Zachary Israel Nobile Kampler, a recent Staples High School graduate, has been making his mark in the classical music world with the 2003 launching of the EFSO, the Eastern Festival Symphony Orchestra. His ambition and goal is to educate and involve the community in the arts with innovative, unusual programming. To do so, he has created several subsidiary organizations including The Eastern Festival Opera, The Eastern Festival String Quartet; and an Apprentice Program. Additionally, he wants to make a difference and improve people's lives; some of the charities that have benefitted from the orchestra’s concerts are The Witness Project for Breast Cancer, Kids Against Cancer and the Hudson Valley Cerebral Palsy Association.
During the past five years, the orchestra has served as a collaborative partner with other performing arts groups including the Ballet School of Stamford, the composer Marlane Tubridy and the choruses of Westchester Community College and Bergen Community College; they have been active participants at the annual Lessons in Carols concert of St. Phillip’s Church.
The Eastern Festival Symphony Orchestra which is made up musicians from the tri-state region, will be performing this Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. at the Norwalk Concert Hall. The program consists of Felix Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture, Johannes Brahms' Symphony #1 and scenes from Giacomo Puccini's opera La Boheme.