ud Interlu e March 2020 A competition like no other... Trio St. Bernard Co-winners of the Lerman Gold Prize 2018 Competition 9th International Chamber Music Competition April 4, 2020 An International Competition for Young Professional Musicians
Competition J chesapeake music Chesapeake Music’s 9th More than two decades ago, a small group of music lovers devoted to developing young talent gathered in Easton. They began to imagine a competition that would engage young chamber music ensembles with the world-class musicians who participated in the annual Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival. Several years of research and planning led to the launch of the biennial Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition. And, here we are… celebrating our ninth gathering with fi ve outstanding young ensembles! The path to Easton is a rigorous one. Ensembles from around the world submit audition recordings for review by a distinguished panel of preliminary judges, led this year by Chesapeake Music’s founding artistic director, cellist Marcy Rosen. The young musicians often recognize one or more of these renowned professionals and hope to impress them. In an anonymous review, the judges rate each entry and select the very best to be awarded one of the fi nalist spots. And then it is the Eastern Shore’s time to share this musical extravaganza! During the weekend of April 4-5, the sounds of these young rising stars ring out throughout the region. First there is the Competition International Chamber Music Competition for Young Professionals By Anne Moran itself, an all-day affair beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre. Concerts by the ensembles in venues throughout the region follow on Sunday. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy. At the Competition itself, each ensemble will present a full concert-length performance and benefi t from comments from the panel of three Finalist Judges. This year’s judges include Head Judge J. Lawrie Bloom, Chesapeake Music's other founding artistic director. He is joined by cellist Michael Kannen and pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute. At the conclusion of the fi ve performances, the judges will award three prizes: the Lerman Gold Prize ($10,000), the Silver Prize ($5,000), and the Audience Choice Award ($500), voted on by all those who attend the performances. Artists and audience alike share the joy and excitement of the evening's conclusion. It carries forward to the next day as the ensembles again perform beautiful music, this time in a more relaxed environment. If you have attended one of our earlier Competitions, you'll want to be there. If you haven’t been before, don’t miss the chance to enjoy this one. It promises, as past Competitions have, to bring joy to every one of us. This issue of Interlude is devoted to details of the upcoming Competition, including profi les of the fi nalists and judges and a schedule of the weekend's events.Have a look at what we plan, and join us on April 4 and 5. PRELIMINARY JUDGES Catherine Cho, Violin Adrian Morejon, Bassoon Tara Helen O’Connor, Flute Todd Phillips, Violin Marcy Rosen, Cello Diane Walsh, Piano Merz Trio, Co-winners of the Lerman Gold Prize 2018 Competition 2 Block4, 2016 Competition Winners ChesapeakeMusic.org
Judges Judge: J. Lawrie Bloom Noted for his incredible fl exibility, J. LAWRIE BLOOM has been heard in recital, concerto, chamber, and orchestral settings performing on the clarinet, bass clarinet, basset clarinet, basset horn, Eb clarinet, and contra bass clarinet. Called a “super soloist... crisp, intense indeed” by the Chicago Tribune, he has been with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1980, when Sir George Solti offered him the position of clarinet and solo bass clarinet. In honor of his 40th season with the CSO, Maestro Riccardo Muti commissioned Nicolas Bacri to create a bass clarinet concerto for Lawrie. Mr. Bloom is a senior lecturer in clarinet at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. He has performed at Ambler, Grand Teton, Ravinia, Skaneateles, Spoleto, and New York’s Mostly Mozart festivals and has toured with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. The Civitas Ensemble, of which Mr. Bloom is a founder and artistic director, performed in Prague in 2016 in a collaboration with the Gipsy Way Ensemble. This collaboration, supported by a MacArthur Foundation International Connections Fund grant, included an exchange of concerts and presentations in Prague and Chicago. Alla Zingarese, the debut CD of this collaboration, was released in 2018 by Cedille Records. interlude Judge: Ieva Jokubaviciute Judge: Michael Kannen Lithuanian pianist IEVA JOKUBAVICIUTE's performances have earned her critical acclaim throughout the U.S. and Europe. Her ability to communicate the essential substance of a work has led critics to describe her as possessing “razor-sharp intelligence and wit” (The Washington Post) and as “an artist of commanding technique, refi ned temperament and persuasive insight” (The New York Times). In 2006, she was honored as a recipient of a BorlettiBuitoni Trust Fellowship. Ieva’s Alban Berg Tribute CD was released to critical acclaim in 2010. The New York Times described her as “an authoritative and compelling guide throughout this fascinating disc." Her piano trio, Trio Cavatina, won the 2009 Naumburg International Chamber Music Competition and made its Carnegie Hall debut in 2010. A much sought-after chamber musician and collaborator, notably with violinist Midori, Ieva has appeared on major stages, such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and London’s Wigmore Hall. She regularly appears at music festivals, including Marlboro, Ravinia, Bard, Caramoor, Chesapeake Music, and Prussia Cove (England). A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Mannes College of Music, she is currently Assistant Professor, Piano at the Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. 410-819-0380 Cellist MICHAEL KANNEN has distinguished himself as a musician and educator of uncommon accomplishment who is comfortable in widely diverse musical situations and venues. He was a founding member of the Brentano String Quartet and for seven years performed with that group on concert stages around the world, on radio and television, and on recordings. During those years, the Brentano Quartet was awarded the fi rst Cleveland Quartet Award, the Naumburg Chamber Music Award, a Royal Philharmonic Award and was the fi rst participant in the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center II program. Mr. Kannen continues to perform chamber music around the country as a member of the Apollo Trio, on period instruments with the Houston-based group Context, and at major music festivals such as Yellow Barn, Chamber Music Northwest, Portland Chamber Music Festival and the International Musicians Seminar in Prussia Cove, England. Mr. Kannen has served on the faculties of Dartmouth College and the Purchase College Conservatory and he is currently the Director of Chamber Music at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he holds the Sidney Friedberg Chair in Chamber Music. 3
chesapeake music AYA PIANO TRIO BOARD OF DIRECTORS Barry Koh, President Mariana Lesher, Treasurer Elizabeth Koprowski, Secretary Anne Moran, Member-at-Large Robert Amdur Ross Benincasa Joseph Fischer Courtney Kane Susan Koh Trish Malin Marty Sikes Anna Snow John Waterston Directors Emeriti Michael Bracy Anna Larkin Arnold Lerman Chloe Pitard ARTISTIC DIRECTORS Catherine Cho Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival Marcy Rosen Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival Monty Alexander Monty Alexander Jazz Festival Donald Buxton Executive Director Lois Campbell Assistant to the Executive Director Based in Philadelphia, AYA was formed in 2013 by three students at the Curtis Institute of Music. The trio has performed extensively across the United States, and in 2018 they were semifi nalists in both the M Prize Chamber Arts Competition and the Fischoff Competition. They were winners of the 2018 Young Chamber Musicians Competition in North Carolina, where they were invited for a residency of recordings and concerts. They have performed at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, and they made their New York City debut in 2019 at the Mannes New School Concert Series. Performances in 2020 include a Concerts International Series appearance in Memphis and a Beethoven Triple concerto with the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra in Connecticut. AYA Piano Trio is represented by Jean Schreiber Management. Finalist 4 ChesapeakeMusic.org
interlude SOMA QUARTET Every other year for the past eighteen years, residents of the Eastern Shore have participated in the International Chamber Music Competition and will have the chance to do it again the weekend of April 4 and 5. No, we don’t play musical instruments for 45 minutes before a panel of judges in hopes of winning one of the prizes. Instead, we make up an enthusiastic audience, letting the young musicians know that we support their efforts to launch musical careers that will enrich their lives and those of so many others. st s Based in Bloomington, Soma was formed at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the guidance of Otis Murphy. In addition to being the grand prize winners at the 2019 Plowman Chamber Music Competition, they were fi rst runner-up in the 2018 Classic Alive Young Artist Competition, fi rst prize winners in the 2017 Chicago Woodwind Ensemble Competition, and fi nalists in the 2018 North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition. Since their formation in 2016, they have performed at a wide variety of venues, including the International Navy Band Symposium, the inaugural American Single Reed Summit, and the North American Saxophone Alliance region fi ve conference. The ensemble is committed to performing new works to expand quartet repertoire and has collaborated with several composers from Indiana University. Soma also has a passion for traditional repertoire and transcriptions and has performed numerous outreach concerts in venues ranging from retirement centers to coffee shops to the Bloomington Transit Center, all in hopes of bringing saxophone to a wider audience. In 2020, they will perform a Mendelssohn Quartet transcription at the Odyssey Chamber Music Series in Missouri. 410-819-0380 Attending the concerts throughout the day, fi lling out the audience survey cards, and waiting anxiously for the winners to be announced are the ways we affi rm how important these performers are to the future of serious music. The next day, after the drama of the competition, the musicians honor us with encore performances throughout the community. In some ways, I fi nd this to be the best part of the weekend as these young players, now relaxed, share their joy for their music, their instruments, and each other. Susan and I will be at the Avalon all day Saturday and at one of the Sunday performances as well. Join us in support of young musicians. Barry Koh President, Chesapeake Music 5
chesapeake music IN MEMORIAM ICEBERG STRING QUARTET We are saddened by the passing of our friend and patron, Robert “Bob” Welte. Bob was a generous and loving person who enjoyed the arts and was an avid supporter of Chesapeake Music. His longtime association with Marcy Rosen goes back many years and is so well stated by Marcy: “I lived with the Weltes for many years when they relocated to Easton and Ratcliffe Manor. I had met them when they presented a concert in their home in Greenwich, CT, in which I performed. Dyanne and Bob were very generous and loving people. Dyanne always went all out in taking care of our artists—not just the gift bags she created and stuffed, but they opened their home not only to me but to Diane Walsh (coincidentally, Dyanne Welte’s maiden name) and a number of our artists over the years. We had free use of their beautiful pool, kitchen, pantry, and bar. Basically, they just embraced us all as family and let us have the run of their stunning home. We benefi ted from their love and attention and that of their wonderful golden retrievers, Peaches and Remy. When they moved to Cooke's Hope, they put in a pool and hot tub, really just for our benefi t! I loved them both and have never stopped missing Dyanne. Now, I am very saddened by the news of Bob’s passing.” The passing of an era. Thank you, Bob Welte. You will be missed. The Iceberg String Quartet was formed in September 2017 at the McGill University Schulich School of Music in Montreal, Quebec. Within three months, the quartet won the grand prize at the McGill University Chamber Music Competition. They were invited to study and perform at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Netherlands in April 2018, where they worked closely with Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir of the Miami String Quartet. In July 2018, they were chosen for the “Evolution of the String Quartet” study and performance program at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity in Alberta, Canada. In the words of Russell Iceberg, “Performing is a chance to explore what it means to be human.” The ensemble has performed in Vermont, New York, and Delaware, in addition to their hometown of Montreal. Finalist 6 ChesapeakeMusic.org
interlude Photo by Akvilė Šileikaitė COLORES TRIO Jazz After meeting at Zurich University of the Arts, the Colores Trio formed in 2017 to explore a rich and varied repertoire of both contemporary compositions and new arrangements of classical works, played with enthusiasm and joy. st s The musicians, who are from Switzerland and Austria, study under Klaus Schwaerzler (solo percussionist of the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich), Benjamin Forster (solo timpanist of the Berlin Philharmonic) and Raphael Christen (Yamaha marimba artist and soloist). They won the Jury and Audience Award at the 2019 Chamber Music Competition of the Migros-Kulturprozent in Zurich, received a special prize at the 2019 International Anton Rubinstein Competition in Dusseldorf, and were silver medal winners at the 3rd Berliner Competition in Berlin. Chesapeake Jazz is looking forward to a very exciting year. A concert with the Andersen Twins on February 15 was very successful, with a sell-out crowd of 180 in attendance and the support of 30 sponsors. Most importantly, the concert was enjoyed by all. Next on the schedule is our fundraiser on April 25 at the Talbot Country Club. This event is a great opportunity to enjoy a fantastic concert by the Sharel Cassity Quartet and to pre-purchase tickets for the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival held over Labor Day weekend. Sharel Cassity is a saxophonist, composer, and educator who headlined the Festival in 2013. Sharel graduated from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City and has shared the stage with musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Natalie Cole, and other jazz greats. Monty Alexander refers to her as "a musician's musician." We are now in the planning stages of the Monty Alexander Jazz Festival. We're sure you will be surprised by some of the talent we are considering! As always, thanks for your support. Regards, Joe Fischer 410-819-0380 7
chesapeake music UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL 2020 4 Competition 5 Competition community concerts 25 Jazz fundraiser MAY 2020 9 Jazz evening concert 31 Chamber Music Festival 35th Anniversary JUNE 2020 3 DIOR QUARTET Chamber Music Festival begins with free open rehearsal at Academy Art Museum 4 Christ Church, Easton 5 Trinity Cathedral 6 Prager Family Auditorium 7 Temple B'nai Israel 10 Free open rehearsal Academy Art Museum 11 Christ Church, Cambridge 12 Oxford Community Center 13 Oxford Community Center SEPTEMBER 2020 4 5 6 Hailing from Israel, Canada, Brazil, and the U.S., the members of Dior formed their ensemble at Indiana University in fall 2018. Within eight months of their formation, they won the Bronze Medal at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Competition (Senior Division). They have also won fi rst prize at the 9th Plowman Chamber Music Monty Alexander Jazz Festival begins Monty Alexander Jazz Festival Monty Alexander Jazz Festival Competition (Senior Strings), fi rst prize at the 2019 Kuttner Quartet Competition, and runner-up at the Beethoven-Haus Competition at the Jacobs School of Music. Last summer, they attended at the St. Lawrence String Quartet Seminar at Stanford University and were selected to perform in the International Showcase at Stanford’s Bing Concert Hall. They held the 2019 Fellowship String Quartet at Wintergreen Summer Music Festival in Virginia and participated in the McGill International String Quartet Academy. They are currently the new Kuttner Quartet, the student string quartet-in-residence at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Finalist s 8 ChesapeakeMusic.org
interlude Chamber Music Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival Celebrates 35 Years of Extraordinary Music The Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival has much to celebrate in June 2020! This is our 35th anniversary, and the fi rst year Catherine Cho joins Marcy Rosen as Co-Artistic Director. Marcy and Cathy have an extraordinary program planned to commemorate Beethoven’s 250th birthday. Each of the seven concerts, performed by the internationally recognized artists we welcome to the Festival each year, includes a Beethoven work. One of the concerts will showcase the winners of this year’s 9th International Chamber Music Competition. LET’S TALK! Music to Hear and Feel FUN FOR KIDS AND PARENTS! We are excited to inaugurate our YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT PROJECT as part of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival’s 35th year this June. Our vision is to connect with the local community and to build meaningful relationships through music and interactive performances of the highest quality. We will offer an opportunity for families with children, of all ages and backgrounds, to engage with and experience music as a spark and outlet for their imaginations and to explore music as a natural form of expression and communication. We welcome musicians Jennifer Liu, Gergana Haralampieva, Caeli Smith, and Ari Evan from Carnegie Hall's Ensemble Connect on June 9, 2020. These young musicians' interactions with the audience will excite the children and parents about the world of chamber music. Catherine Cho Co-Artistic Director of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival In addition, we are thrilled to announce a Young People’s Concert, designed to engage children and families with talented young musicians from Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect. More fi rsts to be celebrated at this year's Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival will be announced in the days to come. Keep watching for updated publicity, and mark your calendars for a memorable Festival the fi rst two weeks in June! Susan Koh 410-819-0380 9
Welcome Chesapeake Music is delighted to welcome three new board members: Ross Benincasa, Anna Snow, and Joe Fischer. Each of these individuals brings a wealth of knowledge to help Chesapeake Music grow strategically and continue our mission as one of the leading cultural institutions in Easton and on the greater Eastern Shore of Maryland. ROSS BENINCASA is the executive director of Discover Easton. He has assumed the role of redefi ning the organization around community development and visitor outreach and is recognized for earning Main Street America accreditation for Easton's historic commercial district and creating Talbot County's fi rst Arts & Entertainment District. Outside of his duties at Discover Easton, Ross serves on the board of directors for the Talbot Interfaith Shelter and as president of the commission of the Town of Hillsboro, where he and his wife, Chelsea, have lived since 2016. chesapeake music New Board members elected to the Chesapeake Music Board ANNA SNOW, originally from Paris, settled in Oxford after 40 years with the European Union embassy in Washington, DC, in the fi eld of trade policy. In her younger years, she enjoyed sailing and racing with her husband on the Bay, as well as hiking in the Rockies, Switzerland, Italy, France, Scotland, and Norway. She is an avid reader and delights in sharing her interest in French literature and fi lms with friends. She also enjoys European history and hopes to visit every EU country, but Paris and Venice during the Art Biennale have a hold on her heart! She retired to Oxford knowing that Chesapeake Music would enrich her life by bringing renowned musicians and rising talents who delight and engage with their audiences. By joining the board of Chesapeake Music, she hopes to spread the word! JOE FISCHER is a retired healthcare executive with more than 40 years' experience both domestic and international. Most of his career was spent with Johnson & Johnson as a senior executive in Europe, Canada, and the United States. Most recently he was a chief executive offi cer of a biotech company in New York City. Joe moved to the Eastern shore with his wife, Suzanne, who has a private practice in psychology. He served as president of the Oxford Community Center, where he was instrumental in developing programs, especially those that brought in musical talent. Before joining the Chesapeake Music board, he partnered with Chesapeake Music’s Jazz on the Chesapeake to produce two very successful events. 10 ChesapeakeMusic.org
interlude 9th INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC competition for Young Professionals AVALON THEATRE | APRIL 4 1:00 pm 1:15 pm Introduction AYA Piano Trio 2:30 pm Soma Quartet 3:45 pm Iceberg String Quartet 4:45–6:45 pm Intermission 6:45 pm Colores Trio 8:00 pm Dior Quartet 9:00–10:00 pm Reception and Announcement of Winners PUBLIC CONCERTS | SUNDAY | APRIL 5 1:00 pm | AYA Piano Trio Admission free Temple B’nai Israel, 7199 Tristan Drive, Easton 2:00 pm | Iceberg String Quartet Admission free Church of the Holy Trinity, 502 S. Morris Street, Oxford 3:00 pm | Colores Trio Admission free St. Mark's UMC, 100 Peachblossom Rd, Easton 4:00 pm | Soma Quartet Admission $10, Students free Christ Church, 601 Church Street, Cambridge 4:00 pm | Dior Quartet Admission free Trinity Cathedral, 315 Goldsborough Street, Easton Tickets $20 Students free Purchase now! Click here. > Sorry, I can't be there but would like to support this fi ne event. Click here. > 410-819-0380 11
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