History

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
June 2005
Avery Fisher Hall
Photo (c) Steve J. Sherman

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
January 2005
Carnegie Hall
Photo (c) Steve J. Sherman

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
October 2004
Alice Tully Hall
Photo (c) Steve J. Sherman

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
June 2004
Merkin Concert Hall
Photo (c) Chris Lee

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
October 2003
Alice Tully Hall
Photo (c) Steve J. Sherman

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
October 2002
Merkin Concert Hall
Photo (c) Steve J. Sherman

In the summer of 1999, David Bernard accepted an invitation to play chamber music with an old high school friend. After 9 years away from performing classical music, Mr. Bernard rediscovered the precious gift he had received in his youth – his music. So enamored with his rediscovery, Mr. Bernard began to seek out other classically trained musicians with whom he could play. Soon rather than meeting on one free evening or another, Mr. Bernard arranged for regular readings in his Park Avenue apartment. These gatherings became so successful that the players grew restless to perform their inspired chamber music before an audience greater than their peers. In the summer of 2000, Mr. Bernard took the Park Avenue Chamber Players to Cape Cod, where they performed at a Music Festival in Provincetown. The performance went so well that in the autumn of 2000, the Park Avenue Chamber Players were invited to perform at the New York City Bar Association as part of the Lawyer’s Orchestra’s “Friday Evening Chamber Music” series.
    By November of 2000, Andrea Berger, chair of the Lawyers’ Orchestra committee, and David Bernard organized a reading for a small orchestra with the Park Avenue Chamber Players as the core. The rehearsal included Mozart Symphony No. 29 and Dvorak Serenade for Strings. But more than music was made at this reading, the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony was born.
    The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, or PACS as many call it, began giving performances in February 2001. The ensemble’s first three concerts focused on the music of Mozart. And with the help of Ms. Berger, these performances were held at the New York City Bar Association and were sponsored by the Lawyers’ Orchestra committee. By September of 2001, PACS’ audience had grown to the point that there was great demand to repeat the Friday Evening program on the following Saturday Evening at Immanuel Lutheran Church.
    PACS’ success was a major accomplishment for Mr. Bernard, Ms. Berger and its players. But Mr. Bernard had a vision for the orchestra that extended beyond music making. The combination of musical talent and business acumen of PACS members could offer not only cultural enrichment to New York City, but also financial support to New York-based public service organizations through benefit concerts and more pointedly support the rededication of resources to music education for New York’s children.