chamber music - WKTV Journal

By WKTV Staff

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is proud to present Sunday Strings, a series of live classical chamber music concerts featuring renowned musicians from West Michigan.

Sunday Strings concerts are free for members and included in general admission for other guests. This series takes place from 2–3 p.m. in the Huizenga Grand Room, unless otherwise noted, on select Sundays in July and August.

This summer, Sunday Strings will celebrate its fifth anniversary season, including the “Surprise!” final concert on August 11—with a special program followed by a reception.

Filling an off-season gap

Sunday Strings was conceived and created in 2020 by Haijin Choi, Grand Rapids Symphony section violinist, to provide an opportunity in summer months for chamber music fans to experience unique and compelling musical selections—from classical to contemporary—performed by musicians from around West Michigan.

Each concert features a different group of musicians performing a variety of classical repertoire, from the Baroque era to contemporary compositions.

This performance series was specifically designed to fill the summer gap and work with an already established fanbase. The attendance and enthusiasm from the audience—even for the initial outdoor small performances during the pandemic—proved there was a desire for chamber music during the typical off-season.

2024 Sunday Strings Lineup

July 7: String Quartet
Pushing and Pulling
Exploring the ingenious manner in which musical elements are deconstructed through compositions by Dennehy, Beethoven and Debussy.
Performers: Haijin Choi (violin), Clara Schubilske (violin), Arturo Ziraldo (viola), Jinn Shin (cello).

July 14: Clarinet Quintet
Duality of Life and Music
Examining the dual nature of life and music from the perspectives of two composers—Golijov and Brahms—featuring clarinetist Georgiy Borisov.
Performers: Georgiy Borisov (clarinet), Adam Liebert (violin), Haijin Choi (violin), Paul Swantek (viola), Igor Cetkovic (cello).

July 21: Piano Trio
In Memory of Great Friendship
Reflecting on the bonds of friendship through piano trio compositions by Suk and Arensky.
Performers: Andrew Lenhart (piano), Andrew Plaisier (cello), Haijin Choi (violin).

July 28: Horn Trio
Is It Really ‘French?’
A concert providing a captivating exploration of the horn’s musical journey through Classical (Mozart), Romantic (Brahms) and Contemporary (Wilhelm Hans) repertoire.
Performers: Colin Bianchi (horn), Andrew Lenhart (piano), Haijin Choi (violin).

August 4: Bach Solo
This Is What Bach Means To Me
Four different stories told by four string players—an afternoon with Bach.
Performers: Haijin Choi (violin), Jaewon Seo (violin), Alicia Eppinga (cello), Igor Cetkovic (cello).

August 11:
Surprise!
A concert featuring a surprise program in celebration of Sunday Strings’ fifth anniversary.
Performers: Haijin Choi (violin), Letitia Jap (violin), Barb Corbato (viola), Jinn Shin (cello), Adam Liebert (violin), Jenna Anderson (violin), Arturo Ziraldo (viola), Andrew Plaisier (cello) and Mark Buchner (bass).

A cultural experience

Sunday Strings is part of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park’s commitment to providing a diverse range of cultural experiences for the community. The series is made possible through the generous support of Jim and Marie Preston, Dick and Samantha Gauthier, Ping and Tim Liang, Todd Oleson, Sarah Ash, and Blue Lake Public Radio.

For more information about the Sunday Strings series, including the full schedule of performances and program information, visit: MeijerGardens.org/calendar/sunday-strings

David Finckel, left, will be one of the featured performers at the St. Cecilia Music Center concert. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The St. Cecilia Music Center unveiled its beautiful renovations last week and will draw the curtain this week with its 2016-17 season debut, the first of three visits by members of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Already called “one of the greatest halls for chamber music in the world,” upgrades to St. Cecilia’s Royce Auditorium will be on full display Thursday, Nov. 10, when the chamber music players of the CMS of Lincoln Center present “Destination Vienna,” including the works of Mozart, Schoenberg and Brahms.

“This concert will showcase our ‘world class performance hall’ with world class musicians performing in a newly renovated setting,” according to SCMC executive director Cathy Holbrook. “The sound will be breathtaking and the audience will love our visual transformation of the hall, lobby, ballroom and entire facility.”

Chamber music artists performing include artistic director of CMS of Lincoln Center and cellist David Finckel as well as violinists Sean Lee and Alexander Sitkovetsky, violists Matthew Lipman and Richard O’Neill and cellist Keith Robinson.

The program includes Mozart’s “Quintet in C minor for Two Violins, Two Violas and Cello,” Schoenberg’s “Verklärte Nacht (Transfigured Night) for Two Violins, Two Violas and Two Cellos,” and Brahms’ “Sextet No. 1 in B-flat Major for Two Violins, Two Violas and Two Cellos.”

The evening will include a pre-concert wine and hors d’oeurves reception from 6-7 p.m. in the 2nd floor newly renovated ballroom for $15; a pre-concert artist talk with musicians performing that evening, and a complimentary post-concert wine, coffee and dessert reception for the audience to meet the six artists and obtain signed CDs of their releases.

For more information, call 616-459-2224 or visit scmc-online.org.