About L’Amore della Musica

Originally called L'Amore di Musica, and established as a Long Island chamber music ensemble from 1979-1995, the group was dormant until 2004 when five freelance orchestra members formed the L’Amore della Musica woodwind quintet. Continuing the excellent chamber music values of the older ensemble, the five players devoted themselves to exploring the intimate and challenging repertoire of the woodwind quintet. The group has developed into an ensemble that not only seeks to play music of the highest order, but also has the goal of entertaining several different types of audience.The music that exists for the woodwind quintet did not fully meet the goals that we defined. As a result, we have not only played many of the masterworks that were written for the woodwind quintet, but also searched out lesser known original quintets and arranged engaging works from all periods of music. We started out with three concerts in 2004, and have increased both numbers of concerts and performance venues. As a professional ensemble that plays for many senior residences and libraries with limited budgets, we are incorporated as a 501c3 charity.We have received grants from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Entergy, the Music Performance Trust Fund, and have a growing core of devoted individual patrons.

Individual Quintet Members

Jonathan Watkins

BASSOON

Jonathan holds a BA from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and an MA from Hunter College. He has been a member of the American Philharmonic as well as principal bassoon with the Bronx Symphony, Philharmonic Symphony of Westchester and Merrick Symphony. He is currently principal bassoon with the Orchestral Arts Ensemble of Queens and the Mineola Chorale Orchestra.

Sigrun Kahl

horn

Sigrun Kahl’s musical roots are in Berlin, Germany. Since coming to the U.S. in 2007, she has played with ensembles such as Astoria Symphony, DiCapo Opera, Bronx Orchestra, Salisbury Sinfonietta, and SEM Ensemble. She is a long-time member of the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony, whom Gramophone magazine has praised for “excellent textural contouring” and “X-ray clarity” (for its recording of Tchaikovsky’s Pathetique).

Simeon Loring

clarinet

Simeon Loring is professor emeritus of music at Kingsborough Community College (CUNY) and a former member and guest conductor of the Goldman Band. He retired after fifteen years as conductor of the Stockbridge Sinfonia in Massachusetts. He has played in numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and met his L’Amore colleagues while freelancing in the New York area.

Dorothy Darlington

oboe

Dorothy played and taught in Costa Rica for the Peace Corps, performed with the Jacksonville and Savannah Symphonies and earned her D.M.A (Doctor of Musical Arts) at Catholic University while playing in the Marine Band (“The President’s Own”). She was a regular substitute in the New York Philharmonic for ten years. She remains active as a freelance and chamber musician.

Richard Paratley

Flute

Flutist, Richard Paratley, has played principal flute with the Riverside Orchestra, the Bronx Symphony, and the New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, with which he has been a soloist. Currently, he holds the principal chair of the Regina and Amore Opera Companies. Included among his many chamber groups are Ensemble Sepia, the Renaissance Wind Quintet, Eastern Winds and the Bardekova Ensemble. Richard maintains a private teaching studio in Brooklyn.

Cecilia Sparacio

Treasurer, FLUTIST, founding member

The musical training of Cecilia Sparacio began at home in a family where music performance has been a tradition spanning more than five generations. Cecilia is the music director of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Granite Springs, NY and is the Met Titles Assistant at the Metropolitan Opera. In December 2019, Cecilia retired from L’Amore and remains as a Board Member and Treasurer of the organization.