What's New

August was a busy month for Cosmos! One highlight was an afternoon in Newcastle, NH, with renowned flutist Robert Willoughby, formerly first flutist of the Cleveland Orchestra and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association, among other accomplishments. In addition to coaching the trio, Willoughby attended a Cosmos concert.

In early August, hundreds of attendees at the 2008 National Flute Convention heard – and enthusiastically applauded – Cosmos’ performances of its commissioned works.

Also in August, Cosmos lent a hand to the beleaguered musicians of the now-defunct Columbus Symphony by performing a benefit recital.

Cosmos has performed numerous concerts in the recent years. The trio has presented world premieres of commissioned pieces by Stephen Paulus and Andrew Boysen, and will soon premiere a new work by Stephen Pauls. See below for details.

Lynn Green of The Columbus Dispatch praised Cosmos' October 16 world premiere of "Petite Suite," composed for Cosmos by Stephen Paulus: "The centerpiece of the evening was 'Petite Suite'...The work seemed shorter than its listed 11 minutes and the trio performed it well...the gorgeous viola phrases in the second movement made the most-lasting impression."

New CD! Cosmos' Katherine Borst Jones and Jeanne Norton have released Paradise, a 20-piece CD that includes classic works for flute and harp by Bach, Debussy, Faure, Ravel and more. Available by mail-order form for $15.

Paradise received a glowing review in the Decemer 2007 issue of The Flute Network: "...a splendid recording of some of the most beautiful and treasured works in the repertoire with a balance of moods and composers that puts the listener at ease and yet still draws them into the sensuous web... The overall mood is one of quiet intensity and Borst-Jones brings out every nuance and color with her delicate phrasing, limpid tone and floating legato tone; her flute playing is just so open, lyrical, musical and technically sound. Harpist Norton is likewise a superb musician and performer. She is a sensitive and simpatico duo partner so that the two match their attacks, dynamic and tempos perfectly."

Cosmos' well-received spring 2007 concerts featured additional performances of "Trio in Four Movements for Flute, Viola and Harp" by Libby Larsen. Cosmos commissioned and premiered the work in 2006. A prolific and popular composer, Larsen has composed more than 200 works spanning virtually every genre from intimate vocal and chamber music to massive orchestra and choral scores. She has held residencies with California Institute of the Arts, Arnold Schoenberg Institute, Philadelphia School of the Arts, Cincinnati Conservatory and leading U.S. orchestras, and has collaborated with many world-renowned artists, including The King's Singers, Benita Valente and Frederica von Stade.

Also in the spring, Cosmos performed a world premiere of "A Columbus Triptych," by Stephen Main, and reprised "Beautiful, Sweet, Delicate," which Cosmos commissioned from Andrew Boysen and premiered in 2006.

Cosmos maintains an active performance schedule. In the last two years, the trio has performed at these venues:

          The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
          Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
          Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
          Earlham College Guest Artist Series, Earlham, Ohio
       “Cosmos Goes Baroque,” Miami University,                            Oxford, Ohio
          “Cosmos Goes Baroque,” presented by Pro
                Musica Chamber Orchestra, Pontifical
                Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio
           Adena Concert Series, Frankfort, Ohio
                 Celebration of Sound Series, Worthington
                 Presbyterian Church, Worthington, Ohio
        Firelands Chamber Music Series, Firelands
                Presbyterian Church, Port Clinton, Ohio
          Johnstone Master Woodwind Series,
                The Ohio State University, Columbus
          Dale Warland, COSMOS and Chorale!, The
                Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio