davis, Nicholas Maw, Andre Previn, George Tsontakis, and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. The orchestra has released over 70 recordings, three of which have won Grammy Awards: John Adams's Nixon in China, Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915, and Bel Canto with Renée Fleming. In 2003, the orchestra launched its own record label, St. Luke's Collection.
The orchestra's current president & executive director is Katy Clark. Its current chairman is Norman S. Benzaquen.
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