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September 25, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

6 Arts Notes

Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival 2021 Debuts in Ebenezer Theater

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Marcy Rosen on cello, Artistic Co-Director of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival

Chesapeake Music announces the 36th annual Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival will be held June 4–12, 20201 at its new permanent home, the Ebenezer Theater, at 17 South Washington Street in Easton, Maryland. The Festival’s exciting two-week program of six concerts featuring 15 artists will be presented live, in full compliance with state and local Covid-19 regulations, as well as streamed on the web. Artistic directors Marcy Rosen and Catherine Cho have created a compelling program of chamber music masterworks by Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Schumann, among others, as well as intimate duo performances of music by Joseph Bologne, William Grant Still, William Bolcom, and Amy Beach.

 

The Festival’s opening extravaganza on June 4 will introduce Chesapeake Music’s new Steinway & Sons concert grand model D piano and feature Mozart’s Piano Trio in G Major and Dvořák’s Piano Quartet in E-flat Major. And on June 11, the new piano will again be in the spotlight with performances of Mozart’s Piano Trio in C Major, Beethoven’s Serenade in D Major, and Schubert’s Fantasia for Piano, Four Hands, in F minor.

 

Catherine Cho on violin, Artistic Co-Director of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival

Performing at this year’s Festival are both distinguished artists well-known to Festival attendees and outstanding new musicians. Among them, Festival favorites, the brother violinists Daniel and Todd Phillips, and violist Steven Tenenbom, are joined by cellist Timothy Eddy and return as the Orion String Quartet, performing Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor with another Festival favorite, acclaimed pianist Robert McDonald, on June 12.

 

Internationally renowned pianists Diane Walsh and Ieva Jokubaviciute also return to join cellist Marcy Rosen, violinist Catherine Cho, and other artists. Walsh and Jokubaviciute are featured together on June 5 playing Schumann’s Six Studies in Canon Form and Bilder aus Osten “Pictures from the East” for piano, four hands. Acclaimed flutist Tara Helen O’Connor is also featured in several performances, and rising star, violist Molly Carr, joins the Festival for the first time.

 

The roster of artists performing at this Festival is J. Lawrie Bloom, clarinet; Molly Carr, viola; Catherine Cho, violin/viola; Timothy Eddy, cello; Ieva Jokubaviciute, piano; Robert McDonald, piano; Tara Helen O’Connor, flute; Peggy Pearson, oboe; Daniel Phillips, violin; Todd Phillips, violin; Marcy Rosen, cello; Francesca dePasquale, violin; Peter Stumpf, cello; Steven Tenenbom, viola; and Diane Walsh, piano.

 

 

 

Orion String Quartet, back row, L-R: Timothy Eddy, cello; Steven Tenenbom, viola; and Daniel Phillips, violin; and in the front row, Todd Phillips, violin.

Sponsors of this year’s Festival include Talbot Arts, the Maryland State Arts Council, and Paul and Joanne Prager. Visit the Chesapeake Music website, www.chesapeakechambermusic.org, where there are complete program listings.  Tickets will go on sale May 1, 2021.

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Chesapeake Music Announces Winners of Virtual 9th Biennial Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition for Young Professionals

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Zelter String Quartet of Los Angeles, California was awarded the Lerman Gold Prize.

Four ensembles, which included the Aya Piano Trio of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dior Quartet of Bloomington, Indiana; Soma Quartet of Bloomington, Indiana; and Zelter String Quartet of Los Angeles, California, competed for the $10,000 Lerman Gold Prize and the $5,000 Silver Prize at the Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition for Young Professionals in Easton, MD on April 10, 2021. The Lerman Gold Prize was awarded to the Zelter String Quartet and the Silver Prize was awarded to the Dior Quartet, which was also awarded the Competition’s Audience Choice Award.

Postponed from April 2020 due to the global pandemic, this year’s event was rescheduled and held online. The ensembles, which included members as young as 21 and no older than 31, represented a wide range of instrumental combinations including winds, strings, and mixed instruments. Chesapeake Music Executive Director, Don Buxton, commented, “During this very challenging year, we have all learned new ways of experiencing inspiring music celebrations. Chesapeake Music finds itself presenting this wonderful day as a virtual experience . . . we have tried to include some of the excitement you would get out of a live competition.”

Dior Quartet of Bloomington, Indiana was awarded the Silver Prize and the Competition’s Audience Choice Award.

This year’s competition judges included J. Lawrie Bloom, Ieva Jokubaviciute, and Michael Kannen. Bloom, founding artistic co-director of Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival and the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, commented, “After waiting an entire year to hear them, these groups did not disappoint. The level of technical facility and musical sophistication was spectacular . . . trying to make a decision with such wealth was a pleasure – not an easy thing to do.”

The Zelter String Quartet, comprised of violinists Kyle Gilner and Gallia Kastner, violist Nao Kubota, and cellist Allan Hon, formed in Los Angeles in 2018. The quartet presented three string quartet works in chronological order.  The Dior Quartet formed their ensemble at Indiana University in 2018, but hail from Israel, Canada, St. Lucia, and the U.S. Members Noa Said, violin; Tobias Sales, violin; Caleb Georges, viola; and Joanne Yesol Choi, cello showcased the evolution of the string quartet and how its repertoire portrays a variety of human stories across centuries.

“We read and hear that the future of classical music is in danger and then you hear groups of this level at this age. I hope that it gives you the same pleasure and hope for the future as I get from it,” Bloom concluded.

The Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition, a program of Chesapeake Music, is underwritten by the Talbot County Arts Council, the Maryland State Arts Council, and private benefactors. For further information about the Competition events or to view this year’s Competition performances, visit ChesapeakeMusic.org or call 410-819-0380.

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Virtual 9th Biennial Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition for Young Professionals

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Aya Piano Trio of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Postponed from April 2020 due to the global pandemic, this year’s rescheduled Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition for Young Professionals will be held on-line on April 10, 2021, due to continued performance restrictions. Four ensembles will compete for the $10,000 Lerman Gold Prize and the $5,000 Silver Prize. The average age of an ensemble must be under 31, and some include members as young as 21.  The ensembles represent a wide range of instrumental combinations including winds, strings, and mixed instruments, including percussion. The Competition finalist ensembles include Aya Piano Trio of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dior Quartet of Bloomington, Indiana; Soma Quartet of Bloomington, Indiana; and Zelter String Quartet of Los Angeles, California.

Based in Philadelphia, the Aya Piano Trio 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 semifinalists in both the M Prize Chamber Arts Competition and the Fischoff Competition. They were also winners of the 2018 Young Chamber Musicians Competition in North Carolina, where they were invited for a residency of recordings and concerts and made their New York City debut in 2019 at the Mannes New School Concert Series.

Dior Quartet of Bloomington, Indiana

Hailing from Israel, Canada, St. Lucia, and the US, the members of Dior Quartet formed their ensemble at Indiana University in 2018 and won the Bronze Medal at the 2019 Fischoff National Chamber Competition (Senior Division). They have also won first prize at the 9th Plowman Chamber Music Competition (Senior Strings), first prize at the 2019 Kuttner Quartet Competition, and runner-up at the Beethoven-Haus Competition at the Jacobs School of Music, as well as held the 2019 Fellowship String Quartet at Wintergreen Summer Music Festival in Virginia. They are currently the new Kuttner Quartet, the student string quartet-in-residence at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

 

 

Soma Quartet of Bloomington, Indiana

Based in Bloomington, Indiana, Soma Quartet 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 First Runner-Up in the 2018 Classic Alive Young Artist Competition; First Prize winners in the 2017 Chicago Woodwind Ensemble Competition; and were also finalists in the 2018 North American Saxophone Alliance Quartet Competition. The ensemble is committed to performing new works to expand quartet repertoire and has collaborated with several composers from Indiana University.

 

 

 

Zelter String Quartet of Los Angeles, California

The Zelter String Quartet, comprised of violinists Kyle Gilner and Gallia Kastner, violist Nao Kubota, and cellist Allan Hon, formed in Los Angeles in 2018. In 2019, they were awarded a full scholarship to participate in the St. Lawrence String Quartet Chamber Music Seminar, culminating in a performance at the Campbell Recital Hall at Stanford University. The quartet has collaborated with the Verona String Quartet, Mixtape Series, tenor Drake Dantzler, and has future collaborations set with pianist Lucinda Carver. In addition, they were recently invited to participate in the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, and in August 2021, the quartet is scheduled to participate in the Rencontres Franco-Américaines de Musique de Chambre, as winners of the USC Ofiesh Chamber Music Competition.

This year’s competition judges include J. Lawrie Bloom, Ieva Jokubaviciute, and Michael Kannen. Bloom, founding artistic co-director of Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival and the Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition, recently retired as a bass clarinetist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO).  Lithuanian pianist Jokubaviciute’s performances have earned her critical acclaim throughout the U.S. and Europe on major stages around the world, such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and London’s Wigmore Hall. Cellist Kannen has appeared at chamber music festivals across the country and with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

The Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition, a program of Chesapeake Music, is underwritten by the Talbot County Arts Council, the Maryland State Arts Council, and private benefactors. For further information about the Competition events, visit ChesapeakeMusic.org or call 410-819-0380. The Competition will be aired free of charge and timing and links to the event are posted on the Chesapeake Music website, www.chesapeakemusic.org.

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Easton High School Musicians Now Benefit from Talbot County Arts Council Artists-in-Residence Program

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Despite the pandemic, music has never been stronger in the secondary public schools in Talbot County. An ambitious Artists-in-Residence Program, which initially began through collaboration between the Talbot County Arts Council, Chesapeake Music, the University of Maryland School (UMD) of Music faculty, and Easton Middle School (EMS), has expanded this year to include band students at Easton High School (EHS) as well.

This year, the Annapolis Woodwind Quintet, as well as UMD Music faculty, have been working virtually with EMS and EHS students. Using a collaborative lesson plan, the Annapolis Woodwind Quintet is working with music students and teachers to listen to music from around the world and talk about the genres and musical styles. Each visit has involved a 40-minute presentation by the quintet, as well as class time to help develop a meaningful relationship between quintet members and the students they mentor. In addition, students receive masterclasses from the visiting artists.

Photo: The Annapolis Woodwind Quintet which has been working virtually this year with Easton Middle School and High School students through the Artists-in-Residence Program to present online virtual concerts, perform solo works for the students, and give private and group lessons.

The University of Maryland and Annapolis Woodwind Quintet portion of the initiative is being managed by Dr. Robert DiLutis, Professor of Clarinet. He states, “So far, the program has been an amazing success, and students and our woodwind quintet have had some incredible concerts and classes. Because we initially were 100 percent online, I decided that we needed to move in a slightly new direction this year using more experienced musicians. I turned to the members of the Annapolis Woodwind Quintet, of which I am a member. The other principal members of the Annapolis Woodwind Quintet are Kim Valerio, flute; Fatma Daglar, oboe; Patty Morgan, bassoon; and Tony Valerio, French horn. Everyone in the group is also a member of the Annapolis Symphony. Having professional musicians at this high of caliber has allowed us to present online virtual concerts, perform solo works for the students, and give private and group lessons.”

EJ Oesterle, Band Director, Easton High School and Director of the Mid-Shore Community Band since 2016, adds, “This has been a great opportunity for high school band students this year to work with professionals from a symphony. It has been a really positive experience for students. Even though these are professional musicians, they are approachable to the students and excellent teachers.”

“The musicians offer specialty clinics where they perform for the students. These include exposing them to different types of music they may not have heard before, breathing techniques, rehearsal strategies, and such practical advice as to how to deal with performance anxiety and how to prepare for college auditions.”

According to Donna Ewing, Band Director at Easton Middle School, the students, who had four group sessions in the fall, will continue with the virtual sessions this spring.  She comments, “Even though this is a virtual experience, the students are still getting quality performers with whom to interact. Students still get a chance in the breakout rooms to improve their skills and still can participate in virtual lessons with these musicians.”

Two members of the Annapolis Quintet are members of military bands and have been able to share their experiences of another type of music career with the students. On a new website, students can find links to classes, lectures, music clinics, recordings of solos they are working on, band music, and other helpful material so they may continue to learn and grow as young musicians during this time of great separation and struggle.

Ewing adds, “I don’t think the students will fully appreciate the magnitude of this experience until later, having a college professor and other professionals offering them these experiences is just extraordinary.”

The Artists-in-Residence Program was initiated in 2017 by members of the board of directors of the Talbot County Arts Council who were dismayed by the near-total absence of young people attending Mid-Shore Area performances of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and Chesapeake Music.  A study group concluded that younger people might begin attending if they could be introduced to classical music in various appealing forms at the secondary school level.

Nancy Larson, Chesapeake Music and Talbot County Arts Council liaison with the Artists in Residence Program in Talbot County, comments, “What has thrilled us is the enthusiasm of Dr. DiLutis and his colleagues. They have developed new ideas and new formats to meet the needs of the students and teachers. Students are living in a virtual world anyway, so this is a way to meet them on their own platforms.”

“This program has opened pathways in how we approach teaching music while offering alternatives to how we communicate musical experiences and get students interested in having music in their lives and carrying that passion into the future.”

Dr. DiLutis adds, “I believed in the beginning and it has proven to be true that having extremely flexible and versatile musicians, when working online, would be imperative to a successful program. Keeping students engaged and excited about music has been our main mission.”

Joan Levy, Executive Director of the Talbot County Arts Council, one of the funders of the program, adds, “We are excited to be supporting the Artists-in-Residence program. Dr. DiLutis and his colleagues with the Annapolis Woodwind Quintet have managed to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and deliver creative programming which has continued to inspire our students at Easton Middle, and now this year, Easton High School as well.”

The program is made possible by a grant from the Artistic Insights Fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation and through funds from an Arts-in-Education grant from the Talbot County Arts Council, using revenues provided by the Maryland State Arts Council.

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Chesapeake Music Presents Rising Classical Music Stars in a Virtual Concert

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Chesapeake Music in Easton, Maryland is pleased to present four exciting, young classical musicians in a free virtual concert on Saturday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m., to be streamed at www.chesapeakemusic.org. The concert will be available online afterward for one week.

Violinist Randall Goosby and pianist Zhu Wang, both in their mid-20s, will perform Brahms’ Sonata No. 3 and works by Florence Price and William Grant Still. Before the concert, violinist Catherine Cho, artistic co-director of the annual Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival and Randall Goosby’s teacher at The Juilliard School, will interview Randall.

Randall Goosby and Zhu Wang

Following the Goosby/Wang concert, violist Molly Carr and pianist Anna Petrova – the Carr-Petrova Duo – will perform an exciting program of works by the “American Visionary” composers Florence Price, George Gershwin, and Amy Beach. The artists will briefly introduce and discuss each selection.

“Viewers of this virtual concert are certain to be treated to a technically flawless, poetically inspired and immensely assured musical evening by these rising star artists. Chesapeake Music anticipates this concert will serve to inaugurate future rising star programs as Chesapeake Music pursues its mission to spread the joy of music throughout the year on the Eastern Shore and beyond,” states Don Buxton, Executive Director of Chesapeake Music.

Molly Carr and Anna Petrova

Randall Goosby, who grew up in Memphis, is the youngest-ever winner, at age thirteen, of the prestigious Sphinx Concerto Competition, the national contest for young Black and Latinx classical musicians.  Among other awards, he was a 1st prize winner at the 2018Young Concert Artists International Auditions.  He earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from The Juilliard School. Currently, he is pursuing an Artist Diploma at Juilliard, where he studies with Itzhak Perlman and Catherine Cho. Zhu Wang was born in Hunan Province, China, and began studying piano at age five. He pursued a baccalaureate degree at The Juilliard School and is continuing his study at the Curtis Institute of Music. Zhu is a 1st prize winner of the 2020 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. The American violist Molly Carr and the Bulgarian pianist Anna Petrova began playing together in 2005 during their years at The Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music.  Since then, the Carr-Petrova Duo has performed in world-renowned venues and music festivals across Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Their debut album “Novel Voices” was released on Melos Records in October 2019 to critical acclaim.

For more information, please see www.chesapeakemusic.org.

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Chesapeake Music Announces Residency at Prager Family Auditorium

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Chesapeake Music is delighted to announce a long-term residency at the Prager Family Auditorium in historic downtown Easton. This agreement guarantees a year-round, state-of-the-art concert facility and administrative offices for Chesapeake Music, enabling the organization to expand its offerings and audience for its internationally acclaimed lineup of artists.

“Having a permanent residence will bring well-deserved recognition to Chesapeake Music,” President Barry Koh said. “We are extremely grateful to Paul and Joanne Prager for making this happen for us.”

The Auditorium has played a role in Chesapeake Music’s history for nearly 35 years, and it is fitting to be the organization’s first physical home. The residency also demonstrates Chesapeake Music’s commitment to Talbot County and historic Easton, an area whose art scene has grown both because of and alongside Chesapeake Music to become one of the premier arts destinations in the Mid-Atlantic.

Settling down at the Prager Family Auditorium has many advantages, one of which is the ability to reach new audiences both inside and outside of the Auditorium’s elegant confines. Chesapeake Music’s acclaimed artists will have access to not only state-of-the-art acoustics and amenities, but will also benefit from a modern videography and streaming setup, infrastructure that was added during the COVID-19 pandemic. This enhanced technology will not only showcase sound the way it was meant to be heard, but will also allow Chesapeake Music to broadcast its concerts to audiences around the globe. This is especially beneficial as Chesapeake Music books more concerts by and for younger generations, introducing them to chamber and jazz musicians at a much larger scale than was possible before.

“Our move to the Prager Family Auditorium is like going back to our roots,” Chesapeake Music Executive Director Don Buxton said. “Our earliest concerts were performed at the facility and after so many years of being a nomadic organization, it will be nice to settle into a place we can call home.”

The residency also brings with it an addition to the Chesapeake Music family: a 9-foot Steinway & Sons concert grand piano. Considered the pinnacle of concert grands, the Steinway was made possible by a generous group of donors. A welcome inclusion to the Prager stage, the Steinway will forever enhance the quality of concerts in which it is played.

Chesapeake Music is scheduled to move its offices into the Prager Family Auditorium in early 2021, with concerts beginning as early as June.

Chesapeake Music brings renowned musicians to delight, engage and surprise today’s audiences, and educate, inspire and develop tomorrow’s. For more information about this new residency, please visit chesapeakemusic.org.

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Jazz is Alive with Bria Skonberg

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Trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg is a remarkable force in the jazz scene—notorious for her “tradfusion” sound and steadily earning the reputation as Louis Armstrong’s modern-day counterpart.

And, thanks to the Easton-based non-profit Chesapeake Music, you can catch her in action, virtually, as part of their continuing series, “Jazz Is Alive.”

The free performance is available via Chesapeakemusic.org.

“We’re so delighted to have Bria join us on our virtual stage,” says Joe Fischer, Chairman of the Jazz Committee Chesapeake Music. “She’s got such an engaging personality and the musical talent to match!”

Skonberg’s specialty is old jazz—proven by her solid repertoire of 1900s to 1940s tunes—but her songs draw influence from a variety of genres, from blues to Dixieland to pop.

“I like to be influenced by what’s around me,” she said in a 2017 interview with Chesapeake Music. “That’s jazz. You listen and react.”

Described by Vanity Fair as “a millennial shaking up the jazz world,” Skonberg’s rising-star status was confirmed when she won the 2017 Juno Award for Jazz Vocal Album of the Year for her 2016 crowd-funded album, Bria.

“Basically, it’s a Canadian Grammy,” she explained. “It’s been a wild ride.”

Bria Skonberg

The trailblazing trumpeter has performed at more than a hundred festivals around the world, including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, and Montreal Jazz Festival—to name a few!

She graced the Avalon Theatre stage a few years ago, when she kicked off the 2017 Monty Alexander Jazz Festival with an expressive and lively performance. She fondly recalls her experience during her introduction to her virtual show.

“Driving into such a cute little city and having probably the best crab cakes I’ve ever had in my life,” she says, with a laugh. “And then taking that energy to the stage and meeting your fantastic, wonderful audience.”

Skonberg was slated to headline this year’s Monty Alexander Jazz Festival. Held annually over Labor Day weekend, the 2020 festival has been canceled. Still, she looks forward to her inevitable return—not only to meet with musicians and attendees alike, but, admittedly, for the crab cakes, too!

“We will undoubtedly be bringing Bria back to Easton for a live performance as soon as possible, but for now, let’s enjoy her wonderful music as best, and as safely, as we can,” Fischer says.

Skonberg takes the virtual stage with an introduction and engaging selection of songs that includes her newest music video “So Is The Day.“

To start listening, visit Chesapeakemusic.org.

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Jazz is Alive!

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Jazz on the Chesapeake is bringing the sweet sounds of music to your home with its virtual stage at Chesapeakemusic.org.

First up, it’s the amazing Monty Alexander. Considered one of the top five jazz pianists ever, Alexander’s musical expression combines elements of the blues, gospel, calypso, and reggae.

Monty Alexander. Photo credit: Joe Martinez

In a week or so, trumpeter/vocalist Bria Skonberg will grace the virtual stage. The Canadian-songwriter is steadily earning the reputation as Louis Armstrong’s modern-day counterpart.

Skonberg was slated to join Alexander as a headliner at this year’s Monty Alexander Jazz Festival. Held annually over Labor Day weekend, the 2020 festival has been canceled.

“Though we may not be together physically, we can still enjoy the music together,” says Joe Fischer, Chairman of the Jazz Committee Chesapeake Music.

Through August and beyond,enjoy a curated selection of past festival favorites, including Dominick Farinacci, the Anderson Twins (Will and Peter), Chuck Redd, and many more. Patrons can sign up via Chesapeake Music to receive email notifications whenever a new artist performance is available to watch.

Bria Skonberg. Photo by Christine Vaindirlis

So, settle in on the couch and tune in today to Alexander’s lively show in Beloise, Switzerland.

“Believe me, you will be impressed with this 59-minute production,” Fischer says, referring to the musician’s performance. “We’re thankful for your patience and support during this challenging time for the performing arts.”

To start listening, visit Chesapeakemusic.org.

Jazz on the Chesapeake is a program of Chesapeake Music.

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Chesapeake Music Steps Out of its Comfort Zone with Virtual Concerts

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By mid-April, it was clear that the June in-person Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival would not celebrate its 35th Anniversary.  The Coronavirus had put a hold on all community gatherings.  Knowing how much the audience looks forward to the Festival, Artistic Directors Marcy Rosen and Catherine Cho proposed a virtual festival, an undertaking that was new to them and to Chesapeake Music.

The Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival Committee, which had just completed all arrangements for the planned June Festival, shifted gears, joined with the artistic directors, and jumped into unknown territory to support plans for our first virtual productions.  Much to the delight of Chesapeake Music, Virtual Virtuosi! exceeded our expectations.  The five concerts were viewed on our web site and Facebook page by more than 5,000 households.

Working with the Violin Channel, the world’s leading classical music news source who advertised and live-streamed the five programs, the results are that over 120,000 viewed the Festival on the Violin Channel’s Facebook and Instagram sites.

Pictured are renowned violinist Daniel Phillips and his wife Tara Helen O’Connor, an internationally-known flutist, performing from their New York City living room.

The Festival Committee has received very positive comments from local viewers, from viewers in nearby states, from across the country, and from places as far away as Karachi, Pakistan.  An additional benefit of our virtual festival is that our audience could watch the programs with family and friends across the country.

The artistic directors and musicians worked creatively with Skillman Music, a boutique New York City recording studio, to produce five programs.  Virtual Virtuosi! more than lived up to its name.  Two concerts filmed and recorded at Queens College just before New York City shut down due to the pandemic book-ended the Festival.  Two other concerts from the homes of the Festival Artists with varied selections were well-received by the viewers.  A Young People’s Concert featuring four musicians from Carnegie Hall’s postgraduate program, Ensemble Connect, reached out to families with children ages six to twelve with a live and interactive program that was a big success.

We hope to be back with our usual face to face live concerts next June, but if that turns out to be still a problem we feel that this year’s success leaves us well equipped to go virtual again. For further information and to view Festival concerts, visit chesapeakemusic.org.

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Chesapeake Music Presents Virtual Virtuosi!

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Chesapeake Music celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival this June with an exciting, virtual festival. Internationally-known Artistic Directors, Marcy Rosen and Catherine Cho have put together a wonderful series of concerts to bring extraordinary music to our audience, given stay-at-home restrictions caused by COVID-19.  It is a pleasure to welcome back the distinguished artists who have performed at the festival for years and to greet the outstanding new musicians participating in this year’s festival.

This year’s festival will be presented as five online concerts made available through the Chesapeake Music website, www.chesapeakemusic.org.  Concerts are free and will be available online for a 24-hour period, with 48 hours between concerts. All concerts will be posted at 5:30 p.m.

Two concerts, professionally filmed and recorded at Queens College, LeFrak Concert Hall, will bookend the festival.  The opening concert, scheduled for Thursday, June 4, features award-winning Steinway pianist Diane Walsh and cellist Marcy Rosen playing Sonatas by Beethoven and Chopin.  The closing concert on Tuesday, June 16 is a program of Haydn, Debussy and Dvořák  performed by violinist Catherine Cho, cellist Marcy Rosen, and acclaimed pianist Robert McDonald.

The second concert will highlight several of festival artists playing works recorded at home.  Ieva Jokubaviciute, much sought-after chamber musician, will perform solo piano works of Bach/Busoni and Schumann; pianist Diane Walsh will play the 4 Chopin Impromptus; outstanding violinist Todd Phillips will be joined by pianist Rachel Yunkyung Choo performing the Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor, and violinist Francesca de Pasquale and the wonderful pianist Adam Golka will share the Dvořák Romance in F minor.

In addition, there will be an evening with the fabulous flutist Tara Helen O’Connor and her equally fantastic husband violinist Daniel Phillips, performing from their New York City living room.

This year Chesapeake Music planned to inaugurate a Young People’s Concert Project as part of the Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival’s 35th year.  The mission was intended to engage students of all ages and families in a musical experience that would nurture a love of music and concert-going.  Catherine Cho’s vision was to “ignite the curiosity of children through a program engaging their senses and inspiring their interest and need for expression through musical experiences.”  This Young People’s Concert, designed specifically for young people but open to all, will be presented on Wednesday, June 10. The concert will feature four members of the Juilliard/Carnegie Hall sponsored Ensemble Connect, a two-year fellowship program that prepares extraordinary young professional classical musicians for careers that combine musical excellence with teaching, community engagement, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership.  The young musicians offering this concert are violinist Jennifer Liu, Violinist Gergana Haralampievam, Violist Caeli Smith, and Cellist, Ari Evans.

Please visit the Chesapeake Music website for more information and be sure to tune in for Virtual Virtuosi, a Chesapeake Chamber Music Virtual Concert Series beginning Thursday, June 4, 2020.

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