CHERWYN AMBUTER, pianist, accompanist, chamber music collaborator
"An astonishing performance!"
~ AIM Vernon News, on Debussy & Ravel solo piano works performed as an interlude in Vernon's
Community Choral Society spring concert
"This semester I’m thrilled to be collaborating with pianist,
Cherwyn Ambuter. We’ve known of each other for quite a few years
now, however it wasn’t until the beginning of summer that we finally had the
opportunity to make each other’s acquaintance. Over the summer a working
relationship developed, and I learned quickly that Cherwyn is not merely a
talented pianist. She is also the consummate Accompanist (yes, a capital
‘A’) with uncanny affinity for choral accompanying - which is an art in
itself! She listens with the ear of a conductor and that of a singer, and
plays for the ears of the audience, yet always respecting the composer. I
know from my own accomplishments, that’s not an easy feat. She knows the
challenges for folks on either side of the podium having had vast experience
from all angles. And I have to confess I wouldn’t be completely honest if
I didn’t mention she is also a bit of a mind-reader, bringing a comforting (to
me) kind of telepathy to each rehearsal session, if you will. Needless to
say, I hope I have the privilege to work with her for a very long time."
~ Janiece Kohler, Artistic Director
Classic Choral Society
Blooming Grove, NY (For viewing of this quote in a newspaper, please go to the following URL and then go to page 9; look in the central column about halfway down: https://issuu.com/dhcanvas/docs/canvas_december_2018)
Cherwyn enthralls audiences and her fellow performers with her dynamic, energy-infused interpretive performances which grip the heart and capture listeners...Her ability to merge musically in empathy with others and feel the music "as one" during collaboration has always been acknowledged as a special gift.
Cherwyn serves currently as accompanist for both the Classic Choral Society in Blooming Grove, NY, and The Newburgh Chorale in Newburgh, NY. She accompanies all recitals, auditions, and competitions for Theater Steps voice studio in Jersey City, NJ.
Over thirty years of professional pianist performance experience include:
* chamber music and recital/performance collaboration with members of Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and Cleveland Opera Chorus, and others; guest accompanist for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Cadet Glee Club.
* collaboration with Cleveland Contemporary Youth Orchestra
* harpischordist for the Baroque Orchestra of NJ, pianist for BONJ's summer opera, and annual appearances in BONJ's summer chamber music festival
* extensive accompanimental service to choral/vocal organizations:
* Opera Theatre of Montclair
* New Jersey Conservatory Symphonic Chorus and Chamber Choir
* Great Miami Choral Society (Hamilton, OH)
* Summit Choral Society (Akron, OH)
* The Arcadian Chorale
* Richmond Choral Society (Staten Island, NY)
* Manhattan Concert Productions' Octavo Series
* staff accompanist at the Thurnauer School of Music in Tenafly, NJ, accompanying lessons, group classes, and recitals for violin, cello, flute, trumpet, and women's choir
* occasional work with the New Jersey State Opera under the direction of former director Jason Tramm
* formerly staff accompanist for voice departments and opera workshops at Tufts University and Northern Kentucky University
* solo recitalist in "PianoTalk" concerts, including The Life and Music of Franz Liszt; presented world premiere of the newly-discovered piano solo and piano/violin duo music of Italian composer Alfred Morena at The Center for Italian-American Culture in Bloomfield, NJ
* extensive experience accompanying high school and elem. school choirs; musical theatre; violin studio recitals; college recitals and college entrance auditions, church soloists and choirs; solo and chamber music performances in New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, Vermont, North Carolina, and Massachusetts.
* Cherwyn's fluent sight-reading skills enable her to concentrate on bringing music alive, rather than finding notes, even on last-minute calls. Her studies in voice and foreign language render her particularly well-suited for working with singers, even in challenging recitative passages. Prior studies in oboe and clarinet have given her sympathies for working with instrumentalists who play on the breath, allowing her to internally "breathe with" the other performer. Collaborations are satisfying and rewarding!
Additional musical experience as church choir director, organist, and community chorus director. Founder and former Artistic Director for Zephyr Vocal Ensemble, a primarily a cappella, semi-professional mixed ensemble of 16 voices.
Awards:
* 1st prize, Elizabeth Verveer Tischler Competition (generous cash prize - performed Liszt's Transcendental Etude No. 9)
* 1st prize, Tufts University Concerto Competition (appearance with Tufts Symphony Orchestra - Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor)
Education:
* M.M. in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; B.A. in Music from Tufts University; further studies in voice, clarinet, and oboe, as well as choral conducting.
* Piano studies with Gail Niwa, Philip Thomson, Richard Morris, Eugene & Elizabeth Pridonoff, and Merilyn Neher.
* Chamber music coaching with The Tokyo String Quartet, The Raphael Trio, and Jack Kirstein. Specially selected to perform in master class with the famed Joseph Kalichstein in March, 2016.
I am so encouraged and felt very buoyant on my ride home. I listened to the rehearsal recordings - just yesterday's - and was very pleased. Your playing is so artistic and sensitive - you really get the effect and 'story' of all of these pieces. I feel very fortunate to have found you!
~ professional soprano Elizabeth Phillips of Rochester, NY
Dear Cherwyn,
Thank you for accompanying for the NJ-ACDA Music Immersion workshop last week.You approached the task with the utmost professionalism and enthusiasm! I appreciate your positive attitude and incredibly hard work! I hope you can accompany for ACDA in the future! Thanks again for being such a great part of our Immersion!"
~ Lauri Lausi, president of the NJ chapter of the American Choral Directors Association
"Mrs. Ambuter's instrumental technique is superb, she plays with enthusiasm, and she is responsible to the conductor's gesture. Thanks for a job well done! Mrs. Ambuter is commended for the fine work she does in accompanying our choral groups. Her expertise is noted and appreciated. It is recommended that Ms. Ambuter continue as accompanist."
~ Mr. Richard Zweier, Former Supervisor, Performing Arts Dept., Vernon Township High School, annual evaluation for school district
Community Choral Society http://c-c-s.yolasite.com/
Tufts University Dept. of Music
UC College-Conservatory of Music
