The next concert in the “Open Door Concert Series” is this coming Wednesday, 11/4 at 7 pm in the York Room at the Birch mansion in Ramapo College.

It will feature works for woodwind quintet and piano and the wind players are all wonderful – flutist Margaret Swinchoski, oboist Marsha Heller, clarinetist Richard Summers, bassoonist Atsuko Sato and French horn player Chris Wilhjelm. Dr. Wilhjelm, who is the band director for the acclaimed Ridgewood Concert Band is now in his second year teaching at the Ramapo College as the director of the Ramapo Concert Band. Itay Goren will join on the Piano.

The program is absolutely superb  – starting with Mozart’s Quintet for piano and winds K. 452 about which Mozart wrote to his father:  “I myself consider it to be the best thing I have written in my life”.   The second piece is Barber’s Summer Music for woodwind quintet which is filled with longing melodies, suspenseful rhythms and colorful flourishes highlighting each instrument. Closing the program is one of those pieces which is very beloved by musicians and audiences because it’s so much fun! – Poulenc’s Sextet for winds and piano. If you like jagged rhythms, crazy syncopations, lush harmonies, goofy melodies and abundant sentimentality this is the piece for you.

As usual the concert is free. We have been filling the York Room each time for the past several concerts so come early to reserve a seat. Doors open at 6:30.