Guest Artists
Recent guest artists to VCU have included violinist Rachel Barton Pine, cellist and Julliard School instructor Bonnie Hampton, and the award winning Kallichstein-Laredo Trio.
Some of o ur Guest Artists for 2009-10 take part in a new series at VCU called Up Close and Musical, an insider's glimpse at the musical process. For more strings guest artists, check out the Mary Ann Rennolds Chamber Music Series page, and see our complete series of concerts featuring strings at the VCU String Events page.
Maia String Quartet
In Concert
October 10 at 3 pm
Since its formation in 1990, the Maia Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence at The University of Iowa, has established itself nationally as an ensemble of innovation and versatility. Praised by critics for its "sparkling musical intelligence," the quartet has appeared in major concert halls throughout the U.S. and abroad, including New York's Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall and the 92nd Street Y, Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall and the Aspen Music Festival's Harris Hall. Collaborations with leading chamber musicians have included performances with Joel Krosnick, Andre-Michel Schub, and Cynthia Phelps. The Maia Quartet's commitment to the work of living composers has led to premieres of compositions by Pierre Jalbert, Dan Coleman, Vivian Fung and Ronn Yedidia.
The c oncert takes place in Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall at the Singleton Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are $10 general admission; free for VCU students with ID. Contact the VCU Music Box Office at 804.828.6776.
Up Close and Musical:
String Quartet Workshop
October 10 and 11
VCU Music is auditioning for 2 student quartets to join the Maia Quartet Workshop. Workshop includes: rehearsals, a coaching with the Maia Quartet, a rehearsal technique session, a panel discussion on careers in music, final concert of participants and Maia Quartet Concert. Workshop schedule: Saturday 10/10, 9AM-6PM and Sunday 10/11, 10AM-4PM. Groups are chosen through competitive audition by CD or DVD. Interested groups should submit an application and a recording of one movement of a string quartet in any style (minimum length 4 minutes). Application deadline: Postmarked September 1, 2009 Application fee: $25 per Quartet Workshop fee (if accepted): $100 per quartet member ($400/group). Click here to download application. Contact Susanna Klein, String Area Coordinator, for more information.
National Symphony Bassist Ira Gold
January 31, 2010
Up Close and Musical:
Masterclass - 11 am
Ira Gold coaches specially selected VCU students. Observers are welcome. General admission is $5; free for VCU students. Singleton Performing Arts Center, rm B15.
Up Close and Musical:
Bass Workshop - 2:30 pm registration
This workshop is open to all high school and college bass students. The registration fee for the workshop includes the 3 pm concert at no additional charge. The actual workshop will follow the concert. More information and an application form to come.
Ira Gold in Concert - 3 pm
The concert takes place in Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall at the Singleton Center for Performing Arts. Tickets are $10 general admission; free for VCU students with ID and for participants in the Bass Workshop. Contact the VCU Music Box Office at 804.828.6776 for information.
Ira Gold joined the National Symphony in 2005. He has performed with several American orchestras, as section bass with the Minnesota Orchestra and as guest principal bassist with the San Francisco Symphony and Detroit Symphony. He has attended the Domaine Forget Music Academy, Bach Festival Leipzig, Aspen Music Festival, and Tanglewood Music Center, where he was a recipient of the Maurice Schwartz Prize. Mr. Gold spent several summers at the International Festival Institute at Round Top both as a student, and, during the summer of 2004, as a member of the bass faculty. He has given master classes and recitals at the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University, James Madison University, The Chautauqua Music Festival, and the University of Maryland School of Music.
In addition to his position with the NSO, Mr. Gold is a member of the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, and has performed with the Fessenden Ensemble, National Gallery of Art Orchestra, and the 21st Century Consort.
Karen Johnson, violin and
Joanne Kong, piano
March 26, 2010
Up Close and Musical:
Masterclass - 4 pm
Karen Johnson leads VCU students in a master class. Observers are welcome. General admission is $5; free for VCU students. Location: Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in Singleton Performing Arts Center.
March 28, 2010
Concert - 4 pm
A recital of works by, and inspired by, Robert Schumann. The concert takes place in Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the Singleton Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 general admission; free for VCU students with ID. Contact the VCU Music Box Office at 804.828.6776.
Karen Johnson is Concertmaster of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Johnson’s playing has been applauded for its "intimacy and warmth of tone" (Santa Barbara Independent) and her performances hailed as "virtuosically energized and broadly lyrical" (Richmond Times-Dispatch) as well as "sparkling and courageous" (Mesa Tribune). As a recent guest concertmaster with the Seattle Symphony, her leadership and “impeccable solo work” (Seattle Times) were praised. "A superior musician who also conveys charm and approachability..."(Richmond Style Weekly), Ms. Johnson has performed in concerts throughout the United States and Europe and has worked with a variety of renowned conductors and musicians, such as James DePriest, Sergiu Commissiona, Keith Lockhart, Yuri Temerkanov, Jamie Laredo, and Joseph Silverstein.
Keyboardist Joanne Kong captures the attention of audiences in compelling performances that celebrate the vibrancy and eloquence of musical expression. Embracing a broad range of repertoire from Baroque to contemporary music, her performances have been praised for “great finesse and flexibility” (The Washington Post), “utmost keyboard sensitivity and variety of tone” (Richmond Times-Dispatch), “remarkable technical ability” (The Oregonian), and “superb artistry” (San Antonio Express-News). Her versatility includes the distinction of being the first artist to release a harpsichord-piano recording of the Goldberg and Diabelli Variations, on the BRIOSO label. Other recordings on the same label include English music with Richmond Symphony concertmaster Karen Johnson, and a recording of German and Russian songs with baritone Zheng Zhou.
Up Close and Musical:
Cellopaloosa II
featuring Masterclass with
Pieter Wispelwey
April 17, 2010
If you are a celllist, you won't want to miss this. Register for cello choir, sectionals, a masterclass with world renowned cellist Pieter Wispelwey. Last year we had 80 participancts. Faculty include Dana McComb, Jason McComb, and Alyssa Moquin. More information and application form to come. Also see the Rennolds Chamber Series page for information on Pieter Wispelwey's April 17th concert at VCU.
