Creative Music Studio Improvisers Orchestra
CMS’s Improvisers Orchestra, an ensemble originally founded by former artistic director Karl Berger (1935-2023), blends the sounds of improvising musicians in ensemble and orchestral settings. The groups are comprised of intergenerational groups of musicians that participate in live improvised performances.
“The idea of the Improvisers Orchestra is to create a sound together without knowing what happens next. This is a very high art. For those who are new listeners or players, the aim is to harmonize improvised sound with the fine tuning of our sensitivity to the tuning of the sounds we are making.There is a beautiful expression in music: When we learn to play a piece of written music and we finally put the music sheet away, we are now playing “by heart”. This is what we are doing here in the widest sense of this expression – playing by heart. We are born with an innate sense of direct spontaneous play that is not directed by the head. We are not using our head, but our heart.” – Karl Berger
“The ability to give your own original sound was and is the beating heart of CMS and music. CMS is not about teaching; it is about supporting and empowering to bring out what is in you already.” – Ingrid Sertso
POSTPONED: Sunday February 22: CMS Improvisers Orchestra
3-5:30 PM
$10-$30 suggested donation
In honor of Karl Berger, Aliya Ultan & Peter Apfelbaum lead the Creative Music Studio Improvisers Orchestra featuring vocalist Ingrid Sertso. Audience is invited to the open rehearsal from 3-4pm, performance to follow from 4-530pm.
KB on the Improvisers Orchestra:The idea of the Improvisers Orchestra is to create a sound together without knowing what happens next. This is a very high art. For those who are new listeners or players, the aim is to harmonize improvised sound with the fine tuning of our sensitivity to the tuning of the sounds we are making.There is a beautiful expression in music: When we learn to play a piece of written music and we finally put the music sheet away, we are now playing “by heart”. This is what we are doing here in the widest sense of this expression – playing by heart. We are born with an innate sense of direct spontaneous play that is not directed by the head. We are not using our head, but our heart. -Karl Berger
Past Performances
From Ingrid: “Jack DeJohnette has left us, and it’s a big loss. He was a fantastic musician – Karl and I adored his drumming. When he moved to Woodstock in the early 1970s, where (bassist) Dave Holland was already living and where Creative Music Studio was founded, he became very involved with CMS: he did many workshops and concerts and contributed a lot to what CMS was about. He also has a featured part in the 2018 film, Music Mind, in which he speaks about CMS – we are so grateful to have that. We love him, and we love his wife Lydia, and it’s unthinkable that he’s gone. We will never forget him.”
Past Performances
Handbell Studio at the Shirt Factory, 77 Cornell Street, Kingston, NY
Open Rehearsal 3-3:45 PM; Performance 4-5:30 PM
Suggested Donation $10-30
Ingrid Sertso – voice and poetry
CMS Improvisers Orchestra
Sunday, July 27, 3-5:30 PM
Handbell Studio at the Shirt Factory
77 Cornell Street Unit #118 Kingston, NY 12401
In honor of Karl Berger, Peter Apfelbaum leads the Creative Music Studio Improvisers Orchestra featuring vocalist Ingrid Sertso Berger. Audience is invited to the open rehearsal from 3-4pm, performance to follow from 4-530pm.
Peter Apfelbaum – conductor, tenor sax, piano, percussion
Ingrid Sertso – voice and poetry
Chuck Ver Straeten – voice
Timothy Hill – voice
Elsa Nilsson – flute
Bill Horberg – flute
Sana Nagano – violin
Sara Wentworth – viola
Kiki Ultan – viola
Chris Pasin – trumpet
Nora Stanley – alto sax
Maria Grand – tenor sax
Marianne Osiel – oboe, english horn
Bill Ware – vibes
David Rothenberg – clarinet, bass clarinet
Stuart Leigh – guitar
Mike Gassmann – guitar
Michael Bisio – bass
Ken Filiano – bass
Tani Tabbal – drums
Joakim Lartey – percussion
Savia Berger – dance
The Creative Improvisers Orchestra
Conducted by Peter Apfelbaum and featuring Ingrid Sertso
Sunday, June 29, 3pm – 5:30pm
Handbell Studio at the Shirt Factory, 77 Cornell St #118, Kingston, NY
Peter Apfelbaum – conductor, tenor sax, piano, percussion Ingrid Sertso – voice and poetry Chuck Ver Straeten – voice Steve Gorn – bansuri, clarinet Ilene Marder – bansuri, fife Bill Horberg – flute Kiki Ultan – viola Alison Mari – alto sax, oboe, english horn Marianne Osiel – oboe, english horn Bill Ylitalo – baritone sax, piccolo Chris Pasin – trumpet Josh Roseman – trombone Brittany Anjou – vibes, piano Kenny Wessel – guitar Ezra Moran – guitar Stuart Leigh – guitar Mike Gassmann – guitar Mitch Van Dusen – seprewa Michael Bisio – bass Ken Filiano – bass Tani Tabbal – drums Joakim Lartey – percussion Savia Berger – dance
CMS Presents: The Creative Improvisers Orchestra
Sunday, May 25, 3:00pm
The Creative Improvisers Orchestra is back at Handbell Studio on Sunday, May 25. Conducted by Peter Apfelbaum (tenor sax & piano), and featuring Ingrid Sertso (voice & poetry), this iteration also includes:
Chuck Ver Straeten (voice), Lily Taylor (voice), Charlie Burnham (violin), Kiki Ultan (viola), Aliya Ultan (cello), Sylvain Leroux (fula flute, qromatica), Ilene Marder (bansuri, fife), Chirs Pasin (trumpet), Frank London (trumpet), Bob Selcoe (trumpet), Josh Roseman (trombone), Lee Odom (alto sax, clarinet), John Woodridge (tenor sax), Bill Ylitalo (baritone sax, piccolo), Marianna Osiel (oboe, english horn), David Lopato (piano), Stuart Leigh (guitar), Mike Gassmann (guitar), Michael Bisio (bass), Ken Filiano (bass), Tani Tabbal (drums), Joakim Lartey (percussion), Savia Berger (dance)
Handbell Studio at the Shirt Factory, 77 Cornell St. #118, Kingston, NY 12401
In honor of Karl Berger, Peter Apfelbaum leads the Creative Music Studio Improvisers Orchestra featuring vocalist Ingrid Sertso at Handbell Studio in Kingston, NY! Audience is invited to the open rehearsal from 3-4pm, performance to follow from 4-5pm.
Musicians:
Peter Apfelbaum – conductor, percussion, Ingrid Sertso – voice and poetry, Charlie Burnham – violin, mandolin, gabby fluke-mogul – violin, Sana Nagano – violin, Jessica Pavone – violin, Kiki Ultan – viola, Tomas Ulrich – cello, Julia Haines – harp, Mitch Van Dusen – seprewa, Kenny Wessel – guitar, Stuart Leigh – guitar, Mike Gassmann – 12-string acoustic guitar, Michael Bisio – bass, Ken Filiano – bass, Joakim Lartey – percussion, Savia Berger – dance
Sunday, March 30, Handbell Studio, Kingston, NY
Art thanks to Susanna Ronner Graphic Design.
Musicians featured:
Peter Apfelbaum – conductor, tenor sax, piano; Ingrid Sertso – voice and poetry; Chuck Ver Straeten – voice; Steve Gorn – bansuri, clarinet; Ilene Marder – bansuri, flutes; Sylvain Leroux – fula flute, qromatica; Elsa Nilsson – flutes; Bill Horberg – flutes; Jason Kao Hwang – violin; Sana Nagano – violin; Steven Bernstein – trumpet, slide trumpet; Chris Pasin – trumpet; Bob Selcoe – trumpet; Josh Roseman – trombone; Donnie Davis – alto sax; John Woodridge – alto sax; Jessica Jones – tenor sax; Tony Jones – tenor sax; James Harvey – piano; Parker Shper – synth; Brittany Anjou – vibraphone, piano; Kenny Wessel – guitar; Stuart Leigh – guitar; Michael Bisio – bass; Ken Filiano – bass; Tani Tabbal – drums; Joakim Lartey – percussion; Savia Berger – dance
February 23, 2025 at Handbell Studio, Kingston, NY
Musicians Featured: Peter Apfelbaum, Ingrid Sertso, Chuck Ver Straeten, Steve Gorn, Ilene Marder, Bill Horberg, Bill Ylitalo, Charlie Burnham, Kiki Ultan, Aliya Ultan, Chris Pasin, Josh Roseman, Jake Whitesell, Jessica Jones, Tony Jones, Marianne Osiel, James Harvey, Brittany Anjou, Julia Haines, Stuart Leigh, Mike Gassmann, Michael Bisio, Ken Filiano, Tani Tabbal, Joakim Lartey, and Savia Berger.
January 26, 2025, Handbell Studio, Kingston, NY
Conducted by Peter Apfelbaum, Featuring Ingrid Sertso
Musicians Featured: Chuck Ver Straeten, Bill Horberg, Ilene Marder, Elsa Nilsson, Bill Ylitalo, Sana Nagano, Aliya Ultan, Jessica Jones, Tony Jones, John Woodridge, Josh Roseman, Zekkereya El-Magharbel, Brittany Anjou, Stuart Leigh, Mike Gassmann, Michael Bisio, Ken Filiano, Tani Tabbal, Joakim Lartey, Savia Berge