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For more testimonials, visit our archive of past concerts.
"Thank you again for the splendid experience you gave the JETHS choir and chaperones at Carnegie Hall. We all returned safely home yesterday and every single person was flying high over the previous night's concert experience and post-concert reception.
"The concert was wonderful, I was so pleased! Jorge, your concertmaster, is a fine player and a great collaborator and the orchestra was superb, responsive and sensitive in every way. The soloists were terrific and so much fun to work with.The organization has seasoned beautifully into a first-rate concert producer and I'm proud to be associated with you.
"Just wanted you to know how much we appreciate all you did to make our concert event a great success. You are a wonderful team at DCINY and I wish you the best in the future. Every detail was magnificent!"
Kevin Riehle
Director of Choral Activities
Chair, Fine Arts Deparment
James E. Taylor High School
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"DCINY is one of my all-time favorite companies, created and managed with a flawless combination of passion, integrity, and skill. When it comes to recruiting and organizing incredible musicians to bring my music to life, there is simply no company I trust more."
Eric Whitacre
Composer
"Our experience with DCINY, without exception, was incredible! We were amazed at the warm and personal attitude of you and your staff. Not once did I see a frown from your people -- even when answering the same question over and over. Not once did I feel that my request for something was an inconvenience. Every person associated with DCINY had a smile and a solution for us....all 700 of us! That is miraculous!
"Performing on that world-famous stage under four gifted conductors was a spectacular experience -- an experience so spectacular that we could not describe it to our family and friends. Fortunately, you secured a photographer who captured the magic for us, and then allowed us to purchase the memories!
"What I found to be even more surprising was the attitude of the orchestra members. They were engaged with us and seemed genuinely interested in our program. The finest professionals in the country -- treating us with respect and regard -- another miracle! And their musicianship was absolutely amazing!
"The cast party was un-believable! We had Tavern on the Green all to ourselves! Exceptional food - open bar - in one of the most famous restaurants in the world - WOW! Somehow, I don't know how you pulled these spectacular things off -- but you did....more miracles!
"Once we returned to Houston, and reality, we realized what a wonderful gift DCINY had given each of us. A concert opportunity in Carnegie Hall, photographs, the experience of working with great conductors, Tavern on the Green, etc. However, these things would not have been as wonderful without the gift of hospitality from your gracious staff. On behalf of St. Luke's Presbyterian Church Choir, I thank you for that. You gave us a beautifully planned and executed experience that we will never forget, and we are grateful to all of you."
Marvin Gaspard
Director of Music
St. Luke's Presbyterian Church
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"Through the 18 months of gathering singers together from all over North America, every single communication from DCINY was prompt and polite. Those who signed on for this adventure were thrilled to find that every question was treated with respect and appropriate, timely response. This was nothing short of amazing.
"The rehearsals were organized beautifully. The rehearsal space, although crowded with 300+ singers at each session, was truly wonderful. Again, the staff was amazing. Announcements were succinct and informative -- never too many or too few.
"The day in Carnegie Hall went off flawlessly. The performance was everything and more than anyone could have imagined. It ran smoothly and was simply beyond belief.
"And then there was the after party. Oh my goodness. Having celebrated many performances at cast parties in my life, I found this was the most amazing. The setting was stunning, of course, but everything else about the event was amazing.
"DCINY is the most organized, thoughtful, amazing group with whom I have ever worked. I have heard from many of the singers who have immediately said, 'When can we do this again?' followed by, 'We'll never go without DCINY again!'
"Thank you, Jonathan and Iris, for your personal investment in making this experience perfect. I cannot believe you were there every moment to oversee the entire event. This made a huge difference in how things ran."
Dr. Timothy Seelig
Artistic Director, Resounding Harmony
Director, Art for Peace & Justice
Assistant Professor, Adjunct, SMU
Artistic Director in Residence, GALA Choruses
Conductor Emeritus, Turtle Creek Chorale
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"Distinguished Concerts International New York is an exciting new performance venue that will lead the way in the future. Created and managed by Jonathan Griffith and Iris Derke, DCINY will flourish because of their experience, expertise and enthusiastic commitment. Their resumes attest to their prestigious past accomplishments. DCINY will provide the kind of professional performance opportunities sought by today's most outstanding ensembles and their directors."
Dr. Eph Ehly
Educator, Conductor, Author
"I've had the great pleasure of working closely with Iris Derke in two previous Carnegie Hall concerts of my music that she supervised. In each case over 200 singers from a multitude of choirs from around the United States plus a large orchestra beautifully performed my Lux Aeterna, Les Chansons des Roses, Mid-Winter Songs, Madrigali and O Magnum Mysterium under the baton of Dr. Timothy Sharp. I look very much forward to continuing to work with Iris and her new company as they begin their new series of concerts."
Morten Lauridsen
Professor of Composition,
USC Thornton School of Music
Composer-in-Residence, Los Angeles Master Chorale, 1995-2001
Los Angeles, CA
"I highly commend Iris Derke and DCINY for your consideration in preparing for any concert trip to New York City. Iris and Jonathan Griffith have teamed together to form a first rate concert series whereby "distinguished" is truly the leading word. I have worked closely alongside Iris before and during three previous conducting residencies for major works in Carnegie Hall have found her to be not only extremely knowledgeable and highly professional, but gracious and sensitive to the educational and performances needs of choirs and orchestras of various age groups. She is simply a joy to work with on all fronts! For myself and many of my choral colleagues, there are simply not even superlatives to express how pleased we are with Iris' attention to musical, artistic, and practical details. Whether you are considering that once-in-a-life time concert tour to Europe while stopping by the east coast, or desiring to participate in an annual festival or mass choir event held in any of the the famous concert venues located in NYC, (with professional and personable conductors that will make it fun and rewarding for your musicians) I encourage you to experience working with Distinguished Concerts International!"
Dr. James L. Melton
Professor of Music
Dean, School of Communication and the Arts
Vanguard University
Costa Mesa, CA
"It was a pleasure and a privilege to be present at Jonathan Griffith's moving and emotional performance of my The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace at Carnegie Hall in January, 2007.
He is an invigorating and exciting choral director and has that priceless ability to extract performance from choristers where the 'sum exceeds the parts'. I look forward immensely to seeing how the exciting new DCINY project develops which I'm sure will be a huge success with Jonathan's involvement."
With best wishes,
Dr. Karl Jenkins OBE, Composer
Swansea, Wales
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