Released on: March 6, 2008, 3:27 pm

Press Release Author: Amy Kench / New England String Ensemble

Industry: Entertainment

Press Release Summary: Featured performer, Icelandic violinist, Judith Ingolfsson
and Honorary Chairman, Norwegian 4-time gold medal Olympic speed skater, Johann Olav
Koss join NESE for 14th Season Finale

Press Release Body: Beginning on the fjord carved coastline of Norway with Grieg's
"Holberg Suite", and ending in the splendor of the mountains and archipelago of
Sweden with Dag Wirén's "Serenade for Strings" Music Director, Federico Cortese
closes New England String Ensemble's 14th concert season with a journey through the
"Nordic Landscape". The concerts, featuring Icelandic violinist Judith Ingolfsson,
are Saturday, April 12, 2008 at 7:30pm in Cochran Chapel at Phillips Academy in
Andover and Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 3:00pm in Jordan Hall at New England
Conservatory in Boston.

The highly acclaimed Ms. Ingolfsson performs Icelandic composer Haflidi
Hallgrimsson's "Poemi" and Finnish great, Jean Sibelius' "Humoresque". Rounding out
the program is "Little Suite" by Danish cultural icon, Carl Nielsen.

The 1998 Gold Medalist of the prestigious International Violin Competition of
Indianapolis, Judith Ingolfsson has established herself worldwide as an artist of
uncompromising musical maturity, extraordinary technical command and charismatic
performance style. Following her performance of Sibelius' Violin Concerto in 2007
the Lexington Herald-Leader wrote, "the violin is a furious, stormy wind, and
Ingolfsson rode that wind with aplomb. Her best tone was her singing low strings, as
though a human voice is offering solace. She negotiated the virtuoso sections of the
finale like a kayaker in ruinously difficult river rapids -- not one wipe-out."

Honorary Chairman for the "Nordic Landscape" concerts is Norwegian four-time gold
medal Olympic speed skater, Johann Olav Koss. Over the course of his speed skating
career Koss broke a total of 11 world records, won three World All-Round
Championships, numerous World Cups and National championships. Most memorably in
1994 he won three gold medals at the Lillehammer Games in the 1500, 5000, and 10,000
meter events and was named Sports Illustrated magazine\'s Sportsman of the Year.
After his speed skating career, Koss trained as a physician and became a UNICEF
ambassador and a member of the International Olympic Committee (until 2002). Koss is
now the CEO of the International Humanitarian Organization, Right To Play which uses
sport and play as a tool for the development of children and youth in the most
disadvantaged areas of the world.

Also representing the Nordic Landscape as Honorary Patrons for the evening are each
of the five Nordic Consuls; from the Royal Norwegian Consulate, Boston - Honorary
Consul Terje Korsnes, from the Consulate of Sweden, Boston - Honorary Consul Dr.
Allen Counter and Vice Consul Margareta Sewerin-Olsson, from the Consulate of
Denmark, Boston - Honorary Consul - Jacob Friis, from the Consulate of Iceland,
Boston - Honorary Consul - Elisha F. Lee and from the Consulate of Finland, Boston -
Honorary Consul General Leonard Kopelman.

For insight into the "Nordic Landscape" program, ticket holders should arrive
45-minutes prior to the concert start for a \"Conversation with Cortese\", an
interactive discussion about the composers and pieces with Music Director Federico
Cortese. Following the concert, and free to ticket holders, will be a Nordic themed
reception.

Tickets are on sale now through New England String Ensemble's website at
www.newenglandstringensemble.org and the NESE box office at 781-224-1117.


Web Site: http://www.newenglandstringensemble.org

Contact Details: New England String Ensemble
599 North Ave, Suite 8
Wakefield, MA 01880
781-224-1117
akench@newenglandstringensemble.org