Lysander Trio Kicks off 2022-23 Season

The Lysander Piano Trio kicked off their 2022-23 season with performances in September at the WYO Theater in Sheridan, WY, followed by their debut with the Edmonton Chamber Music Society. Their rich program combined works by Granados, Bongani Ndodana-Breen, Liszt, and Dvorak. The Trio continues their fall schedule with an appearance at NYC’s Central Chamber Series in November.

Read More
Sarah Dinin
Verona Makes Singapore Debut

The Verona Quartet made their Singapore debut this week with a residency at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, culminating with a performance on the 8th of September. As the birthplace of violinist Jonathan Ong of the quartet, they look forward to returning in future seasons! Their program of works by Beethoven, Ligeti, and Dvorak can be viewed here.

Read More
Sarah Dinin
Einav Yarden Fall Tour & Ravinia Return

Pianist Einav Yarden, who served as a collaborative pianist at Ravinia for five summers, will give a solo recital in Bennett Gordon Hall on Saturday, September 17 at 1pm. Other appearances that week include Eagan, MN (September 14); Milwaukee, WI (September 18); and Birmingham, AL (September 21).

Read More
Sarah Dinin
Danbi/Jiji Duo Tours Upstate NY

The genre-crossing duo of violinist Danbi Um and guitarist Jiji will give performances at the Friends of Music series in Stamford, NY on August 21, followed by a performance at the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival on August 22. The duo continues its collaborations into the new season, with performances around Washington, DC in September.

Read More
Sarah Dinin
Verona Quartet August Tour to Ottawa, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard & Cooperstown

August begins with a bang for the Verona Quartet, who just concluded a 10-day residency at the Bravo! Vail Festival. The quartet is featured at the following upcoming performances

August 1-2: Ottawa Chamberfest August 1-2
August 3 & 5: Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival
August 6: Chappaquiddick Community Center Chamber Music Series
August 7,: Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society
August 8: Cooperstown Summer Music Festival

Catch them if you’re nearby!

Read More
Sarah Dinin
Thomas Mesa Receives Sphinx Medal of Excellence

The Sphinx Organization has announced the 2023 Medal of Excellence honorees: cellist Thomas Mesa, soprano Aundi Marie Moore, and composer Joel Thompson. The Sphinx Medal of Excellence is the organization's highest honor recognizing extraordinary classical Black and Latinx artists who early in their career demonstrate artistic excellence, outstanding work ethic, a spirit of determination, and an ongoing commitment to leadership and their communities. The medal comes with a $50,000 career grant. The winners will receive their medals on March 1, 2023 at a luncheon hosted by The Kennedy Center and a private Black-tie dinner in Washington, D.C.

This year Sphinx-the social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts-celebrates its 25th anniversary. All three of the 2023 medal honorees are part of the anniversary concert events: Thomas Mesa is principal cellist of the Sphinx Virtuosi, the professional self-conducted chamber ensemble and Sphinx's flagship performing entity, and will be the soloist during the ensemble's fall tour in the newly commissioned work, Divided, by Jessie Montgomery (Sphinx Medal of Excellence 2020) including at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, October 13. Sphinx President and Artistic Director, Afa S. Dworkin says:

"We are overjoyed to celebrate these brilliant artists this year. As thousands of artists were forced off the stage by the pandemic, each of our recipients served as beautiful examples of leadership and service…. Tommy personally commissioned and performed a whole series of composers to support fellow artists during a challenging time…Their artistic pedigree is second to none and their dedication to excellence is authentically synonymous with the ethos of this award."

"It's an incredible honor to receive a Medal of Excellence from the Sphinx Organization and to join a roster of phenomenal artists who have received this acknowledgement. I want my voice as a cellist to be a vehicle for anyone who needs me. There are so many composers who have so much to say and they require a voice. I want to be the person they can rely on to follow them into the deep end of their world. The human experience is so complex and what we can share with each other is limitless."

Read More
Sarah Dinin
Verona Quartet Returns to Bravo! Vail

The Verona Quartet returns to the Bravo! Vail festival for performances July 25-30. This engagement kicks off with a collaborative performance together with festival Artistic Director (and SPA Trio member) Anne-Marie McDermott featuring the Coleridge-Taylor Piano Quintet. See details here.

Read More
Sarah Dinin
Review: Kramer's Durham Recital "Exemplary"

Henry Kramer gave a much-awaited solo recital at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Durham, NC, and the Cultural Voice of North Carolina gave a phenomenal review, noting the recital was “worth the wait.” CVNC also noted his “musicianship and superb technique” for his “exemplary” Beethoven Op. 109 and declared Henry’s performance of William Grant Still's Three Visions as “a definitive reading of this too-often neglected American work.”

Read the full review here.

Read More
Sarah Dinin
Danbi Um Performs at Rockport Music July 8

Danbi Um will appear at the Rockport Music Festival on July 8 for an evening that features pieces by Strauss and Brahms. The concert follows earlier performances by the Verona Quartet and pianist Henry Kramer, who appeared at the festival in June. More details here.

Read More
Guest User
Arnaud Sussmann Tours Hawaii April 21-22


Arnaud Sussmann will tour Hawaii the week of April 18, stopping in both Maui and Honolulu for performances and a master class. Joined by David Finckel and Wu Han, the first concert will take place at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, including trios by Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, and Mendelssohn. The second concert on April 22 at Honolulu Chamber Music Series will feature Arnaud and Wu Han for a recital of Burleigh, Franck and Beethoven. Maui details here; Honolulu here.

Read More
Guest User
Einav Yarden Featured at Ravinia September 17

Ravinia recently announced their summer festival season, which includes a solo recital by pianist Einav Yarden on September 17. The recital program ‘Suites and Fantasies’ will be part of the BGH Classics Series and features works by Bach, Eötvös, Brahms, and Beethoven. More details can be found here.

Read More
Guest User