(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Composer Ben Goldberg comes home to Toms River to premiere his chamber piece, The Gift, on the Garden State Philharmonic's upcoming virtual concert taking place on Saturday, May 30th at 7:00pm. Viewers can tune in to the Garden State Philharmonic Facebook LIVE or through the Garden State Philharmonic YouTube Channel.
An alumnus of the Toms River Regional School district, Goldberg developed his musical talents through playing in the band, jazz band and singing in the chorus at Toms River North High School. Upon graduation, Goldberg continued his music education at Boston's Berklee College of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in film composition. With much of his early work in music for media (film, television and advertising), Goldberg shifted focus to pursue his driving passion for concert music.
The Gift, originally scored for a film, is filled with rich melodies and moments of extreme tension. Audience members will be enveloped and entranced by the melodic story as it unfolds between the cello and violin. Goldberg expertly blends the acoustic tonal sounds of the violin, cello and piano with electronic modern elements. "The Gift appeals to everyone. I strive to translate modern technology into a more accessible language for the audience," explains Goldberg. Audiences should not be wary of the electronic element of the piece. Goldberg has manipulated acoustic instruments through pitch bending and the speeding up or slowing down of sounds to create a new sound and experience. Members of the Garden State Philharmonic performing The Gift include Jameson Platte, cello; Uli Speth, violin; Craig Ketter, piano, and Ben Goldberg, electronics.
"I am very excited to have The Gift premiere in my hometown and have the opportunity to share this experience with so many people that have watched me grow up, including my parents."
In addition to Goldberg's premiere, the program will include Rachmaninoff's Sonata for Cello and Piano performed by Jameson Platte and Craig Ketter and Amy Beach's Violin Sonata, Op. 34 performed by Uli Speth and Craig Ketter.
Violinist Uli Speth is a member of the Garden State Philharmonic. He also performs with the New York City Opera, and is Concertmaster of Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra and The Chappaqua Orchestra, and has been guest concertmaster with Schenectady Symphony, Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Clinton Symphony Orchestra and others.
Cellist Jameson Platte, is the Principal Cellist of the Garden State Philharmonic and also performs with The Orchestra of Northern New York, The Plainfield Symphony, Bachanalia Virtuosi, Chelsea Opera and is assistant principal cellist of the Allentown Symphony.
Craig Ketter, Piano, has performed as soloist with the Garden State Philharmonic, the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, the Sacramento Philharmonic, the Oakland East Bay Symphony, the Mobile Symphony, the South Orange Symphony, the Raleigh Symphony, the Durham Symphony, the Rocky Ridge Music Festival Orchestra, and the American Festival for the Arts Orchestra. His solo concerts have taken him to Mexico, Argentina, Barbados, France, Germany, Japan, and across the United States and Canada.
