UPCOMING EVENTS

“It’s hard to imagine a more appealing trio of instruments. Definitely “star” quality.”

The Daily Review

 

I'm thrilled to welcome my colleagues Dan Reiter, cello, and Natalie Cox, harp, back to the Rogue Valley for a performance of Pacific Arts Ensemble:

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When: Sunday, April 28th, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Where: First Presbyterian Church, Medford

Address: 85 S. Holly St., Medford, OR 97520

Website: firstpresmedford.com

Phone:(541) 779-1711

This concert is free of charge, but goodwill offerings will be gratefully accepted.

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For those of you unfamiliar with Classical Vespers, it's an uplifting hour of beautiful music interspersed with inspiring readings by Pastor Murray Richmond. Our program will feature music from Scotland and Ireland and an original work by our cellist Dan Reiter. You can preview our music on Youtube at Dan Reiter Music.

 

Daniel Reiter, cello

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“…an extraordinarily suave cello solo from principal cellist Daniel Reiter.” Oakland Tribune

 

“Only master musicians like (Pat) Metheny and Reiter can evoke the full range of their instruments…” Independent Coast Journal

 

Dan Reiter is principal cellist of the Oakland East Bay Symphony, the Fremont Symphony, and the Festival Opera Orchestra. In addition to his work as an orchestral and chamber musician, he has won numerous awards and accolades as a composer and arranger, most notably, an Irvine Grant which led to his symphonic work “Mysterium”, premiered by the symphony in 2013.

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Born in Brooklyn, NY, Dan moved to California at a young age. After studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory, he moved back to California where he gained first-hand performing experience as a street musician in San Francisco. His exuberant arrangements of Beethoven Symphonies and Rossini Overtures for flute, oboe, and cello attracted large and enthusiastic crowds. In 1972, Dan moved to Mexico where he was appointed principal cellist of the symphony of the Universidad Autónoma de Guadelajara. In 1974, he returned to the Bay Area where he won the position of principal cellist of the Oakland Symphony Orchestra.

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In addition to his career as a performer, Dan’s original compositions have garnered the attention of numerous performing arts groups and musicians throughout his career. Highlights include “Ricercar” (1980, three cellos, harp, percussion) which received critical acclaim in the Oakland Symphony’s Sound Spectrum series; “Kadish” (1993, solo cello); “Raga Bach D minor” (1998, cello, percussion, solo dancer) for which he won an “IZZY” award; “Reiter’s Raga” (2006, clarinet, viola, cello), featured as part of Earplay’s California tour; “Toccata and Fugue” (2006, chamber orchestra), premiered by the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra: “In Memorium” (2011, string Trio) and“Gayatri Transfigured” (2019, cello, harp, orchestra).

 

As a chamber musician, Dan is best known for his collaboration with his wife, harpist Natalie Cox, former principal harpist with the Oakland Symphony and for his role as co-founder of the Pacific Arts Ensemble, for which he composed two pieces,“Phantasie Trio” and “Sonata” (flute and harp). Both are featured on “Music for Flute and Harp”, Innova Records, Karen Gottlieb, harp. This unique trio has also inspired Dan’s extensive library of published arrangements, many of which are currently available at sheetmusicplus.com, harps.com, lyonhealy.com, and fluteworld.com.

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Natalie Cox, harp

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“…lush harp playing from principal harpist Natalie Cox.” Oakland Tribune

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“Excellent musicianship from Cox…” Daily Review

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Natalie Cox has had a remarkable forty year career as a harpist. Classical music was a passion

for her parents, and she and her siblings were exposed to huge amounts of the repertoire at a very early age. After only seven years studying the harp, Natalie won the position of principal chair with the San Jose Symphony. The following year she performed alongside her teacher , Linda Wood Rollo, as second harp and assistant principal in the Oakland Symphony, gaining invaluable orchestral and technical experience. Natalie later went on to fill the principal harp position with Oakland Symphony for thirty three years.

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As a member of the Pacific Arts Ensemble, she has recently produced the re-release of the trio's concert CD of masterpieces by Claude Debussy entitled “Clair de Lune”. She also performs in a duo with her husband Dan, and together, they have recorded “Cello and Harp”, a collection of Dan’s transcriptions of works by several composers including Janacek, Mahler, Faure, and Bruch.

 

Natalie has numerous other recording credits to her name, including television, radio and film scores, most notably “The Black Stallion” and “Never Cry Wolf”. She can be seen in a number of videos featuring Pacific Arts Trio on Youtube.

 

Along with continuing her career in chamber music performance, Natalie teaches the pedal and Celtic lever harps both privately and at Dominican University in San Rafael. She also founded Harps of Orpheus, a performing student ensemble, to promote the joy of learning and making music with friends and colleagues.

 

In 2021 Natalie began performing twice weekly at a cancer center in the Bay Area where live music is valued as a supportive therapy.