Marianne Parker

Meditation and Passion: Uncovering Piano Masterworks of Haiti Edouard Saintonge Elegie-Meringue Ludovic Lamothe Quatre Danses Carmen Brouard Quatre nocturne Nocturne No. 1 Edmond Saintonge Pages intimes: No. 1 Désespérance No. 2 Mélancholie, Mazurke de Salon No. 3 Causerie sentimentale Émile Desamours Sonate Folklorique (en sol majeur, sur les chansons populaires d’Haiti) Pianist Marianne Parker is a founding member of the L+M Duo, which performs contemporary music for percussion and piano. Previously, she served as Principal Pianist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where she studied under Chicago Symphony Orchestra Principal Pianist Mary Sauer. Ms. Parker previously studied at the Bösendorfer Piano Institute of Vienna under Krassimera Jordan, and with pianists Wei-Han Su, David Northington, and David Brunell.  About Crossing Borders Music Mission,  Vision, and Impact  The mission of Crossing Borders Music is to use music to promote the dignity of people from all cultures. They envision a more harmonious world in which people experience musical and artistic dimensions of world cultures in such a way that influences how they shop, invest, travel, volunteer, do business, and live their day-to-day lives. To this end, Crossing Borders Music produces moving music that tells compelling stories by composers from under-represented cultures – music that invites audiences to learn more and get involved. Crossing Borders Music also presents educational programs to foster young people’s awareness of the diversity and richness of cultures and their music. Crossing Borders Music focuses on cultures that are poorly understood and often historically marginalized. By sharing music by composers from these cultures, their music tells the stories others are not. In so doing, they  challenge stereotypes and preconceptions. Therefore, when they hear audience members say their music defied their expectations or broadened their worldview, they know they’re fulfilling their mission.

<h3>Meditation and Passion: Uncovering Piano Masterworks of Haiti</h3> Edouard Saintonge Elegie-Meringue Ludovic Lamothe Quatre Danses Carmen Brouard Quatre nocturne Nocturne No. 1 Edmond Saintonge Pages intimes: No. 1 Désespérance No. 2 Mélancholie, Mazurke de Salon No. 3 Causerie sentimentale Émile Desamours Sonate Folklorique (en sol majeur, sur les chansons populaires d’Haiti) Pianist Marianne Parker is a founding member of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marimbapianoduo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">L+M Duo</a>, which performs contemporary music for percussion and piano. Previously, she served as Principal Pianist of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, where she studied under Chicago Symphony Orchestra Principal Pianist Mary Sauer. Ms. Parker previously studied at the Bösendorfer Piano Institute of Vienna under Krassimera Jordan, and with pianists Wei-Han Su, David Northington, and David Brunell.  <h3>About Crossing Borders Music</h3> Mission,  Vision, and Impact The mission of Crossing Borders Music is to use music to promote the dignity of people from all cultures. They envision a more harmonious world in which people experience musical and artistic dimensions of world cultures in such a way that influences how they shop, invest, travel, volunteer, do business, and live their day-to-day lives. To this end, Crossing Borders Music produces moving music that tells compelling stories by composers from under-represented cultures – music that invites audiences to learn more and get involved. Crossing Borders Music also presents educational programs to foster young people’s awareness of the diversity and richness of cultures and their music. Crossing Borders Music focuses on cultures that are poorly understood and often historically marginalized. By sharing music by composers from these cultures, their music tells the stories others are not. In so doing, they  challenge stereotypes and preconceptions. Therefore, when they hear audience members say their music defied their expectations or broadened their worldview, they know they’re fulfilling their mission.

Marianne Parker, piano

Michael Adcock

ON THE PROGRAM Bach/Hess: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Mozart: Sonata in c-minor, K. 457 Molto Allegro Rachmaninoff: Prelude in g-sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12 Prelude in b-minor, Op. 32, no.10 Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5 Prelude in A Major, Op. 32, No. 9 Chopin: Barcarolle, Op. 60 Beach: Soirée de Vienne (Concert Paraphrase on motives from Die Fledermaus) FROM THE PIANOFORTE WEBSITE Hailed for his prodigious technique, and praised by the Washington Post for an “unusually fresh and arresting approach to the piano,” pianist Michael Adcock has cultivated a versatile career as soloist, chamber musician and pre-concert lecturer. Michael Adcock earned the Master’s, Artist Diploma and Doctoral degrees from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where he studied with Leon Fleisher and Ellen Mack, in addition to being an adjunct member of the theory and chamber music faculties. Mr. Adcock took his Bachelor’s degree from the Oberlin College-Conservatory where he graduated Pi Kappa Lambda. At Oberlin, he was twice awarded the Kaufmann Prize in chamber music and received the Hurlbutt Award as most outstanding graduating senior in the conservatory. Mr. Adcock attended secondary school at the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he received the Irwin Freundlich Memorial Piano Award. Recipient of the 1998 Lili Boulanger Memorial Award, Mr. Adcock was also a prizewinner in the 1996 Washington International Competition, as well as the Kosciusko Foundation Chopin Competitions in Chicago and New York. Mr. Adcock gave his Carnegie Weill Recital Hall debut in 1998. In January 2016, Mr. Adcock was a featured artist on Washington, DC’s WETA-FM “Front Row Washington” and has also been featured on radio broadcasts in New York City (WQXR) and Tampa, FL (WUSF). Recently, Mr. Adcock is a featured soloist in “Samuel Barber: Absolute Beauty”, the first-ever documentary on the composer (2016; H. Paul Moon, director). Michael Adcock’s new solo CD, “Keyboard Transcriptions,” will be available on the Centaur label in early May 2017, and includes Prokofiev’s transcription of his Romeo and Juliet ballet, as well as the Gershwin-Wild Seven Virtuoso Etudes. Mr. Adcock has collaborated with many notable musicians, among them Denyce Graves, Ani Kavafian, Gervase dePeyer, James Buswell, Timothy Eddy, Carol Wincenc and the St. Petersburg String Quartet. A former Artist-in-Residence at the Aspen Institute (MD), Mr. Adcock has been affiliated with many chamber series and summer festivals and was for 17 years a faculty member of the Musicorda Festival. Mr. Adcock is currently associate piano faculty at the Sarasota Music Festival, a faculty member of the Washington Conservatory of Music in Bethesda, MD, and artistic director of the UU Chalice Concert Series in Columbia, MD. A native of Virginia, Mr. Adcock makes his home in Silver Spring, MD. Michael Adcock’s website is: www.michaeladcockpiano.com

ON THE PROGRAM Bach/Hess: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring Mozart: Sonata in c-minor, K. 457 Molto Allegro Rachmaninoff: Prelude in g-sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12 Prelude in b-minor, Op. 32, no.10 Prelude in G Major, Op. 32, No. 5 Prelude in A Major, Op. 32, No. 9 Chopin: Barcarolle, Op. 60 Beach: Soirée de Vienne (Concert Paraphrase on motives from Die Fledermaus) <a href="http://pianofortechicago.com/event/michael-adcock/?instance_id=264783" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FROM THE PIANOFORTE WEBSITE</a> Hailed for his prodigious technique, and praised by the Washington Post for an “unusually fresh and arresting approach to the piano,” pianist Michael Adcock has cultivated a versatile career as soloist, chamber musician and pre-concert lecturer. Michael Adcock earned the Master’s, Artist Diploma and Doctoral degrees from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where he studied with Leon Fleisher and Ellen Mack, in addition to being an adjunct member of the theory and chamber music faculties. Mr. Adcock took his Bachelor’s degree from the Oberlin College-Conservatory where he graduated Pi Kappa Lambda. At Oberlin, he was twice awarded the Kaufmann Prize in chamber music and received the Hurlbutt Award as most outstanding graduating senior in the conservatory. Mr. Adcock attended secondary school at the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he received the Irwin Freundlich Memorial Piano Award. Recipient of the 1998 Lili Boulanger Memorial Award, Mr. Adcock was also a prizewinner in the 1996 Washington International Competition, as well as the Kosciusko Foundation Chopin Competitions in Chicago and New York. Mr. Adcock gave his Carnegie Weill Recital Hall debut in 1998. In January 2016, Mr. Adcock was a featured artist on Washington, DC’s WETA-FM “Front Row Washington” and has also been featured on radio broadcasts in New York City (WQXR) and Tampa, FL (WUSF). Recently, Mr. Adcock is a featured soloist in “Samuel Barber: Absolute Beauty”, the first-ever documentary on the composer (2016; H. Paul Moon, director). Michael Adcock’s new solo CD, “Keyboard Transcriptions,” will be available on the Centaur label in early May 2017, and includes Prokofiev’s transcription of his Romeo and Juliet ballet, as well as the Gershwin-Wild Seven Virtuoso Etudes. Mr. Adcock has collaborated with many notable musicians, among them Denyce Graves, Ani Kavafian, Gervase dePeyer, James Buswell, Timothy Eddy, Carol Wincenc and the St. Petersburg String Quartet. A former Artist-in-Residence at the Aspen Institute (MD), Mr. Adcock has been affiliated with many chamber series and summer festivals and was for 17 years a faculty member of the Musicorda Festival. Mr. Adcock is currently associate piano faculty at the Sarasota Music Festival, a faculty member of the Washington Conservatory of Music in Bethesda, MD, and artistic director of the UU Chalice Concert Series in Columbia, MD. A native of Virginia, Mr. Adcock makes his home in Silver Spring, MD. Michael Adcock’s website is: <a href="http://www.michaeladcockpiano.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.michaeladcockpiano.com</a>

Michael Adcock Plays Bach, Mozart, Rachmaninoff and More!

Inna Faliks

Inna Faliks presents works from Schubert, Beethoven, Carter, Birtwistle and Liszt! FROM THE PIANOFORTE WEBSITE “Adventurous and passionate” (The New Yorker) Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks has established herself as one of the most exciting, committed, communicative and poetic artists of her generation. Faliks has made a name for herself through her commanding performances of standard piano repertoire, as well genre-bending, interdisciplinary projects, and inquisitive work with contemporary composers. After her acclaimed teenage debuts at the Gilmore Festival and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, she has performed on many of the world’s great stages, with numerous orchestras, in solo appearances, and with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Keith Lockhart. Faliks is currently Professor of Piano and Head of Piano at UCLA. Critics call her “a concert pianist of the highest order” (Chicago WTTW), praise her “courage to take risks, expressive intensity and technical perfection” (General Anzeiger, Bonn), “remarkable insight” (Audiophile audition) “poetry and panoramic vision” (Washington Post), “riveting passion, playfulness” (Baltimore Sun) and “signature blend of lithe grace and raw power” (Lucid Culture.) Her October 2014 all-Beethoven CD release on MSR classics drew rave reviews: the disc’s preview on on WTTW called Faliks “High priestess of the piano, pianist of the highest order, as dramatic and subtle as a great stage actor.” Her previous, critically acclaimed CD on MSR Classics, Sound of Verse, was released in 2009, featuring music of Boris Pasternak, Rachmaninoff and Ravel. Her discography also includes a recital recording for the Yamaha Disklavier library. Recording projects in the works include a Brahms sonatas CD, Chopin solo and cello sonatas recording with cellist Wendy Warner, as well as “Polonaise-Fantasie, Story of a Pianist” – a recital of encores for piano combined with essays written by Faliks, to be released on the Delos label. Ms. Faliks’s distinguished career has taken her to thousands of recitals and concerti throughout the US, Asia, and Europe. Highlights of the recent seasons include a 2016 tour of China, with appearances in all the major halls such as Beijing Center for Performing Arts, Shanghai Oriental Arts Theater and Tianjin Grand Theater, as well as her acclaimed debuts at the Festival Intenacional de Piano in Mexico, in the Fazioli Series in Italy and in Israel’s Tel Aviv Museum, at Portland Piano Festival and with the Pacifica Chamber Players, a collaboration with the famed dance troupe Bodytraffic, and Jacaranda in Los Angeles. Recent return engagements include Newport Festival, Bargemusic and Le Poisson Rouge in NYC, Broad Stage Santa Monica, a tour of Canada, Salle Cortot in Paris, Beethoven 4th with Minnesota Sinfonia, and at Peninsula Festival , where she played the 1st and 3rd Prokofiev Concerti in the same half of the program with Victor Yampolsky, conductor. She is regularly engaged as a concerto soloist nation-wide; other concerti in the recent seasons include Rachmaninoff 2nd concerto with Dmitry Sitkovetsky and Greensboro Symphony, Rachmaninoff 2nd with Vallejo Symphony, Gershwin Project with Daniel Meyer and the Erie Symphony, and Clara Schumann at Wintergreen Festival, Beethoven 3rd with Evanston Symphony. She has been featured on WQXR, WNYC, WFMT and many international television broadcasts, and has performed in major venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Concert Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Paris’ Salle Cortot, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall and in many important festivals such as Verbier, Portland International, Music in the Mountains, Brevard, Taos, International Keyboard Festival at Mannes, Bargemusic, and Chautauqua. She recently co-starred with Downton Abbey star Lesley Nicol in “Admission – One Shilling” ,a play for pianist and actor about the life of Dame Myra Hess, the great British pianist. She has played concerti under the batons of many conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Keith Lockhart, Edward Polochick, Daniel Meyer, Victor Yampolsky, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Neal Stulberg, and many others. Her chamber music partnerships include work with Gilbert Kalish, Ron Leonard, Fred Sherry, Ilya Kaler, Colin Carr, Wendy Warner, Clive Greensmith, Antonio Lysy, and others. Faliks is the founder and curator of the of the Manhattan Arts Council award winning poetry-music series Music/Words, creating performances in collaboration with distinguished poets – www.musicwordsnyc.com . This poetry-music series goes into its 8th NYC season, and has been described as “surreal, impactful, and relevant” (Lucid Culture). Her long standing relationship with WFMT radio has led to yearly broadcasts of Music/Words, which she produces. Music/Words has also been seen in Pianoforte Chicago in collaboration with Poetry Foundation, at Royce Hall at UCLA, with the best-selling Russian poet Vera Pavlova, and in venues such as Le Poisson Rouge, NYC, Brooklyn Public Library, and Distinguished Artists Series in Santa Cruz, CA. An artist of rare versatility, Faliks’ is equally at home with standard repertoire, rare and new music. Constantly in dialogue with today’s composers, she is currently working on Reimagine: Ravel and Beethoven project, where composers such as Richard Danielpour, Timo Andres, Paola Prestini, Billy Childs, and other composers are writing works for her in response to Ravel’s Gaspard de la Nuit, which she has recorded and performed to international acclaim, and Beethoven’s Bagatelles opus 126. Last season, she had premiered Godai for Speaking Pianist, by Clarice Assad, written for her and her Music/Words series. She had given the NY, LA and Chicago premieres of 13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg, variations by acclaimed contemporary composers on Bach’s Aria. Ms. Faliks performed and recorded the unknown piano works of Russian poet Boris Pasternak, presenting his music at lecture recitals in conjunction with the University of Chicago. At the Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies, she gave the North American premiere of Ilya Levinson’s Shtetle Suite and the world premiere of Ljova’s Sirota for piano and historical recording, written for her. She went on to create a one-woman show, performing at Baruch Performance Center’s “Solo in the City – Jewish Women, Jewish Stars” Festival in NYC, and at the Ebell of Los Angeles, where she gave the premiere of “Polonaise-Fantasie, Story of a Pianist”, an autobiographical monologue for pianist and actress. Furthermore, she recently began a collaboration with WordTheater, featuring today’s leading screen actors in literary readings. She was the winner of many prestigious competitions, including the Hilton Head International Competition and the coveted International Pro Musicis Award 2005. As Professor of Piano at UCLA, she is in demand as Artist Teacher, and is frequently invited to judge competition and give masterclasses in major conservatories and universities. Her own past teachers included Leon Fleisher, Boris Petrushansky, Gilbert Kalish, Ann Schein, and Emilio del Rosario. Inna Faliks is a Yamaha Artist. www.innafaliks.com

Inna Faliks presents works from Schubert, Beethoven, Carter, Birtwistle and Liszt! <a href="http://pianofortechicago.com/event/inna-faliks-presents-works-from-schubert-beethoven-carter-birtwistle-and-liszt/?instance_id=264780" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">FROM THE PIANOFORTE WEBSITE</a> “Adventurous and passionate” (The New Yorker) Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks has established herself as one of the most exciting, committed, communicative and poetic artists of her generation. Faliks has made a name for herself through her commanding performances of standard piano repertoire, as well genre-bending, interdisciplinary projects, and inquisitive work with contemporary composers. After her acclaimed teenage debuts at the Gilmore Festival and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, she has performed on many of the world’s great stages, with numerous orchestras, in solo appearances, and with conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Keith Lockhart. Faliks is currently Professor of Piano and Head of Piano at UCLA. Critics call her “a concert pianist of the highest order” (Chicago WTTW), praise her “courage to take risks, expressive intensity and technical perfection” (General Anzeiger, Bonn), “remarkable insight” (Audiophile audition) “poetry and panoramic vision” (Washington Post), “riveting passion, playfulness” (Baltimore Sun) and “signature blend of lithe grace and raw power” (Lucid Culture.) Her October 2014 all-Beethoven CD release on MSR classics drew rave reviews: the disc’s preview on on WTTW called Faliks “High priestess of the piano, pianist of the highest order, as dramatic and subtle as a great stage actor.” Her previous, critically acclaimed CD on MSR Classics, Sound of Verse, was released in 2009, featuring music of Boris Pasternak, Rachmaninoff and Ravel. Her discography also includes a recital recording for the Yamaha Disklavier library. Recording projects in the works include a Brahms sonatas CD, Chopin solo and cello sonatas recording with cellist Wendy Warner, as well as “Polonaise-Fantasie, Story of a Pianist” – a recital of encores for piano combined with essays written by Faliks, to be released on the Delos label. Ms. Faliks’s distinguished career has taken her to thousands of recitals and concerti throughout the US, Asia, and Europe. Highlights of the recent seasons include a 2016 tour of China, with appearances in all the major halls such as Beijing Center for Performing Arts, Shanghai Oriental Arts Theater and Tianjin Grand Theater, as well as her acclaimed debuts at the Festival Intenacional de Piano in Mexico, in the Fazioli Series in Italy and in Israel’s Tel Aviv Museum, at Portland Piano Festival and with the Pacifica Chamber Players, a collaboration with the famed dance troupe Bodytraffic, and Jacaranda in Los Angeles. Recent return engagements include Newport Festival, Bargemusic and Le Poisson Rouge in NYC, Broad Stage Santa Monica, a tour of Canada, Salle Cortot in Paris, Beethoven 4th with Minnesota Sinfonia, and at Peninsula Festival , where she played the 1st and 3rd Prokofiev Concerti in the same half of the program with Victor Yampolsky, conductor. She is regularly engaged as a concerto soloist nation-wide; other concerti in the recent seasons include Rachmaninoff 2nd concerto with Dmitry Sitkovetsky and Greensboro Symphony, Rachmaninoff 2nd with Vallejo Symphony, Gershwin Project with Daniel Meyer and the Erie Symphony, and Clara Schumann at Wintergreen Festival, Beethoven 3rd with Evanston Symphony. She has been featured on WQXR, WNYC, WFMT and many international television broadcasts, and has performed in major venues such as Carnegie Hall’s Weill Concert Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Paris’ Salle Cortot, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall and in many important festivals such as Verbier, Portland International, Music in the Mountains, Brevard, Taos, International Keyboard Festival at Mannes, Bargemusic, and Chautauqua. She recently co-starred with Downton Abbey star Lesley Nicol in “Admission – One Shilling” ,a play for pianist and actor about the life of Dame Myra Hess, the great British pianist. She has played concerti under the batons of many conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Keith Lockhart, Edward Polochick, Daniel Meyer, Victor Yampolsky, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Neal Stulberg, and many others. Her chamber music partnerships include work with Gilbert Kalish, Ron Leonard, Fred Sherry, Ilya Kaler, Colin Carr, Wendy Warner, Clive Greensmith, Antonio Lysy, and others. Faliks is the founder and curator of the of the Manhattan Arts Council award winning poetry-music series Music/Words, creating performances in collaboration with distinguished poets – <a href="http://www.musicwordsnyc.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.musicwordsnyc.com</a> . This poetry-music series goes into its 8th NYC season, and has been described as “surreal, impactful, and relevant” (Lucid Culture). Her long standing relationship with WFMT radio has led to yearly broadcasts of Music/Words, which she produces. Music/Words has also been seen in Pianoforte Chicago in collaboration with Poetry Foundation, at Royce Hall at UCLA, with the best-selling Russian poet Vera Pavlova, and in venues such as Le Poisson Rouge, NYC, Brooklyn Public Library, and Distinguished Artists Series in Santa Cruz, CA. An artist of rare versatility, Faliks’ is equally at home with standard repertoire, rare and new music. Constantly in dialogue with today’s composers, she is currently working on Reimagine: Ravel and Beethoven project, where composers such as Richard Danielpour, Timo Andres, Paola Prestini, Billy Childs, and other composers are writing works for her in response to Ravel’s Gaspard de la Nuit, which she has recorded and performed to international acclaim, and Beethoven’s Bagatelles opus 126. Last season, she had premiered Godai for Speaking Pianist, by Clarice Assad, written for her and her Music/Words series. She had given the NY, LA and Chicago premieres of 13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg, variations by acclaimed contemporary composers on Bach’s Aria. Ms. Faliks performed and recorded the unknown piano works of Russian poet Boris Pasternak, presenting his music at lecture recitals in conjunction with the University of Chicago. At the Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies, she gave the North American premiere of Ilya Levinson’s Shtetle Suite and the world premiere of Ljova’s Sirota for piano and historical recording, written for her. She went on to create a one-woman show, performing at Baruch Performance Center’s “Solo in the City – Jewish Women, Jewish Stars” Festival in NYC, and at the Ebell of Los Angeles, where she gave the premiere of “Polonaise-Fantasie, Story of a Pianist”, an autobiographical monologue for pianist and actress. Furthermore, she recently began a collaboration with WordTheater, featuring today’s leading screen actors in literary readings. She was the winner of many prestigious competitions, including the Hilton Head International Competition and the coveted International Pro Musicis Award 2005. As Professor of Piano at UCLA, she is in demand as Artist Teacher, and is frequently invited to judge competition and give masterclasses in major conservatories and universities. Her own past teachers included Leon Fleisher, Boris Petrushansky, Gilbert Kalish, Ann Schein, and Emilio del Rosario. Inna Faliks is a Yamaha Artist. <a href="http://www.innafaliks.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.innafaliks.com</a>

Inna Faliks Plays Schubert, Beethoven, Birtwistle and Liszt

Michael Tsalka

Melankcholia and Ekstasis: Keyboard Works from Across the Centuries  Obra de 1 tono bajo: Joseph de Torres (ca. 1670-1738) (Spain)                                                                                                                                               Tombeau fait à Paris sur la morte de Monsieur Biancharoche: Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667) (Germany) Concerto in G major, BWV 973: J. S. Bach (1685-1750)  (Germany) transcription of a violin concerto by A. Vivaldi Allegro – Andante – Allegro Praeludium and Toccata Prima (1987, 2003): Max Yount  (U.S.A.) Introduction et Rondeau a la Zingaresco, Op. 184: Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838)   (Germany) Mazurka in A-flat major, Op. 50, No. 2: Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)    (Poland/France) Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17, No. 4 Mazurka in D major, Op. 33, No. 2     Dance of the Paper Umbrellas: Elena Katz-Chernin (b. 1957)  (Australia) Variation on a Ground (2016): Gabriele Toia (b. 1967) (Italy)   Rondo in G major: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)   (Germany) alla ingharese quasi un capriccio, Op. 129 a.k.a “Rage over a Lost Penny” Pianist and early keyboard performer Michael Tsalka (Netherlands/ Israel) has won numerous prizes and awards in Europe, the U.S.A., the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.  A versatile musician, he performs with equal virtuosity a wide span of repertoire from the early Baroque to our days on the harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, square piano, chamber organ and modern piano. Tsalka, born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Tel-Aviv  and continued his studies in Germany and Italy.  In 2001, he received a piano solo diploma from the Scuola Superiore Internazionale del Trio di Trieste, where he studied with Dario di Rosa. From 2002-2008, he studied at Temple University under the guidance of Joyce Lindorff, Harvey Wedeen, and Lambert Orkis. Tsalka holds three degrees from that institution: a Master’s degree in chamber music/accompanying, a Master’s degree in harpsichord performance and a Doctorate in piano performance. Other teachers included Sandra Mangsen, Klaus Schilde, Malcolm Bilson, and Charles Rosen. Dr. Tsalka maintains a busy concert schedule. His recent engagements include performances at the Boston Early Music Festival, the Forbidden City Hall in Beijing, Bellas Artes Theater in Mexico City, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, St. Denis Festival in Paris, Der Gasteig in Munich, Beethoven House in Bonn, Tokyo’s City Opera, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Volksbuehne Hall in Berlin, the Jerusalem Music Center, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the Jerusalem Music Center, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and interviews and live performances for radio stations in Hong Kong, Chicago, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Munich, St. Petersburg, Beijing, Stockholm, Helsinki, Auckland, Amsterdam, Brussels, Geneva, London, and Jerusalem.  From 2006 to 2016, he has been an artist-in-resident every July at the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Red Wing, Minnesota, U.S.A. (http://www.andersoncenter.org). He has recorded 16 CDs for labels such as Naxos, Grand Piano, Ljud &amp; Bild (Stockholm), Brilliant Classics (Amsterdam) Paladino (Vienna), and IMI (Israel).  Current and future recording projects include CDs dedicated to keyboard works by Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Daniel Gottlob Türk, Johann Baptist Wanhal, Carl Dittersdorf, Ferdinand Ries, Franz Schubert, F. Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn, Viktor Ullmann, Leonardo Coral, a CD dedicated to Australian Keyboard Music, and Yehezkel Braun. Dr. Tsalka performed as a soloist with orchestras, including: The Sydney Consort (Australia), University of Birmingham Chamber Orchestra (U.K.), Temple University Chamber Orchestra (Philadelphia, U.S.A.), Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra (Russia), Guatemala Symphony Orchestra, Musica Raritana (New Jersey, U.S.A.), Silvestre Revueltas Chamber Orchestra (Guanajuato, Mexico), City Orchestra (St. Louis, U.S.A.), Hermitage Festival Orchestra (St. Petersburg, Russia), Saarbrucken Symphony Orchestra (Germany), Baroque Camerata (Kaohsiung, Taiwan). A committed educator, Dr. Tsalka has presented more than eighty  master classes and lecture-recitals in academic institutions and conferences around the world.  Seven of his scholarly articles have been published by music journals, including De Clavicordio (Italy), Piano Bulletin EPTA (Netherlands), Early Keyboard Journal and Early Music America (U.S.A.). He taught at the Esther Boyer College of Music, the National Center for the Arts (Mexico City), Lilla Akademien (Stockholm) , and as a visiting professor at Celaya Conservatory in Guanajuato, Mexico. Dr. Tsalka is on the board of directors of ECMTA (European Chamber Music Teachers Association) and the HKSNA (Historical Keyboard Society of North America). In 2011, he was the artistic director of the Bach Festival, at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, Qingdao’s Grand Theatre and Wuhan’s Qintai Concert Hall. From 2012 to 2015, he was the co-artistic director of the Nordic Historical Keyboard Festival in Kuopio, Finland. In December 2014, he was the artist director of a mini-festival, titled “Fanfares and Ornaments” for the Dutch Embassy in Stockholm. Since 2014 Dr. Tsalka has been artistic director of the Geelvinck Fortepiano Festival in the Netherlands (www.geelvinckfestival.nl). And in 2016, the artistic director of Across Bridges International Piano Festival in Shanghai .

<h2>Melankcholia and Ekstasis: Keyboard Works from Across the Centuries </h2> Obra de 1 tono bajo: Joseph de Torres (ca. 1670-1738) (Spain)                                                                                                                                               Tombeau fait à Paris sur la morte de Monsieur Biancharoche: Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667) (Germany) Concerto in G major, BWV 973: J. S. Bach (1685-1750)  (Germany) transcription of a violin concerto by A. Vivaldi Allegro – Andante – Allegro Praeludium and Toccata Prima (1987, 2003): Max Yount  (U.S.A.) Introduction et Rondeau a la Zingaresco, Op. 184: Ferdinand Ries (1784-1838)   (Germany) Mazurka in A-flat major, Op. 50, No. 2: Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)    (Poland/France) Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17, No. 4 Mazurka in D major, Op. 33, No. 2     Dance of the Paper Umbrellas: Elena Katz-Chernin (b. 1957)  (Australia) Variation on a Ground (2016): Gabriele Toia (b. 1967) (Italy)   Rondo in G major: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)   (Germany) alla ingharese quasi un capriccio, Op. 129 a.k.a “Rage over a Lost Penny” Pianist and early keyboard performer Michael Tsalka (Netherlands/ Israel) has won numerous prizes and awards in Europe, the U.S.A., the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.  A versatile musician, he performs with equal virtuosity a wide span of repertoire from the early Baroque to our days on the harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, square piano, chamber organ and modern piano. Tsalka, born in Tel-Aviv, Israel, obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Tel-Aviv  and continued his studies in Germany and Italy.  In 2001, he received a piano solo diploma from the Scuola Superiore Internazionale del Trio di Trieste, where he studied with Dario di Rosa. From 2002-2008, he studied at Temple University under the guidance of Joyce Lindorff, Harvey Wedeen, and Lambert Orkis. Tsalka holds three degrees from that institution: a Master’s degree in chamber music/accompanying, a Master’s degree in harpsichord performance and a Doctorate in piano performance. Other teachers included Sandra Mangsen, Klaus Schilde, Malcolm Bilson, and Charles Rosen. Dr. Tsalka maintains a busy concert schedule. His recent engagements include performances at the Boston Early Music Festival, the Forbidden City Hall in Beijing, Bellas Artes Theater in Mexico City, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Metropolitan Museum in New York, St. Denis Festival in Paris, Der Gasteig in Munich, Beethoven House in Bonn, Tokyo’s City Opera, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Volksbuehne Hall in Berlin, the Jerusalem Music Center, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the Jerusalem Music Center, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and interviews and live performances for radio stations in Hong Kong, Chicago, Buenos Aires, Berlin, Munich, St. Petersburg, Beijing, Stockholm, Helsinki, Auckland, Amsterdam, Brussels, Geneva, London, and Jerusalem.  From 2006 to 2016, he has been an artist-in-resident every July at the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Red Wing, Minnesota, U.S.A. (<a href="http://www.andersoncenter.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.andersoncenter.org</a>). He has recorded 16 CDs for labels such as Naxos, Grand Piano, Ljud &amp; Bild (Stockholm), Brilliant Classics (Amsterdam) Paladino (Vienna), and IMI (Israel).  Current and future recording projects include CDs dedicated to keyboard works by Antonio Vivaldi, Johann Sebastian Bach, Daniel Gottlob Türk, Johann Baptist Wanhal, Carl Dittersdorf, Ferdinand Ries, Franz Schubert, F. Chopin, Felix Mendelssohn, Viktor Ullmann, Leonardo Coral, a CD dedicated to Australian Keyboard Music, and Yehezkel Braun. Dr. Tsalka performed as a soloist with orchestras, including: The Sydney Consort (Australia), University of Birmingham Chamber Orchestra (U.K.), Temple University Chamber Orchestra (Philadelphia, U.S.A.), Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra (Russia), Guatemala Symphony Orchestra, Musica Raritana (New Jersey, U.S.A.), Silvestre Revueltas Chamber Orchestra (Guanajuato, Mexico), City Orchestra (St. Louis, U.S.A.), Hermitage Festival Orchestra (St. Petersburg, Russia), Saarbrucken Symphony Orchestra (Germany), Baroque Camerata (Kaohsiung, Taiwan). A committed educator, Dr. Tsalka has presented more than eighty  master classes and lecture-recitals in academic institutions and conferences around the world.  Seven of his scholarly articles have been published by music journals, including De Clavicordio (Italy), Piano Bulletin EPTA (Netherlands), Early Keyboard Journal and Early Music America (U.S.A.). He taught at the Esther Boyer College of Music, the National Center for the Arts (Mexico City), Lilla Akademien (Stockholm) , and as a visiting professor at Celaya Conservatory in Guanajuato, Mexico. Dr. Tsalka is on the board of directors of ECMTA (European Chamber Music Teachers Association) and the HKSNA (Historical Keyboard Society of North America). In 2011, he was the artistic director of the Bach Festival, at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing, Qingdao’s Grand Theatre and Wuhan’s Qintai Concert Hall. From 2012 to 2015, he was the co-artistic director of the Nordic Historical Keyboard Festival in Kuopio, Finland. In December 2014, he was the artist director of a mini-festival, titled “Fanfares and Ornaments” for the Dutch Embassy in Stockholm. Since 2014 Dr. Tsalka has been artistic director of the Geelvinck Fortepiano Festival in the Netherlands (<a href="http://www.geelvinckfestival.nl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.geelvinckfestival.nl</a>). And in 2016, the artistic director of Across Bridges International Piano Festival in Shanghai .

Michael Tsalka, Harpsichord and piano

Jeeyoon Kim

Program Jeeyoon Kim will discuss and play selections from her new CD,  “10 More Minutes”  In the Evening (Schumann) Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (Chopin) Fantasie-Impromtpu in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (Chopin) Pagodas from Estampes (Debussy) Gardens in the Rain from Estampes (Debussy) Sonata in F major, Op. 10, No. 2 (Beethoven) Allegro Allegretto Presto Arabeske (Schumann) Intermezzo, Op. 118, No. 2 (Brahms) Grande Valse in A-flat Major, Op. 42 (Chopin) Jeeyoon Kim Classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim’s greatest passion is music and connection. Her insightful commentary from the stage at her concerts started with her wish to connect with an audience. She is much more than just a pianist who performs music and afterwards disappears from crowds. “The more I have a deeper relationship with a piece, the more I want to bring others with me in that space. It is too beautiful to miss out. Music speaks for itself, but if there is a way to have more people appreciate music at a performance, even in that 1% of a chance, I would do it!” Many of Jeeyoon’s fans love her performance style, bringing sensitive and sincere musical expressions and a personal approach to the audience through her music. Jeeyoon’s followers often comment that her concerts are more like ‘experiences’ than just a piano concert. Jeeyoon considers herself a “foodie”. She grew up in Korea, which is considered a foodies’ dream country and remembers that meals in childhood were a central part of Korean culture and her family. She states “whether it is French cuisine or sushi, my favorite kind of meal is when I can feel the essence of a cook through their food. Music is a same thing; it may be Chopin, but perhaps there is something personal and unique about every performance as each musician brings that music through their windows.” She began studying music when she was just 4 years old and continued her undergraduate studies in  Korea, majoring in piano performance. Jeeyoon received her Masters of Music and Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance from the Jacob School of Music at Indiana University. Jeeyoon’s global performance appearances include PianoForte Salon Series on 98.7WFMT, Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, Wheeler Concert Hall at the University of Evansville, GloVil Art Hall in Korea, Judson Park Auditorium in Cleveland, the Mozarteum Festival in Salzburg, Austria, the San Diego Symphony Chamber Music Series, and the La Jolla Music Society Series. She has collaborated with soloists including violinist Phillippe Quint, Cellist Johannes Moser and Violinist Ning Feng. Susan Kitterman, former Artistic Director of New World Youth Symphony describes Jeeyoon’s artistry as ‘Absolutely phenomenal! What a sensitive and gifted pianist…’.  Jazz Pianist, Gary Walter, commented ‘It would be criminal for the world not to hear Jeeyoon perform…’ In her other sphere of the musical world, she is known as “Dr. Kim”. As an accomplished pedagogue, she enjoys teaching, giving master classes and workshops to teachers at national and state music conferences. After her doctorate study in piano performance, she returned to Butler University for her Masters of Music, this time in Piano Pedagogy. In December of 2015, her new album, “10 More Minutes” was initiated by crowdfunding with Kickstarter, and it has been successfully funded by her followers and fans. The album is a collection of pieces that she has performed over the years at that moment of wanting “ten more minutes” of her performance by audiences at her live concerts. “10 More Minutes”  will be nationally released at a celebration concert on December 11th, 2016 by Namus Classics followed by a  national tour in 2017. “Twenty four hours a day isn’t enough time for all of what I want to do with my life, but it is full of music and connection. That is what makes me feel alive. I wake up in the morning with music in my head and my morning practice, and go to bed after spending many hours of practicing. In between I swim, teach, perform, and appreciate beautiful food. Those long hours of daily practice have been a part of my life as long as I remember, and I don’t have a concept of that it is easy or hard, it is just how it is! I have always hoped that at some point, my music would be delivered to someone’s heart. I can’t think of better way of spending my life.” says Jeeyoon.

<h3>Program</h3> Jeeyoon Kim will discuss and play selections from her new CD,  “10 More Minutes”  In the Evening (Schumann) Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (Chopin) Fantasie-Impromtpu in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (Chopin) Pagodas from Estampes (Debussy) Gardens in the Rain from Estampes (Debussy) Sonata in F major, Op. 10, No. 2 (Beethoven) Allegro Allegretto Presto Arabeske (Schumann) Intermezzo, Op. 118, No. 2 (Brahms) Grande Valse in A-flat Major, Op. 42 (Chopin) <h3>Jeeyoon Kim</h3> Classical pianist Jeeyoon Kim’s greatest passion is music and connection. Her insightful commentary from the stage at her concerts started with her wish to connect with an audience. She is much more than just a pianist who performs music and afterwards disappears from crowds. “The more I have a deeper relationship with a piece, the more I want to bring others with me in that space. It is too beautiful to miss out. Music speaks for itself, but if there is a way to have more people appreciate music at a performance, even in that 1% of a chance, I would do it!” Many of Jeeyoon’s fans love her performance style, bringing sensitive and sincere musical expressions and a personal approach to the audience through her music. Jeeyoon’s followers often comment that her concerts are more like ‘experiences’ than just a piano concert. Jeeyoon considers herself a “foodie”. She grew up in Korea, which is considered a foodies’ dream country and remembers that meals in childhood were a central part of Korean culture and her family. She states “whether it is French cuisine or sushi, my favorite kind of meal is when I can feel the essence of a cook through their food. Music is a same thing; it may be Chopin, but perhaps there is something personal and unique about every performance as each musician brings that music through their windows.” She began studying music when she was just 4 years old and continued her undergraduate studies in  Korea, majoring in piano performance. Jeeyoon received her Masters of Music and Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance from the Jacob School of Music at Indiana University. Jeeyoon’s global performance appearances include PianoForte Salon Series on 98.7WFMT, Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, Wheeler Concert Hall at the University of Evansville, GloVil Art Hall in Korea, Judson Park Auditorium in Cleveland, the Mozarteum Festival in Salzburg, Austria, the San Diego Symphony Chamber Music Series, and the La Jolla Music Society Series. She has collaborated with soloists including violinist Phillippe Quint, Cellist Johannes Moser and Violinist Ning Feng. Susan Kitterman, former Artistic Director of New World Youth Symphony describes Jeeyoon’s artistry as ‘Absolutely phenomenal! What a sensitive and gifted pianist…’.  Jazz Pianist, Gary Walter, commented ‘It would be criminal for the world not to hear Jeeyoon perform…’ In her other sphere of the musical world, she is known as “Dr. Kim”. As an accomplished pedagogue, she enjoys teaching, giving master classes and workshops to teachers at national and state music conferences. After her doctorate study in piano performance, she returned to Butler University for her Masters of Music, this time in Piano Pedagogy. In December of 2015, her new album, “10 More Minutes” was initiated by crowdfunding with Kickstarter, and it has been successfully funded by her followers and fans. The album is a collection of pieces that she has performed over the years at that moment of wanting “ten more minutes” of her performance by audiences at her live concerts. “10 More Minutes”  will be nationally released at a celebration concert on December 11th, 2016 by Namus Classics followed by a  national tour in 2017. “Twenty four hours a day isn’t enough time for all of what I want to do with my life, but it is full of music and connection. That is what makes me feel alive. I wake up in the morning with music in my head and my morning practice, and go to bed after spending many hours of practicing. In between I swim, teach, perform, and appreciate beautiful food. Those long hours of daily practice have been a part of my life as long as I remember, and I don’t have a concept of that it is easy or hard, it is just how it is! I have always hoped that at some point, my music would be delivered to someone’s heart. I can’t think of better way of spending my life.” says Jeeyoon.

Jeeyoon Kim, piano

Alessandro Marangoni

An advocate of Italian music, pianist Alessandro Marangoni has recorded more than 20 CDs with works by Rossini, Clementi, and others. His international career took off when he won the prestigious “Amici di Milano” International Prize for Music in 2007, and that same year, he performed at the Teatro all Scala in Milan as a soloist in tribute to to the great conductor Victor de Sabata. In commemoration of the maestro’s death, Mr. Marangoni recorded an album on the La Bottega Discantica label dedicated to him. Soon after, he was signed as a recording artist with the NAXOS label. Mr. Alessandro has recently appeared as both a soloist and chamber musician in Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, at the Festival MITO, Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Sagra Musicale Umbra as well as in venues across Europe, Canada and the United States. He has collaborated with with the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra, the Granada Philharmonic, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and il Quartetto di Fiesole di Fiesole e il Nuovo Quartetto Italiano. He is also the pianist for the critically acclaimed Trio Albatros Ensemble. Alessandro Marangoni is the artistic director of Forte? Fortissimo! TV, a new Music Web Channel created with Stefano Sgarella. Today on the Pianoforte Salon Series, he performs works by Rossini and Chopin.  Dave Schwan hosts, and Mary Mazurek is the technical Producer. Music: Rossini: Prelude inoffensive Rossini: Petite Polka Chinoise Chopin: Nocturne op. posthumous Rossini: Barcarole Chopin: Scherzo No.2 Op. 31 Rossini: Une caresse à ma femme

An advocate of Italian music, pianist Alessandro Marangoni has recorded more than 20 CDs with works by Rossini, Clementi, and others. His international career took off when he won the prestigious “Amici di Milano” International Prize for Music in 2007, and that same year, he performed at the Teatro all Scala in Milan as a soloist in tribute to to the great conductor Victor de Sabata. In commemoration of the maestro’s death, Mr. Marangoni recorded an album on the La Bottega Discantica label dedicated to him. Soon after, he was signed as a recording artist with the NAXOS label. Mr. Alessandro has recently appeared as both a soloist and chamber musician in Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, at the Festival MITO, Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, Sagra Musicale Umbra as well as in venues across Europe, Canada and the United States. He has collaborated with with the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra, the Granada Philharmonic, the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and il Quartetto di Fiesole di Fiesole e il Nuovo Quartetto Italiano. He is also the pianist for the critically acclaimed Trio Albatros Ensemble. Alessandro Marangoni is the artistic director of <a href="http://fortefortissimo.tv/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Forte? Fortissimo! TV</a>, a new Music Web Channel created with Stefano Sgarella. Today on the Pianoforte Salon Series, he performs works by Rossini and Chopin.  Dave Schwan hosts, and Mary Mazurek is the technical Producer. Music: Rossini: Prelude inoffensive Rossini: Petite Polka Chinoise Chopin: Nocturne op. posthumous Rossini: Barcarole Chopin: Scherzo No.2 Op. 31 Rossini: Une caresse à ma femme

Alessandro Marangoni, piano

Pianist Alexander Djordjevic is known for his “formidable talent and technique,” “profound poetic sensitivity” and “elegant, expressive, yet powerful and electrifying playing.” The Washington Post has declared him “a constant infusion of original insight” and Gramophone Magazine proclaimed him “a fine young pianist.” Alexander Djordjevic is recognized for his stirring performances of the late works of Franz Liszt. His CD, Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt, was the 2010 winner of the Hungarian Liszt Society’s 35th Annual Franz Liszt International Grand Prix du Disque. Alexander Djordjevic follows an esteemed list of notable pianists who have received this honor for their Liszt recordings including Vladimir Horowitz, Claudio Arrau, Alfred Brendel and Andre Watts. Mr. Djordjevic received the award and was featured in recital on the 199th anniversary of Liszt’s birth at the Old Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary. The Jury of the Franz Liszt International Grand Prix du Disque lauded Djordjevic for having “the key to the peculiar and meditative world of the works from Liszt’s late years.” Gramophone Magazine writes about Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt, “Djordjevic brings great subtlety to this well programmed Liszt Disc.” “… Djordjevic’s mastery and commitment are never in doubt. Listen to the first Elegie’s carefully gauged climaxes, the subtle gradations in tone that help flesh out Nuages gris’ sparse textures, the warm legato that embraces Romance oubliée’s soft chords, or how the pianist imbues the Bagatelle ohne Tonart’s grace notes with a convincing jazzy flair.” Phoenix Classical writes, “Through all of these works, Djordjevic displays a deep affinity for Liszt’s music, showcasing by turns their profundity, their thoughtfulness and their joy, and in every case transcending any limitations of technique. Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt by Alexander Djordjevic is a stirring collection of works from one of music’s most original artists.” The Washington Post described Alexander Djordjevic in concert as, “an objective pianist in the sense that he remains always in scrupulous control of the music: Chords are immaculately voiced to yield the most minute harmonic changes; sonorities mix, hang around and then dissolve just when they should; and the musical line is scrubbed clean of artifice, clutter and distracting exaggerations. What then emerges is a constant infusion of original insight that freshens the music and makes even repertory staples seem new.” He studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg Germany as a Fulbright Scholar, and has won numerous piano competitions including First Prize, Grace Welsh Prize for Piano; First Prize, Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Piano Competition; First Prize, Chicago Artists Association Competition; Bradshaw &amp; Buono International Piano Competition; Nena Wideman Piano Competition, Shreveport, Louisiana; and Union League Civic &amp; Arts Foundation Piano Competition, Chicago and was chosen to participate in the Cleveland International Piano Competition; the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, New York; and the New Orleans International Piano Competition. Alexander Djordjevic has performed as concerto soloist with the Central Oregon Symphony, New Philharmonic, Symphony of Oak Park River Forest, DuPage Symphony, Kankakee Valley Symphony, University of Illinois Symphony and Danville Symphony and his recent solo and chamber music performances include Symphony Center, Chicago; Academy of Arts and Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia; Liszt’s 199th Birthday Celebration Concert at the Old Liszt Academy, Budapest, Hungary; Phillips Collection, Washington, DC; Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, Chicago; PianoForte Chicago; Kosciuszko Foundation Auditorium, New York; Harold Washington Library, Chicago; Steinway Society Recital Series; Music Institute of Chicago’s Faculty and Guest Artist Series; 19th Century Club. Djordjevic has performed duo-piano recitals with Daniel Paul Horn, Mayumi Kikuchi, Brenda Huang, and Paul Barnes. Born in Chicago, he began his piano studies at age three and made his debut as concerto soloist with orchestra at age twelve. As a Fulbright Scholar, he furthered his piano studies with Russian pianist Vitaly Margulis at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany, where he was awarded the Aufbaustudium Diploma “With Distinction.” In addition to Margulis, he’s studied under Joel Shapiro, Gustavo Romero, William Heiles, and Ann Schein (Aspen) and holds advanced degrees in piano performance and literature from the University of Illinois. Djordjevic’s on the piano faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago, maintains his own private studio and holds the positions as president of the Chicago chapter of the American Liszt Society and membership secretary of the American Liszt Society. He’s released 2 CDs: Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt (2009), which features rarely performed late piano works of Franz Liszt; and Alexander Djordjevic Plays Scarlatti – Beethoven – Chopin – Rachmaninov – Liebermann (2000). PROGRAM Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Fantasia in D minor, K. 397 Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata Op. 13 in C minor “Pathétique” 1. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio 2. Adagio cantabile 3. Rondo: Allegro Frederic Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 Franz Liszt: In festo transfigurationis Domini nostri Jesu Christi, S. 188; Impromptu (‘Nocturne’), S. 191 Frederic Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat major (Heroic), Op. 53

Pianist Alexander Djordjevic is known for his “formidable talent and technique,” “profound poetic sensitivity” and “elegant, expressive, yet powerful and electrifying playing.” The Washington Post has declared him “a constant infusion of original insight” and Gramophone Magazine proclaimed him “a fine young pianist.” Alexander Djordjevic is recognized for his stirring performances of the late works of Franz Liszt. His CD, Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt, was the 2010 winner of the Hungarian Liszt Society’s 35th Annual Franz Liszt International Grand Prix du Disque. Alexander Djordjevic follows an esteemed list of notable pianists who have received this honor for their Liszt recordings including Vladimir Horowitz, Claudio Arrau, Alfred Brendel and Andre Watts. Mr. Djordjevic received the award and was featured in recital on the 199th anniversary of Liszt’s birth at the Old Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary. The Jury of the Franz Liszt International Grand Prix du Disque lauded Djordjevic for having “the key to the peculiar and meditative world of the works from Liszt’s late years.” Gramophone Magazine writes about Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt, “Djordjevic brings great subtlety to this well programmed Liszt Disc.” “… Djordjevic’s mastery and commitment are never in doubt. Listen to the first Elegie’s carefully gauged climaxes, the subtle gradations in tone that help flesh out Nuages gris’ sparse textures, the warm legato that embraces Romance oubliée’s soft chords, or how the pianist imbues the Bagatelle ohne Tonart’s grace notes with a convincing jazzy flair.” Phoenix Classical writes, “Through all of these works, Djordjevic displays a deep affinity for Liszt’s music, showcasing by turns their profundity, their thoughtfulness and their joy, and in every case transcending any limitations of technique. Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt by Alexander Djordjevic is a stirring collection of works from one of music’s most original artists.” The Washington Post described Alexander Djordjevic in concert as, “an objective pianist in the sense that he remains always in scrupulous control of the music: Chords are immaculately voiced to yield the most minute harmonic changes; sonorities mix, hang around and then dissolve just when they should; and the musical line is scrubbed clean of artifice, clutter and distracting exaggerations. What then emerges is a constant infusion of original insight that freshens the music and makes even repertory staples seem new.” He studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg Germany as a Fulbright Scholar, and has won numerous piano competitions including First Prize, Grace Welsh Prize for Piano; First Prize, Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artists Piano Competition; First Prize, Chicago Artists Association Competition; Bradshaw &amp; Buono International Piano Competition; Nena Wideman Piano Competition, Shreveport, Louisiana; and Union League Civic &amp; Arts Foundation Piano Competition, Chicago and was chosen to participate in the Cleveland International Piano Competition; the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, New York; and the New Orleans International Piano Competition. Alexander Djordjevic has performed as concerto soloist with the Central Oregon Symphony, New Philharmonic, Symphony of Oak Park River Forest, DuPage Symphony, Kankakee Valley Symphony, University of Illinois Symphony and Danville Symphony and his recent solo and chamber music performances include Symphony Center, Chicago; Academy of Arts and Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia; Liszt’s 199th Birthday Celebration Concert at the Old Liszt Academy, Budapest, Hungary; Phillips Collection, Washington, DC; Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts, Chicago; PianoForte Chicago; Kosciuszko Foundation Auditorium, New York; Harold Washington Library, Chicago; Steinway Society Recital Series; Music Institute of Chicago’s Faculty and Guest Artist Series; 19th Century Club. Djordjevic has performed duo-piano recitals with Daniel Paul Horn, Mayumi Kikuchi, Brenda Huang, and Paul Barnes. Born in Chicago, he began his piano studies at age three and made his debut as concerto soloist with orchestra at age twelve. As a Fulbright Scholar, he furthered his piano studies with Russian pianist Vitaly Margulis at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany, where he was awarded the Aufbaustudium Diploma “With Distinction.” In addition to Margulis, he’s studied under Joel Shapiro, Gustavo Romero, William Heiles, and Ann Schein (Aspen) and holds advanced degrees in piano performance and literature from the University of Illinois. Djordjevic’s on the piano faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago, maintains his own private studio and holds the positions as president of the Chicago chapter of the American Liszt Society and membership secretary of the American Liszt Society. He’s released 2 CDs: Gray Clouds: Piano Music of Franz Liszt (2009), which features rarely performed late piano works of Franz Liszt; and Alexander Djordjevic Plays Scarlatti – Beethoven – Chopin – Rachmaninov – Liebermann (2000). PROGRAM Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Fantasia in D minor, K. 397 Ludwig van Beethoven: Sonata Op. 13 in C minor “Pathétique” 1. Grave – Allegro di molto e con brio 2. Adagio cantabile 3. Rondo: Allegro Frederic Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 Franz Liszt: In festo transfigurationis Domini nostri Jesu Christi, S. 188; Impromptu (‘Nocturne’), S. 191 Frederic Chopin: Polonaise in A-flat major (Heroic), Op. 53

Alexander Djordjevic, piano

Nick Phillips

PROGRAM: J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I  W.A. Mozart Sonata in F Major, K.332 (Allegro – Adagio – Allegro Assai) Frédéric Chopin  Ballade in G minor, Op.23 Carter Pann From “The Piano’s 12 Sides” (2011) White Moon Over Water Mark Olivieri Hommage à Trois (2005) Luca’s Swell: Hommage à Aaron Copland (b.1972) Gestures: Hommage à Toru Takemitsu Funk for Nikki: Hommage à James Brown Described by the New York Times as an “able and persuasive advocate” of new music, pianist Nicholas Phillips’ playing has been praised for its “bejeweled accuracy” (Fanfare) and as “razor-sharp yet wonderfully spirited” (American Records Guide).  He maintains an active schedule as a soloist and collaborative artist; recent performances include solo recitals in Korea and Argentina, as well as dozens of states across the U.S., and an invited performance at the Croatian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Phillips has given lecture-recitals and presentations at conferences in the U.S., Argentina, Croatia, England, and South Korea and is the author of “Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words Revisited: Culture, Gender, Literature, and the Role of Domestic Piano Music in Victorian England,” published by VDM Verlag.  In 2011,  he released two CDs on Albany Records; Portals and Passages, which features the piano music of American composer Ethan Wickman (b.1973), and Boris Papandopulo: Piano Music, which features music by the famous Croatian composer. and his most recent CD, American Vernacular: New Music for Solo Piano, features works he commissioned from ten American composers. Nicholas Phillips holds degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently Associate Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

PROGRAM: J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue in B-flat minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I W.A. Mozart Sonata in F Major, K.332 (Allegro – Adagio – Allegro Assai) Frédéric Chopin  Ballade in G minor, Op.23 Carter Pann From “The Piano’s 12 Sides” (2011) White Moon Over Water Mark Olivieri Hommage à Trois (2005) Luca’s Swell: Hommage à Aaron Copland (b.1972) Gestures: Hommage à Toru Takemitsu Funk for Nikki: Hommage à James Brown Described by the New York Times as an “able and persuasive advocate” of new music, pianist Nicholas Phillips’ playing has been praised for its “bejeweled accuracy” (Fanfare) and as “razor-sharp yet wonderfully spirited” (American Records Guide).  He maintains an active schedule as a soloist and collaborative artist; recent performances include solo recitals in Korea and Argentina, as well as dozens of states across the U.S., and an invited performance at the Croatian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Phillips has given lecture-recitals and presentations at conferences in the U.S., Argentina, Croatia, England, and South Korea and is the author of “Mendelssohn’s Songs without Words Revisited: Culture, Gender, Literature, and the Role of Domestic Piano Music in Victorian England,” published by VDM Verlag.  In 2011,  he released two CDs on Albany Records; Portals and Passages, which features the piano music of American composer Ethan Wickman (b.1973), and Boris Papandopulo: Piano Music, which features music by the famous Croatian composer. and his most recent CD, American Vernacular: New Music for Solo Piano, features works he commissioned from ten American composers. Nicholas Phillips holds degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is currently Associate Professor of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Nick Phillips, piano

Kliment Krylovskiy, clarinet; Vanessa Mollard, violin; and Riko Higuma, piano PROGRAM:  Béla Bartók — Contrasts (1881 – 1945)  I    Verbunkos:  Moderato, ben ritmato II    Piheno:  Lento III   Sebes:  Allegro vivace  Dmitry Shostakovich — Three Duets (1906 – 1975)  I    Praludium II   Gavotte III  Walser   Aram Khachaturian — Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1903 – 1978)  I    Andante con dolore II   Allegro III  Moderato – Prestissimo – Moderato  The Zodiac Trio The Zodiac Trio enjoys an international concert schedule that spans three continents and presents an eclectic repertoire that mixes contemporary with the traditional. In its relatively short history – the ensemble formed in 2006 at Manhattan School of Music, before becoming the first American group and the only ensemble with a wind instrument to enter the esteemed Ysaÿe Quartet Chamber Music program at the Paris Superior Conservatory –  has managed to achieve a level of recognition on the international chamber music stage, rarely bestowed upon an ensemble of such untraditional instrumentation. The Trio has performed at Ottawa Chamberfest, Festival Radio France Montpellier, International Colmar Festival, the Oriental Performing Arts Center in Shanghai, National Performing Arts Center in Beijing, Izumi Hall in Japan, Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium, New York’s Tishman Auditorium and Merkin Concert Hall, UCLA Clark Library; has been broadcast by France 3 Television, Beijing’s CCTV News, Canada’s CBC Radio and Television, NBC, WXQR, 98.7 WFMT, WGBH’s “Live from Frasier”, and has recorded for Radio France in Paris. The Zodiac Trio was originally formed under the guidance of renowned clarinetist David Krakauer and violinist Isodore Cohen of the Beaux Arts Trio. Shortly after its inception, the Trio was introduced to the New York audience on WQXR’s “Young Artist Showcase.”  Subsequently, the Zodiac Trio gave its official debut at the Kaufman Center, prompting Edith Eisler of the New York Concert Review to describe the young ensemble as “excellent…” praising its “remarkable ability” and “infectious enjoyment of the music.” The debut was followed by a string of concerts in Southern France where the Trio was further praised by the local media: “…unforgettable concerts by the Zodiac Trio! …Truly exceptional and sublime talent… The prestigious level of the performances radiated the undeniable talent of the trio and foreshadowed their great success in the future.” – raved the Nice- Matin. In 2007, the Zodiac Trio was first brought to the attention of the international chamber music scene in a feature by the London- based international MUSO magazine, praising the Trio for “bringing a rare combination of instruments into the spotlight by unearthing old repertoire and commissioning new music.” At this time, the young ensemble was making its mark on the competition circuit, having garnered prizes at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition (Ohio, U.S.), FNAPEC International Chamber Ensemble Competition (Paris, France), International Chamber Music Competition of Duchi D’Acquaviva (Italy), Val Tidone International Music Competition (Italy), the Cziffra Foundation (France), Joyce Dutka Foundation for the Arts (New York), International Peninsula Young Artist Festival in California and the ProMusica Ensemble Competition (France), among others. The ensemble also received a Recording Grant and a Commission Grant from Co-op Press, resulting in its first commercial CD. The Zodiac Trio is a laureate of the 6th International Osaka Chamber Music Competition in Japan, and was awarded the Encore Grant from the American Composers Forum in 2010 to support their collaboration with composer Andrew List.  In 2013, its latest recording featuring staple trios by Bartok and Stravinsky, in addition to Galina Ustvolskaya and Nicolas Bacri (world premiere recording) received the coveted Ring Award by the French Magazine “Classique Info.” With its reputation growing, the young ensemble has since performed throughout Canada, United States, Japan, many parts of Europe and most of China’s main cultural metropolises. The ensemble’s performances have been described as “spiritual and sparkling” by Concerto Net, critically praised for its “impeccable technique” (Ouest-France), “remarkable musicality of rare intensity” (La Tribune, France), “awe-inspiring”(NYC.com) “seemingly effortless ease” (San Angelo Standard Times).  Dedicated to education both on a conservatory level and in public schools, the Zodiac Trio has presented master classes, clinics and music presentations for young audiences at the University of Missouri, University of Minnesota Duluth, San Francisco Conservatory, Western Michigan University, Colorado College, Boston University, Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, Tufts University, Tulsa University, Western State College of Colorado, Southeastern State University of Oklahoma, Lonestar College Montgomery in TX, and the China Conservatory of Beijing, among others. In addition, the Zodiac Trio has developed an innovative program for children titled “Sound of the Imagination” which debuted at the Beijing Children’s Theatre and has subsequently been broadcast by CCTV News in Beijing. A strong advocate of new music, the Zodiac Trio has commissioned new works in order to expand the clarinet-violin-piano trio repertoire, and strives to serve as a platform of exposure for up- and-coming composers. Commissioned composers include Richard Danielpour, Ofer Ben-Amots, David Colson, Andrew List, Larry Bell, Andy Vores, Xavier Bouchaud, Marcus Paus and Sy Brandon.  The ensemble has also collaborated with composer Richard Danielpour on a commissioned work, which received its world premiere in June 2013 at the Association France- Ameriques in Paris. The 2014-15 season engagements included Wavehill Concerts (NY), Matinee Musicale (Duluth, MN), Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series (CA), The Reiff Center (MN), Fairmont Chamber Music Society (WV), Old First Concerts (CA), Le Poisson Rouge (NY), Gallery 345 and Toronto Opera Center Chamber Music Series, residences at University of Missouri,  Mount Allison University and Acadia University; concerts in France and Italy.   Highlights of future engagements include a new music residency at Roosevelt University, a return to Winnepeg’s Virtuosi Concert series, debuts on Maryland’s Candlelight Concert Society and the Coleman Chamber Music series, as well as a juried showcase at Vancouver’s Pacific Contact,  performances with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s principal cellist Ariel Barnes, among others.   In January 2016, the Zodiac Trio released a new recording featuring works written for the ensemble by American composers  Andrew List, Richard Danielpour, as well as a work by John Mackey and a special call for score project titled Zodiac: Across the Universe that comprises 12 one-minute works by 12 different composers.

Kliment Krylovskiy, clarinet; Vanessa Mollard, violin; and Riko Higuma, piano PROGRAM:  Béla Bartók — Contrasts (1881 – 1945) <ul> <li>I    Verbunkos:  Moderato, ben ritmato</li> <li>II    Piheno:  Lento</li> <li>III   Sebes:  Allegro vivace</li> </ul> Dmitry Shostakovich — Three Duets (1906 – 1975) <ul> <li>I    Praludium</li> <li>II   Gavotte</li> <li>III  Walser</li> </ul>  Aram Khachaturian — Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano (1903 – 1978) <ul> <li>I    Andante con dolore</li> <li>II   Allegro</li> <li>III  Moderato – Prestissimo – Moderato</li> </ul> <h2>The Zodiac Trio</h2> The Zodiac Trio enjoys an international concert schedule that spans three continents and presents an eclectic repertoire that mixes contemporary with the traditional. In its relatively short history – the ensemble formed in 2006 at Manhattan School of Music, before becoming the first American group and the only ensemble with a wind instrument to enter the esteemed Ysaÿe Quartet Chamber Music program at the Paris Superior Conservatory –  has managed to achieve a level of recognition on the international chamber music stage, rarely bestowed upon an ensemble of such untraditional instrumentation. The Trio has performed at Ottawa Chamberfest, Festival Radio France Montpellier, International Colmar Festival, the Oriental Performing Arts Center in Shanghai, National Performing Arts Center in Beijing, Izumi Hall in Japan, Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Auditorium, New York’s Tishman Auditorium and Merkin Concert Hall, UCLA Clark Library; has been broadcast by France 3 Television, Beijing’s CCTV News, Canada’s CBC Radio and Television, NBC, WXQR, 98.7 WFMT, WGBH’s “Live from Frasier”, and has recorded for Radio France in Paris. The Zodiac Trio was originally formed under the guidance of renowned clarinetist David Krakauer and violinist Isodore Cohen of the Beaux Arts Trio. Shortly after its inception, the Trio was introduced to the New York audience on WQXR’s “Young Artist Showcase.”  Subsequently, the Zodiac Trio gave its official debut at the Kaufman Center, prompting Edith Eisler of the New York Concert Review to describe the young ensemble as “excellent…” praising its “remarkable ability” and “infectious enjoyment of the music.” The debut was followed by a string of concerts in Southern France where the Trio was further praised by the local media: “…unforgettable concerts by the Zodiac Trio! …Truly exceptional and sublime talent… The prestigious level of the performances radiated the undeniable talent of the trio and foreshadowed their great success in the future.” – raved the Nice- Matin. In 2007, the Zodiac Trio was first brought to the attention of the international chamber music scene in a feature by the London- based international MUSO magazine, praising the Trio for “bringing a rare combination of instruments into the spotlight by unearthing old repertoire and commissioning new music.” At this time, the young ensemble was making its mark on the competition circuit, having garnered prizes at the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition (Ohio, U.S.), FNAPEC International Chamber Ensemble Competition (Paris, France), International Chamber Music Competition of Duchi D’Acquaviva (Italy), Val Tidone International Music Competition (Italy), the Cziffra Foundation (France), Joyce Dutka Foundation for the Arts (New York), International Peninsula Young Artist Festival in California and the ProMusica Ensemble Competition (France), among others. The ensemble also received a Recording Grant and a Commission Grant from Co-op Press, resulting in its first commercial CD. The Zodiac Trio is a laureate of the 6th International Osaka Chamber Music Competition in Japan, and was awarded the Encore Grant from the American Composers Forum in 2010 to support their collaboration with composer Andrew List.  In 2013, its latest recording featuring staple trios by Bartok and Stravinsky, in addition to Galina Ustvolskaya and Nicolas Bacri (world premiere recording) received the coveted Ring Award by the French Magazine “Classique Info.” With its reputation growing, the young ensemble has since performed throughout Canada, United States, Japan, many parts of Europe and most of China’s main cultural metropolises. The ensemble’s performances have been described as “spiritual and sparkling” by Concerto Net, critically praised for its “impeccable technique” (Ouest-France), “remarkable musicality of rare intensity” (La Tribune, France), “awe-inspiring”(<a href="http://nyc.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NYC.com</a>) “seemingly effortless ease” (San Angelo Standard Times).  Dedicated to education both on a conservatory level and in public schools, the Zodiac Trio has presented master classes, clinics and music presentations for young audiences at the University of Missouri, University of Minnesota Duluth, San Francisco Conservatory, Western Michigan University, Colorado College, Boston University, Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, Tufts University, Tulsa University, Western State College of Colorado, Southeastern State University of Oklahoma, Lonestar College Montgomery in TX, and the China Conservatory of Beijing, among others. In addition, the Zodiac Trio has developed an innovative program for children titled “Sound of the Imagination” which debuted at the Beijing Children’s Theatre and has subsequently been broadcast by CCTV News in Beijing. A strong advocate of new music, the Zodiac Trio has commissioned new works in order to expand the clarinet-violin-piano trio repertoire, and strives to serve as a platform of exposure for up- and-coming composers. Commissioned composers include Richard Danielpour, Ofer Ben-Amots, David Colson, Andrew List, Larry Bell, Andy Vores, Xavier Bouchaud, Marcus Paus and Sy Brandon.  The ensemble has also collaborated with composer Richard Danielpour on a commissioned work, which received its world premiere in June 2013 at the Association France- Ameriques in Paris. The 2014-15 season engagements included Wavehill Concerts (NY), Matinee Musicale (Duluth, MN), Gualala Arts Chamber Music Series (CA), The Reiff Center (MN), Fairmont Chamber Music Society (WV), Old First Concerts (CA), Le Poisson Rouge (NY), Gallery 345 and Toronto Opera Center Chamber Music Series, residences at University of Missouri,  Mount Allison University and Acadia University; concerts in France and Italy. Highlights of future engagements include a new music residency at Roosevelt University, a return to Winnepeg’s Virtuosi Concert series, debuts on Maryland’s Candlelight Concert Society and the Coleman Chamber Music series, as well as a juried showcase at Vancouver’s Pacific Contact,  performances with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s principal cellist Ariel Barnes, among others. In January 2016, the Zodiac Trio released a new recording featuring works written for the ensemble by American composers  Andrew List, Richard Danielpour, as well as a work by John Mackey and a special call for score project titled Zodiac: Across the Universe that comprises 12 one-minute works by 12 different composers.

The Zodiac Trio

Aurelien Pederzoli

Matthew Hagle

Program: Robert Schumann: Adagio and Allegro, op.70 Arvo Part: Fratres Luigi Boccherini (arr. Katims): Sonata No. 6 in A Major, G4 Robert Schumann: Märchenbilder, Op.113 Henri Vieuxtemps: Élégie, Op.30 Aurelien Pederzoli, viola Chicago-based violist Aurelian Pederzoli trained from a young age on the violin and his talent and skill earned him wide acclaim from critics and the public alike. But something was missing. Artistic frustrations with the violin led him to pick up the viola and, to his surprise, his authentic musical voice emerged. “The sonority of the viola just seems to resonate with the fibers of my being,” Pederzoli says, “and I love the viola’s repertoire and the very communal role it plays in ensembles.”  A finalist in the 2015 International Hugo Kauder Competition for Viola at Yale University, Pederzoli merges a deep reservoir of  musicality with wide-eyed curiosity about his instrument as a soloist and chamber ensemble player, and as a teacher at the New Music School in Chicago. He is a member of the innovative Black Oak Ensemble which pairs classical works with music from around the world, a frequent collaborator with the Lincoln Trio, and he has toured internationally with blues harmonica virtuoso Corky Siegel. A deft collaborator, Pederzoli works with other musicians of many stripes, including members of eighth black bird, bassist Matt Ulery, composer/pianist Fernando Otero, members of the Vermeer Quartet, pianist H.J Lim, accordionist Julien Labro, violinist Rachel Kolly d’Alba, pianist Christian Chamorel, violinist Daniel Rowland, violist David Aaron Carpenter, and composer/saxophonist Miguel Zenon. He also works with many of the leading composers of our time, Recent project have included Lee Hyla, Hans Thomalla, Gunter Schuller, and Robert Dillon, and he has premiered and recorded works by Augusta Read Thomas, Bernard Rands, Mason Bates,  Shulamit Ran, Sarah Ritch, Jennifer Higdon, Marc Mellitts, Nico Muhly and others. Aurelian Pederzoli was born in France and graduated from the Paris Conservatory before moving to Chicago. He studies viola with Frank Babbitt and Li Kuo Chang. His violin teachers included Jean Lenert, Shmuel Ashkenasi, and Veda Reynolds. In 2008, Pederzoli cofounded Anaphora Ensemble to explore and present adventurous music in Chicago. Pederzoli was a founding member of the Spektral Quartet in 2010 and played with the ensemble until 2014. His work appears on recordings from Azica, Parlour Tapes+, Cedille, Southport, and Aparte labels. A new string trio recording with Desirée Ruhstrat, violin, and David Cunliffe, cello, of music by Conrad Tao, Jennifer Higdon, David Ludwig, and Marc Mellits, is forthcoming in 2016.   Matthew Hagle, piano Pianist Matthew Hagle is a musician of great versatility and depth, whose performances are a rare mixture of musical understanding, imaginative programming, pianistic mastery and beauty of sound. In solo recitals he often explores the boundaries of the piano repertoire, using thoughtful programming and committed performance to integrate newer repertoire and lesser-known older works with the traditional canon. At the moment, he is working on a more conventional project: performing the 32 Beethoven Sonatas in a series of live radio recitals. Mr. Hagle is also highly valued as a collaborator by many other artists. With violinist Rachel Barton Pine, he has released two acclaimed CDs on the Cedille label, and performed many recitals in North and South America. His piano duo performances with Mio Isoda-Hagle are highlights of the annual Chicago Duo Piano Festival. Other chamber music partners have been the Parker Quartet, the Avalon Quartet, Quintet Attacca, and with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  Matthew Hagle has been heard in concert halls throughout the United States, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Symphony Space in New York, and in concert at the United States Supreme Court. Outside of the U.S., he has performed at venues in England, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Japan. A resident of the Chicago area, Hagle performs frequently at local spaces including the Ravinia Festival, Symphony Center, and the Chicago Cultural Center. Mr. Hagle can often be heard on radio station WFMT in Chicago, and has also been heard on NPR’s “Performance Today” and Minnesota Public Radio’s “St. Paul Sunday Morning”. Among others, theNew York Times has described him as “a sensitive pianist”, Clavier Magazine praised the “rare clarity and sweetness” of his playing, and the Springfield (MA.) Republican remarked that he “played with unaffected brilliance and profound understanding”. Pianist Michael Kieran Harvey, covering the 2000 Sydney International Piano Competition for Australian national radio, commented favorably on Mr. Hagle’s performance of Elliott Carter’s Piano Sonata. Mr. Hagle is a dedicated teacher of piano, music theory, and composition, whose students have won high honors in local and national competitions and gone on to study music at the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is currently on the faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago, where he is director of the Musicianship program in addition to his teaching duties. Previously, he taught at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, at Elmhurst College, and at the International Institute for Young Musicians at the Universities of Kansas and California at Santa Barbara. His own studies were with Robert Weirich and Donald Currier at the Peabody Conservatory, with Claude Frank at the Yale School of Music (where he received the DMA), and with Maria Curcio Diamand in London as a Fulbright Scholar. A comfortable speaker on diverse musical subjects, Mr. Hagle likes to use this ability to draw connections between very new and older music, or between music and other art forms. In his spare time he likes to read on a variety of subjects, to fail to learn Japanese, and to spend time with his two children.

Program: Robert Schumann: Adagio and Allegro, op.70 Arvo Part: Fratres Luigi Boccherini (arr. Katims): Sonata No. 6 in A Major, G4 Robert Schumann: Märchenbilder, Op.113 Henri Vieuxtemps: Élégie, Op.30 Aurelien Pederzoli, viola Chicago-based violist Aurelian Pederzoli trained from a young age on the violin and his talent and skill earned him wide acclaim from critics and the public alike. But something was missing. Artistic frustrations with the violin led him to pick up the viola and, to his surprise, his authentic musical voice emerged. “The sonority of the viola just seems to resonate with the fibers of my being,” Pederzoli says, “and I love the viola’s repertoire and the very communal role it plays in ensembles.”  A finalist in the 2015 International Hugo Kauder Competition for Viola at Yale University, Pederzoli merges a deep reservoir of  musicality with wide-eyed curiosity about his instrument as a soloist and chamber ensemble player, and as a teacher at the New Music School in Chicago. He is a member of the innovative Black Oak Ensemble which pairs classical works with music from around the world, a frequent collaborator with the Lincoln Trio, and he has toured internationally with blues harmonica virtuoso Corky Siegel. A deft collaborator, Pederzoli works with other musicians of many stripes, including members of eighth black bird, bassist Matt Ulery, composer/pianist Fernando Otero, members of the Vermeer Quartet, pianist H.J Lim, accordionist Julien Labro, violinist Rachel Kolly d’Alba, pianist Christian Chamorel, violinist Daniel Rowland, violist David Aaron Carpenter, and composer/saxophonist Miguel Zenon. He also works with many of the leading composers of our time, Recent project have included Lee Hyla, Hans Thomalla, Gunter Schuller, and Robert Dillon, and he has premiered and recorded works by Augusta Read Thomas, Bernard Rands, Mason Bates,  Shulamit Ran, Sarah Ritch, Jennifer Higdon, Marc Mellitts, Nico Muhly and others. Aurelian Pederzoli was born in France and graduated from the Paris Conservatory before moving to Chicago. He studies viola with Frank Babbitt and Li Kuo Chang. His violin teachers included Jean Lenert, Shmuel Ashkenasi, and Veda Reynolds. In 2008, Pederzoli cofounded Anaphora Ensemble to explore and present adventurous music in Chicago. Pederzoli was a founding member of the Spektral Quartet in 2010 and played with the ensemble until 2014. His work appears on recordings from Azica, Parlour Tapes+, Cedille, Southport, and Aparte labels. A new string trio recording with Desirée Ruhstrat, violin, and David Cunliffe, cello, of music by Conrad Tao, Jennifer Higdon, David Ludwig, and Marc Mellits, is forthcoming in 2016. Matthew Hagle, piano Pianist Matthew Hagle is a musician of great versatility and depth, whose performances are a rare mixture of musical understanding, imaginative programming, pianistic mastery and beauty of sound. In solo recitals he often explores the boundaries of the piano repertoire, using thoughtful programming and committed performance to integrate newer repertoire and lesser-known older works with the traditional canon. At the moment, he is working on a more conventional project: performing the 32 Beethoven Sonatas in a series of live radio recitals. Mr. Hagle is also highly valued as a collaborator by many other artists. With violinist Rachel Barton Pine, he has released two acclaimed CDs on the Cedille label, and performed many recitals in North and South America. His piano duo performances with Mio Isoda-Hagle are highlights of the annual Chicago Duo Piano Festival. Other chamber music partners have been the Parker Quartet, the Avalon Quartet, Quintet Attacca, and with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.  Matthew Hagle has been heard in concert halls throughout the United States, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., Symphony Space in New York, and in concert at the United States Supreme Court. Outside of the U.S., he has performed at venues in England, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Japan. A resident of the Chicago area, Hagle performs frequently at local spaces including the Ravinia Festival, Symphony Center, and the Chicago Cultural Center. Mr. Hagle can often be heard on radio station WFMT in Chicago, and has also been heard on NPR’s “Performance Today” and Minnesota Public Radio’s “St. Paul Sunday Morning”. Among others, theNew York Times has described him as “a sensitive pianist”, Clavier Magazine praised the “rare clarity and sweetness” of his playing, and the Springfield (MA.) Republican remarked that he “played with unaffected brilliance and profound understanding”. Pianist Michael Kieran Harvey, covering the 2000 Sydney International Piano Competition for Australian national radio, commented favorably on Mr. Hagle’s performance of Elliott Carter’s Piano Sonata. Mr. Hagle is a dedicated teacher of piano, music theory, and composition, whose students have won high honors in local and national competitions and gone on to study music at the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is currently on the faculty of the Music Institute of Chicago, where he is director of the Musicianship program in addition to his teaching duties. Previously, he taught at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, at Elmhurst College, and at the International Institute for Young Musicians at the Universities of Kansas and California at Santa Barbara. His own studies were with Robert Weirich and Donald Currier at the Peabody Conservatory, with Claude Frank at the Yale School of Music (where he received the DMA), and with Maria Curcio Diamand in London as a Fulbright Scholar. A comfortable speaker on diverse musical subjects, Mr. Hagle likes to use this ability to draw connections between very new and older music, or between music and other art forms. In his spare time he likes to read on a variety of subjects, to fail to learn Japanese, and to spend time with his two children.

Aurelien Pederzoli, viola & Matthew Hagle, piano

Join host Peter Whorf for The PianoForte Salon Series at Columbia College Chicago, a series of live performances centering on the piano, featuring today’s top solo pianists and chamber musicians. The PianoForte Salon Series started in February of 2006 and promotes exceptional artists from around the world.

WFMT: PianoForte Salon Series Live

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