Music at the Mansion

Music at the Mansion is an exciting arts and cultural collaboration between Lounsbury House and the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, with the intent of offering diverse chamber music of the highest artistic quality accessibly, while sharing the history and beauty of one of Ridgefield’s most treasured landmarks. Now in its third year, the concert series continues in 2025 with concerts on July 13, July 27, August 17 and December 14.

Harmonia V is an innovative professional Woodwind Quintet from Connecticut. This group of accomplished musicians is dedicated to performing the best standard literature, seldom heard treasures, and the most dynamic contemporary music available today. Each member draws upon over 20 years of chamber music experience and believes that the audience should be entertained as well as enlightened.

The members of Harmonia V are proponents of works by living composers, and are always looking to add new music to their repertoire. Pieces have been written for the ensemble by Gwyneth Walker, Rich Sowash, Joseph Russon, Julien Monick and Jonathan Schmieding, and Harmonia V (along with a consortium of woodwind quintets) co-commissioned a piece by Daniel Baldwin.Harmonia V has earned standing ovations throughout Connecticut and the Northeast US for their creative programming and unique rapport with audiences. Music lovers of all ages enjoy Harmonia V’s refreshing approach to virtuosity and nuance, exposing them to a new world of sound, color and emotion.

PROGRAM: To be announced.

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Emily Levin joined the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as principal harp in 2016. She has also served as guest principal harp with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Houston Symphony, and appears regularly with the New York Philharmonic. At the request of conductors Jaap van Zweden and John Adams, Levin has appeared as a soloist with the Dallas Symphony, and other concerto engagements include performances with the Jerusalem, Colorado and West Virginia Symphonies; the Louisiana Philharmonic; and the Ojai Festival and Lakes Area Music Festival. As a solo performer and a chamber musician, Emily has performed at leading venues throughout North America and Europe — including Carnegie Hall, National Sawdust, Bravo! Vail, the Kimmel Center, and the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The only American to receive top prizes at two of the most prestigious international harp competitions, Emily won the 2013 Bronze Medal at the 9th USA International Harp Competition, and at just 18 years old, was named a finalist and Renié Prizewinner at the 2009 International Harp Contest in Israel. Emily received her Master of Music from the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Nancy Allen. Emily lives in Dallas with her husband, composer Jonathan Cziner.

PROGRAM: Levin will perform a beautiful, diverse program titled “Ghost Stories” featuring Suite for Harp by Benjamin Britten, Nocture by Claude Debussy, Stalk by Han Lash, Suite Galactique by Caroline Lizotte, Music for the Temple by Jonathan Cziner, The Ocean Within by Du Yun, Le Rossignol by Franz Liszt and Mythos by Michael Ippolito.

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Inspired by the eponymous storytelling muse in Greek mythology, American quintet Calliope Brass (pronounced “Kuh-LIE-uh-pea”) collaborates with the world’s most prominent creatives to build evocative, story-driven concert experiences. The quintet developed its flagship educational initiative, “What’s Your Story?”, in collaboration with creatives from Hamilton and Sesame Street, and otherwise keeps an active concert schedule across the tri-state area. A registered 501(c)3 organization based in New York City, Calliope Brass furthers the role of women brass musicians as both artists and teachers through excellence in artistry and innovation in performance.

PROGRAM: To be announced.

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Hafez Taghavi is a sought after violinist, conductor, and pedagogue. He is based mainly in the New York City/ Connecticut area, but is also avidly active abroad. Locally, he has performed with the Deming String Quartet, the Lotus Chamber Music Collective, the Ridgefield Symphony, Bridgeport Symphony, and the Charles Ives Music Festival orchestra. As a soloist, Hafez has performed concerti with several ensembles, including performances at Veronica Hagman Hall and Yale University. He has been described by the Danbury News Times as, “…a promising, talented soloist.” Internationally, he has been invited to play at venues in Vienna, Bonn, Leipzig, Salzburg, Bologna, Budapest, and La Paz among many others. In addition to live performances, Hafez can be heard on numerous albums from many different genres, as well as film, TV, and video game soundtracks. Hafez maintains his own private studio and is currently is on faculty at the Canterbury School, the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras, and the Interharmony International Music Festival. His major musical influences and teachers are Martha Shackford, Ronda Cole, David Strom, Eric Lewis, Cal Wiersma, John Dexter, Chris Finckel, Curtis Macomber, Ransom Wilson, and the Manhattan String Quartet. Hafez will be joined for this concert by a music colleagues from the NY/CT area.

PROGRAM: To be announced.