by David Kulma
ENCORE Chamber Music continued its third season on Friday, June 29 in CIM’s Mixon Hall with an enjoyable concert celebrating “music written and inspired by fiery female artists” and entitled “Nasty Women.” This reference is to Donald Trump’s ad hominem attack on Hillary Clinton during the third presidential debate, which many liberal women immediately adopted as a badge of honor. [Read more…]
by Jarrett Hoffman
For those who enjoy a touch of tradition — yet are troubled by how often pieces by the same cast of composers are performed — ENCORE Chamber Music’s third season, titled “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” should fit the bill.
“Our concert programs not only feature composers firmly set in the Western musical canon, but also celebrate music written and inspired by women, composers whose sexual orientation put their careers and their lives in jeopardy, and artists who struggled with their racial and religious identities,” ENCORE artistic director Jinjoo Cho said in an email.
“Comprised of music written by composers of diverse backgrounds, and dedicated to all the artists of past and present who have had to fight against societal bias, to me this season is a reminder that love is our most important virtue,” Cho continued. “Love holds us together even at the darkest moments of life, and I wanted to celebrate that.” [Read more…]
by Alice Koeninger
This Friday, ENCORE Chamber Music begins its 2018 summer season, titled “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” ENCORE will present concerts every Friday and Sunday from June 8 to July 15.
Performances will take place in the Tudor House at the Gilmour Academy through July 6, after which they move to Mixon Hall at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Tickets can be purchased here.
The season starts with the Miró Quartet on Friday evening, June 8 at 7:00 pm. This Austin-based group, renowned for its thoughtful programming and musical interpretation, will play Haydn’s Quartet in E-flat, Op. 71, No. 3, Kevin Puts’ Credo, and Beethoven’s Quartet in a, Op. 132. [Read more…]
by Samantha Spaccasi
ENCORE Chamber Music’s “Sunday Unplugged” series presented a true “Transfigured Night” on July 16 at the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Mixon Hall. The magical evening was marked by exquisite performances from all musicians. [Read more…]
by Robert Rollin
Franz Schubert stole the show in ENCORE Chamber Music’s Friday evening, July 14 Mixon Hall concert. Two of the composer’s works showcased the talents of violist Dimitri Murrath (left), playing with two other talented Festival faculty.
The program’s highlight was a transcription of Schubert’s Erlkönig presented by violinist Jinjoo Cho and Murrath. The performance was stunning. Cho began the pulsating, triplet accompaniment at top speed and Murrath answered with the melody. [Read more…]
by Robert Rollin
On Sunday afternoon, July 9, Encore Chamber Music opened its Mixon Hall program with an exceptional performance of Kevin Puts’ one-movement Dark Vigil for string quartet. Violinist Jinjoo Cho led the group with flair in its powerful dissonant counterpoint, relieved periodically by unisons. [Read more…]
by Mike Telin
It’s always a pleasure to hear performances by young musicians who are at the beginning stage of their professional careers. This was the case on Friday, June 30 when ENCORE Chamber Music presented an outstanding recital by the Milton String Quartet in the Tudor House at Gilmour Academy. [Read more…]
by Mike Telin
After the completion of its String Quartet Intensive on Sunday, July 2, ENCORE Chamber Music moved its home base from Gilmour Academy to the Cleveland Institute of Music to begin its three-week-long String and Collaborative Piano Academy. [Read more…]
by Mike Telin
Life has quickly changed for the Milton String Quartet. After winning the grand prize and string division gold medal at the 44th Annual Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in May of this year, violinists Roman Fraser and Maithéna Girault, violist Evan Robinson, and cellist Joshua Morris are already receiving invitations to perform recitals and at festivals.
Formed in 2015 at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, the ensemble is also ENCORE Chamber Music’s Fellowship Quartet, and on Friday, June 30 at 7:00 pm, they will present a free recital at the Tudor House on the campus of Gilmour Academy. The program will include Joseph Haydn’s Quartet in F, Op. 77, No. 2, Béla Bartók’s Quartet No. 3 in C#, and Felix Mendelssohn’s Quartet No. 4 in e.
The Milton are the Festival’s first Fellowship Quartet. “I heard about the program from Clara Engen, who is ENCORE’s Head of Operations,” Joshua Morris said during a conference call with his quartet colleagues earlier this month. “Clara and I both did our undergraduate studies at Oberlin and we’ve kept in touch. She encouraged us to apply. We did, and we won, and we’re very happy about that.” In addition to Friday’s concert, the Quartet are also performing outreach concerts, playing in master classes, and receiving daily coaching with the Cavani Quartet as part of the Fellowship. [Read more…]
by Samantha Spaccasi
“The Cavani Quartet is the heart and soul of ENCORE Chamber Music,” festival director Jinjoo Cho said before the group’s performance Friday night at the Gilmour Academy’s Tudor House. The Quartet proved why they are beloved during enjoyable performances of Shostakovich, Joaquín Turina, and Schubert. [Read more…]