The Musical Animals project is a series of chamber concerts at libraries and schools in which, through the power of storytelling, the performers invite audiences to engage with classical music in a new way. Inspired by Young People’s concert programs from the National Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, founders Corinne Foley and Honor Hickman wanted to find ways to share the joy and curiosity that shaped their own lives and careers.

This season’s Musical Animals program will focus on a woodwind trio with the instrumentation of flute, clarinet, and oboe. The learning objectives for this performance include: learning the names of different woodwind instruments and their unique qualities, recognizing and interacting with musical concepts, expanding musical vocabulary, and nurturing the imagination and creativity with musical games. The two pieces we are featuring are “The Conceited Frog”---a musical story, featuring a narrator, where the different instruments play the parts of different animals—and Malcolm Arnold’s “Divertimento.”

Honor Hickman currently studies flute and piccolo at the New England Conservatory with Cynthia Meyers. She finds joy in learning and performing a versatile range of repertoire and genres as both a flutist and saxophonist, participating in large ensembles, chamber ensembles, and even Jazz Big Band. She has recently pursued an interest in the performance of contemporary music and working with various composers at the New England Conservatory. Outside of music, she enjoys social dancing and showing off her sleuthing skills in a good game of Clue.

Stuart Ryerse is a musician and juggler based in the Boston area. He plays piano, recorder, mandolin, guitar, bass guitar, marimba, and harpsichord, in addition to singing, composing, and songwriting. He performs solo variety shows in addition to performing with his bands Heartwood Junction, Lampyridæ, and Running Out of Tuesdays. He has given many solo private concerts and shows that include piano music, original folk songs, comedy, and juggling. In his spare time, he enjoys playing board games, hiking, making fancy paper airplanes, and traveling, among many other things.

Cole Turkel is a second year student in the Tufts University and New England Conservatory dual-degree program in which he is studying Biopsychology and Clarinet Performance. In 2020, he received first prize in the International Clarinet Association High School Solo Competition, was a finalist in the National YoungArts Competition, and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA). His favorite part about music is the opportunity to collaborate with others and in his free time loves making music with friends. When not at school, he enjoys going on hikes and talking about baseball with his mom.