The Orchestra of St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble, the core group of 22 musicians that comprises the artistic nucleus of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in NYC.

In Friday’s (1/31) New York Times, Zachary Woolf writes, “One of the most interesting and satisfying concerts of the classical music season was last week at Carnegie Hall [by] the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this season…. Without the rigid week-after-week subscription structure … St. Luke’s has the versatility to take on unusual ideas … Its core musicians, who include some of New York’s finest freelancers, are tenured, but the ensemble’s schedule leaves them ample time for other commitments; Benjamin Bowman, the concertmaster … is also a concertmaster of the Met Orchestra. St. Luke’s offers its players a tempting combination of security and adventure, keeping them busy with a range of experiences unequaled in the city. ‘Because of the flexibility of our contract with the players, we can do whatever project there is,’ said James Roe, the president and executive director of St. Luke’s, who started his career as an oboist in the orchestra…. St. Luke’s is the only group to have regular series in all three of Carnegie’s spaces. (A performance of Leonard Bernstein’s ‘Kaddish’ Symphony … was its 439th appearance at the hall.)” Bernard Labadie is the orchestra’s principal conductor.