On a crisp autumn night at Mizuho Americas headquarters in New York, the American Classical Orchestra (ACO) was set to perform for invited clients and staff. The ACO, led by Thomas Crawford, took the stage with a fascinating array of instruments. The theorbo, a 14-string lute with a long neck needing high ceilings, captured everyone's attention. It was bound to be an exceptional evening.
Once places were set, Tom led the orchestra through Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G Major as it was heard by audiences hundreds of years ago. Despite the venue’s setting in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, with Radio City Music Hall’s neon facade appearing through the window behind the musicians, the audience was whisked away to the 18th century.
The ACO, celebrating its 40th season, is devoted to preserving and performing the repertoire of 17th, 18th and 19th century composers. By playing the music on original or exacting replicas of instruments, and using historic performance technique, the orchestra attempts to recreate the sounds an audience would have experienced when the music was written and first performed.
For example, the ACO features wooden flutes, gut strings, and valveless trumpets and horns, as well as leather drumheads that offer a quick-decaying thud in time with the original composition. Collaboration with classical music scholars and musicologists over the years helps ensure historical accuracy. Tom, often standing beside his exacting replica of an 18th century harpsichord, enriches the immersive listening experience by providing notes and context to the audience throughout the performance.
Most attendees at this special evening event at Mizuho were regular concert goers, but few had heard music that was as distinctive as the ACO. This unique listening experience has made Tom and his orchestra a very popular invitation for clients and colleagues. Consequently, Mizuho started hosting events more frequently and became an ACO sponsor, providing opportunities for employees and their friends and families to attend ACO concerts in the city.
“It is personally satisfying for me to form these new relationships and perform for audiences where few, if any, have seen a concert like ours,” said Tom. “Helping open new doors of discovery is mutually beneficial and grows our community exponentially.”
“My first ACO concert was in a converted church and the musicians created amazing music that soared high,” said a Mizuho employee. “I was surprised by how much I enjoyed and responded to the performance – it was much more engaging than I anticipated due to Tom Crawford’s commentary between each piece, the reconfiguring of musicians and instruments for each work, and a final piece featuring song and dance that I would not have associated with classical music!”
Tom and his orchestra deliver performances across a wide range of venues including local schools, incorporating explanations and demonstrations in both concert hall and classroom presentations. As part of their commitment to sharing the beauty of classical music, the ACO created The Classical Music for Kids program and has engaged more than 500,000 children in the tri-state area. Over the past 25 years, the program has offered live, in-school music concerts for elementary schools and library programs that educate children about eminent classical music composers. The program engages leading professional orchestra musicians to perform classical music in an interactive, age-appropriate, and enjoyable manner for the students.
Mizuho Americas is a proud sponsor of the American Classical Orchestra. We host performances for clients at our headquarters and provide employees with tickets to attend ACO performances in the area. Jerry Rizzieri, President & CEO of Mizuho Securities USA and Darlene Pasquill, Head of Equity Division for Mizuho Americas, serve on the ACO board.
For more information about The American Classical Orchestra visit: https://aconyc.org/