"Music in the Rockies": Bravo! Vail, Anne-Marie McDermott, and Yulianna Avdeeva featured on Pianist magazine

Pianist magazine (October/November 2025)

Founded in 1987, Bravo! Vail Music Festival has grown from a small chamber-music series into a six-week orchestral festival, with supporting events, chamber recitals, and masterclasses. Erica Worth, editor of Pianist magazine, visited Bravo! Vail in the summer of 2025; she reports on this classical music haven high up on the Rocky Mountains for the October/November issue of the magazine.

“In contrast to European festivals which seem to attract a global public, the Vail vibe is decidedly American, at least for now. 'You're right, it's a domestic audience,' replied [executive director since Caitlin] Murray, when I raised the issue with her. 'However, Vail as a whole is an international tourist destination. We added our fourth orchestra almost a decade ago, with the aim of making the festival more international. In the 2025 season, we have had five orchestras from three continents. And in terms of the level and the quality of music that happens here, well - let's be "The American Verbier!"'

Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

“A festival is only as good as its artistic director. At Bravo! Vail, it’s the charismatic American pianist Anne-Marie McDermott in charge... During that time, she has increased the visibility of female composers, and introduced composer-focused 'Immersive Experiences' as well as fully staged opera productions. In both concerts and masterclasses, she takes an active role at the festival as well as setting its tone.

“On my first evening, Yulianna Avdeeva made me sit up and listen with fresh ears to Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. This was a strong, muscular account from the outset, decisive and full-bodied... She brought a pearly touch to the slow movement when she took over from the opening flute solo, and in the third movement she demonstrated admirable imagination as well as technique when voicing the lyrical second thee, before really going for it in the torrents of octaves at the climax.”

McDermott (credit: Sophie Zhai); Avdeeva (credit: Kevin Kinzley)

Read the full piece here.

Seattle Chamber Music Society Acquires The Concert Truck

Move Furthers SCMS Mission of Making Classical Music More Accessible to All

Photos available here
Courtesy: Seattle Chamber Music Society

Seattle, Sept. 29, 2025 — Seattle Chamber Music Society (SCMS) has acquired The Concert Truck, a traveling music venue that presents concerts across the country and redefines how people experience live music. By converting a box truck into a fully equipped mobile concert hall, complete with lights, a sound system, and a grand piano, The Concert Truck brings world-class classical music directly into city streets, festivals, schools, neighborhoods, parks, and other everyday spaces. Now, as a core element of SCMS’s programming, The Concert Truck can further advance accessibility, engagement, and artistic excellence with renewed support, turning spontaneous outdoor moments into lasting connections with the community.

“We believe classical music is vibrant, magnetic, and belongs in everyday life,” says John Holloway, SCMS’s Dr. Oliver E. Cobb Executive Director. “By welcoming The Concert Truck and its visionary co-founder, Susan Zhang, into our organization, we are putting our money where our mouth is—investing in the future of classical music and partnering with organizations nationwide to bring world-class performances to wherever you can think to park a truck. We’ve seen firsthand how performances in public spaces can inspire new audiences to become ticket buyers, and we’re committed to sharing that blueprint so organizations across the country can turn community encounters into lasting support for classical music,” he adds.

Pianist Susan Zhang created The Concert Truck with pianist Nick Luby in 2016. Since its founding, The Concert Truck has partnered with leading arts organizations including the Kennedy Center’s Washington National Opera, Gilmore Piano Festival, Piano Cleveland, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Guest artists who have performed aboard The Concert Truck include James Ehnes, Lawrence Brownlee, Ursula Oppens, Shaun Martin, and Jerome Lowenthal.

“Chamber music is a remarkably flexible art form—it thrives anywhere people gather,” says James Ehnes, Gilbert Omenn and Martha Darling Artistic Director of SCMS. “One of the most powerful ways to show people that this music belongs to them is to bring it directly into their daily lives. The Concert Truck makes that possible in the most joyful and immediate way.”

The Concert Truck (Sean Scheidt)

Now at SCMS, Zhang will continue to lead the program as the Maryanne Tagney Director of The Concert Truck, while Opus 3 Artists will continue to handle booking and artist management. In addition to sharing original programming with local communities, The Concert Truck will continue to be available to leading performing arts organizations and musicians to use as a stage in their communities, strengthening their relationships with the audiences they serve. During September and October alone, The Concert Truck is booked to present performances at a Juvenile Probation Center, a winery, parks, museums, performing arts centers, and dozens of schools for students of all ages.

“Being part of Seattle Chamber Music Society is a powerful step forward in our mission to make classical music a vital, living part of today’s culture,” says Zhang. “We’re not just expanding access — we’re reimagining where and how people experience this art form. There’s a raw, magnetic energy when brilliant musicians perform in unexpected places. It breaks classical music out of the concert hall and into the heartbeat of the community. These performances help people see themselves in the music — and that’s how we build a future where classical music isn’t just preserved, but pulsing through the cultural zeitgeist for decades to come.”

Both organizations have been committed to inspiring the next generation of artists and music lovers through opportunities in education. In addition to playing for thousands of students and creating specialized programming for children across the country, The Concert Truck team co-created an online children’s program with the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival that has reached more than 55,000 students in North Carolina public schools. The Concert Truck has been continually engaged by institutions including Rice University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, mentoring young artists in community engagement and entrepreneurship.

The Concert Truck acquisition is made possible by the generous leadership support of Maryanne Tagney. Learn more about The Concert Truck’s Fall Tour here.

About Seattle Chamber Music Society

The mission of Seattle Chamber Music Society is to cultivate a deep appreciation for chamber music by presenting exceptional performances in welcoming and accessible formats. Through education, community engagement, and a commitment to excellence, SCMS seeks to position chamber music as a central cultural force, both locally and globally, while ensuring its enduring relevance and sustainability. 

Each year, SCMS presents a Winter Festival in January and a Summer Festival in July at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, bringing the world’s finest classical musicians to the stage. These intimate chamber music performances captivate both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike. In addition to its renowned festivals, SCMS offers an expanded year-round lineup, including the new Signature Series, Crescendo Concerts in Seattle’s most stunning homes, and Concerts at the Center for Chamber Music, providing unparalleled access to extraordinary musical experiences. 

SCMS also enriches the community through dynamic engagement programs designed for audiences of all ages. From inspiring young learners in elementary schools to enriching lives in retirement communities, and from performances in hospitals and parks to concerts on wheels, SCMS remains steadfast in its mission to bring world-class chamber music to every corner of our community. seattlechambermusic.org 

###

Media contact:

Matt Herman, Managing Director
8VA Music Consultancy
New York | Los Angeles | Berlin
matt@8vamusicconsultancy.com

Calgary's "The Scene" Looks ahead at 2025 Honens International Piano Competition

The next edition of the triennial Honens International Piano Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious events of its kind, takes place this October. The Scene, from Calgary, recently caught up with Jon Kimura Parker, artistic director of Honens, and Illia Ovcharenko, the Laureate of 2022 Competition. “We’re not just looking for a pianist who plays the piano brilliantly, but we’re also looking for somebody who has something to say,” said Parker.

Since his win, Ovcharenko has performed solos with orchestras around the world, including the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Until the next winner of the competition is announced on October 20, Ovcharenko keeps his title as the current prize laureate. “It’s truly like a dream come true moment,” he says. “Winning that competition and realizing that I might not need any other competitions to participate in; it’s truly miraculous.”

The 2025 Honens Piano Competition semi-finals will take place from October 16 to 20 at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall in the Rozsa Centre at the University of Calgary, and the finals will take place on October 23 and 24 at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in the Werklund Centre.

Read the full piece here.

2022 Honens Prize Laureate Illia Ovcharenko with Jon Kimura Parker. Photo: Monique de St. Croix

Letter From Vancouver: Ahead of VSO, Anne-Marie McDermott reflects on freedom won through discipline

This weekend, pianist Anne-Marie McDermott and Otto Tausk, the music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, unite to present Beethoven’s Second and Fourth Piano Concertos, in three concerts. Stir, an independent hub for local arts and culture, interviews McDermott ahead of the performances. She says:

“I’ve lived this repertoire for probably 40 years. I do feel like my personal voice with this repertoire is at a place of real authenticity, because I’ve spent so many years with this music. I have something to say about it. I love to play it as if it had just been written. This is really important to me in recording or in concerts.”

With tour stops and concerts filling up her 2026 calendar, McDermott looks forward to continuing her journey with Beethoven, and performing all five concertos with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields as part of her final season as artistic director of the Bravo! Vail Music Festival in Colorado. Since taking on the role in 2011, McDermott has led the festival to a series of landmark achievements, including doubling the number of performance engagements, staging its first opera, expanding its commitment to commissioning new orchestral works, and continuing its emphasis on education and community outreach. To say her contributions required discipline would be a vast understatement.

To read the full piece, click here.

The Isidore Electrifies

Published on June 20, 2025 by Susan Miron for The Boston Musical Intelligencer.

Each of the times I have heard the Isidore String Quartet, I’ve been completely bowled over. Founded in 2019, they’ve won the big prizes (2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant, the 2022 Banff International String Quartet Competition) and, now in their 20s, have unquestionably risen to the top of the very crowded young quartet scene. Violinists Adrian Steele, Phoenix Avalon, violist Devin Moore, and cellist Joshua McClendon would seem to be predestined to play together. Their chemistry and goals are admirable, their performances electrifying.

The Isidore’s second appearance at Rockport, this Thursday evening, included the Ravel Quartet and a late Beethoven, but Steven Banks’s (b.1993)  Reflections and Exaltations for soprano saxophone and string quartet, featuring the composer as the masterful saxophone soloist, realty stole the show.

Composed in 1902-03 (when he was just 28), the Ravel is one of the most enduringly popular quartets. Composing it just before Scheherazade, Ravel dedicated it to Gabriel Fauré; it made its auspicious debut in 1904. Annotator Keith Horner’s pointed out that Ravel was soaking in the music of Claude Debussy, 12 years his senior. He attended the first 30 performances of Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande and knew Debussy’s earlier string quartet well. Thus,  “…some of its lifeblood carried over into his own piece. From Debussy, he borrowed the use of Eastern exoticism and the modality of the harmony throughout all four movements.” Even its stunning second pizzicato movement makes an appearance in Debussy’s sole example in the genre.

Read more here.

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Seattle Chamber Music Society Announces 2026 Winter Festival, January 23–February 1

Festival Highlights include Performance of J.S. Bach’s Complete Brandenburg Concertos on January 30

(Photo credit: Jenna Poppe/SCMS)
Download high-res photo here

Seattle, Sept. 8, 2025 – The Seattle Chamber Music Society (SCMS) announces the programming for its 2026 Winter Festival, running January 23-February 1. Over the course of six concerts, acclaimed classical musicians will collaborate on 22 exceptional chamber works by Beethoven, Beach, Dohnányi, Dvořák, Haydn, Mozart, Ravel, and Schubert, among others, with a festival highlight being the January 30 performance of J.S. Bach’s complete Brandenburg Concertos.

Musicians performing at the 2026 SCMS Winter Festival include festival artistic director James Ehnes, pianists Inon Barnatan and Anton Nel; violinist Benjamin Bowman; harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani; violists Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt and Cynthia Phelps, and horn player Radovan Vlatković. (A full list of performers follows.)

"The Winter Festival is a powerful testament to Chamber Music’s enduring relevance and role as a cultural magnet. It’s meaningful to welcome such extraordinary musicians to Seattle to collaborate on these incredible works. It’s moving to feel the audience’s response to these shared experiences and inspiring to know that our virtual reach now connects us across the U.S. and into more than a dozen countries," said James Ehnes, the Gilbert Omenn and Martha Darling Artistic Director of SCMS, who performs in every concert.

Complementing the five-week Summer Festival and six-concert Signature Series, the Winter Festival is one of the ways SCMS presents exceptional performances year-round. Concerts take place at Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya Hall. Each program is preceded by a free pre-concert performance.

Fans of chamber music worldwide may also stream the concerts live through SCMS’s Virtual Concert Hall and/or enjoy each program on-demand, starting two weeks after each live performance and continuing through March 15. Produced by Simon Kiln, an award-winning classical producer and editor, the Virtual Concert Hall captures concerts from seven high-definition camera angles using top audio/video production and equipment. In addition to performances, the Virtual Concert Hall invites audiences into the music through behind-the-scenes footage, introductions from the artists, and live intermission shows.

SCMS Winter Festival program details follow. Discounted early-bird season subscriptions are on sale now HERE; single tickets go on sale October 20 (no fees added on subscriptions or single-ticket sales through December 1). Visit seattlechambermusic.org.

Seattle Chamber Music Society: 2026 Winter Festival
January 23–February 1 | Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall

Musicians: Joseph Kaufman (bass); Seth Krimsky (bassoon); Edward Arron, Ani Aznavoorian, Efe Baltacıgil, Brant Taylor, and Bion Tsang (cello); Jeffrey Barker and Demarre McGill (flute); Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord); Jeffrey Fair and Radovan Vlatković (horn); Donovan Bown, Stefan Farkas, and Benjamin Hausmann (oboe); Mari Yoshinaga (percussion); Inon Barnatan, Alessio Bax, Anton Nel, and Jeewon Park, (piano); Jens Lindemann (trumpet); Che-Yen Chen, Beth Guterman Chu, David Harding, Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, and Cynthia Phelps (viola), and Benjamin Bowman, James Ehnes, Njioma Grevious, Bella Hristova, Amy Schwartz Moretti, and Andrew Wan (violin).

(Photo credit: Jenna Poppe/SCMS)

—FRIDAY, JANUARY 23—

Pre-Concert
SCMS Youth Academy for Chamber Music musicians

CONCERT

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio No. 5 in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost”

• Allegro vivace e con brio

• Largo assai ed espressivo

• Presto

Inon Barnatan, piano
Bella Hristova, violin
Efe Baltacıgil, cello

• Amy Beach: String Quartet, Op. 89

Njioma Grevious, violin
Benjamin Bowman, violin
Beth Guterman Chu, viola
Bion Tsang, cello

• Franz Schubert: Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 114, D. 667, “Trout”

• Allegro vivace

• Andante

• Scherzo. Presto — Trio

• Thema. Andantino — Variazioni. Allegretto

• Finale. Allegro giusto

Alessio Bax, piano
James Ehnes, violin
Cynthia Phelps, viola
Ani Aznavoorian, cello
Joseph Kaufman, bass

—SATURDAY, JANUARY 24—

Pre-Concert
George Enescu: Sonata No. 3 for violin and piano, Op. 25, “Dans le caractère populaire roumain” (Bella Hristova, violin; Alessio Bax, piano)

• Moderato malinconico

• Andante sostenuto e misterioso

• Allegro con brio, ma non troppo mosso

CONCERT

• Zoltán Kodály: Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7

• Allegro serioso, non troppo

• Adagio — Andante — Tempo I

• Maestoso e largamente ma non troppo lento — Presto 

Benjamin Bowman, violin
Ani Aznavoorian, cello

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat Major, K. 493

• Allegro

• Larghetto

• Allegretto

Alessio Bax, piano
Njioma Grevious, violin
Cynthia Phelps, viola
Efe Baltacıgil, cello

• Ernő Dohnányi: Piano Quintet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 1

• Allegro

• Scherzo. Allegro vivace

• Adagio, quasi andante

• Finale. Allegro animato — Allegro

Inon Barnatan, piano
James Ehnes, violin
Bella Hristova, violin
Beth Guterman Chu, viola
Bion Tsang, cello

—SUNDAY, JANUARY 25—

Pre-Concert
Music and Improvisations for cello and percussion (Efe Baltacıgil, cello; Mari Yoshinaga, percussion)

CONCERT

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Trio in B-flat Major, K. 502

• Allegro

• Larghetto

• Allegretto

Alessio Bax, piano
Benjamin Bowman, violin
Ani Aznavoorian, cello

• Sergei Prokofiev: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Major, Op. 94a

• Moderato

• Scherzo. Presto

• Andante

• Allegro con brio

Inon Barnatan, piano
Bella Hristova, violin

• Antonín Dvořák: String Sextet in A Major, Op. 48

• Allegro moderato

• Dumka (Elegie). Poco allegro

• Furiant. Presto

• Finale. Tema con variazioni. Allegretto grazioso, quasi andantino

James Ehnes, violin
Njioma Grevious, violin
Cynthia Phelps, viola
Beth Guterman Chu, viola
Bion Tsang, cello
Efe Baltacıgil, cello

—FRIDAY, JANUARY 30—

Pre-Concert
[Program TBA] (Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord)

CONCERT

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Concerto No. 1 in F Major, Brandenburg, BWV 1046

• (no tempo indication)

• Adagio

• Allegro

• Menuetto— Trio I — Polacca — Trio II

• Bach: Concerto No. 2 in F Major, Brandenburg, BWV 1047

• (no tempo indication)

• Andante

• Allegro assai

• Bach: Concerto No. 3 in G Major, Brandenburg, BWV 1048

• (no tempo indication)

• Adagio

• Allegro

• Bach: Concerto No. 4 in F Major, Brandenburg, BWV 1049

• Allegro

• Andante

• Presto

• Bach: Concerto No. 5 in D Major, Brandenburg, BWV 1050

• Allegro

• Affettuoso

• Allegro

• Bach: Concerto No. 6 in B-flat Major, Brandenburg, BWV 1051

• (no tempo indication)

• Adagio ma non troppo

• Allegro

Featured musicians for the Brandenburgs:

Edward Arron, cello
Efe Baltacıgil, cello
Jeffrey Barker, flute
Donovan Bown, oboe
Che-Yen Chen, viola
James Ehnes, violin
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
Jeffrey Fair, horn
Stefan Farkas, oboe
David Harding, viola
Benjamin Hausmann, oboe 
Joseph Kaufman, bass 
Seth Krimsky, bassoon
Jens Lindemann, trumpet
Demarre McGill, flute
Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola
Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin
Brant Taylor, cello
Radovan Vlatković, horn
Andrew Wan, violin

—SATURDAY, JANUARY 31—

Pre-Concert
Schubert: Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946 (Anton Nel, piano)

CONCERT

• Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Sonatae tam aris quam aulis servientes, for Trumpet, Violin, 2 Violas & Continuo, No. 4 in C Major, C. 117

• Allegro

• Presto

• Adagio

• Allegro

Jens Lindemann, trumpet
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord
Andrew Wan, violin
Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola
David Harding, viola
Brant Taylor, cello

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Horn Quintet in E-flat Major, K. 407

• Allegro

• Andante

• Rondo. Allegro

Radovan Vlatković, horn
Andrew Wan, violin
Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola
David Harding, viola
Brant Taylor, cello

• Franz Schubert: Fantasie in F minor, Op. 103, D. 940 (piano four hands) 

Anton Nel, piano
Jeewon Park, piano

• Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F Major

• Allegro moderato — Très doux

• Assez vif — Très rythmé

• Très lent

• Vif et agité

James Ehnes, violin
Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin
Che-Yen Chen, viola
Edward Arron, cello

—SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1—

Pre-Concert
Franz Joseph Haydn: String Quartet in C Major, Op. 20, No. 2, “Sun,” Hob.III:32 (Ehnes Quartet)

• Moderato

• Capriccio. Adagio - Cantabile

• Menuetto. Allegretto - Trio

• Fuga a 4 soggetti. Allegro

CONCERT

• Ludwig van Beethoven: Horn Sonata in F Major, Op. 17 

• Allegro moderato

• Poco adagio, quasi andante

• Rondo - Allegro moderato

Radovan Vlatković, horn
Anton Nel, piano

• Ernest Chausson: Piano Quartet in A Major, Op. 30

• Animé

• Très calme

• Simple et sans hâte

• Animé

Jeewon Park, piano
Andrew Wan, violin
David Harding, viola
Brant Taylor, cello

• Antonín Dvořák: String Quintet No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 97, “American”

• Allegro non tanto

• Allegro vivo

• Larghetto

• Allegro giusto

James Ehnes, violin
Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin
Che-Yen Chen, viola
Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola
Edward Arron, cello

To order discounted season subscriptions, click HERE. Single tickets go on sale Oct. 20.

About Seattle Chamber Music Society
The mission of Seattle Chamber Music Society is to cultivate a deep appreciation for chamber music by presenting exceptional performances in welcoming and accessible formats. Through education, community engagement, and a commitment to excellence, SCMS seeks to position chamber music as a central cultural force, both locally and globally, while ensuring its enduring relevance and sustainability. 

Each year, SCMS presents a Winter Festival in January and a Summer Festival in July at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, bringing the world’s finest classical musicians to the stage. These intimate chamber music performances captivate both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers alike. In addition to its renowned festivals, SCMS offers an expanded year-round lineup, including the new Signature Series, Crescendo Concerts in Seattle’s most stunning homes, and Concerts at the Center for Chamber Music, providing unparalleled access to extraordinary musical experiences. 

SCMS also enriches the community through dynamic engagement programs designed for audiences of all ages. From inspiring young learners in elementary schools to enriching lives in retirement communities, and from performances in hospitals and parks to concerts on wheels, SCMS remains steadfast in its mission to bring world-class chamber music to every corner of our community. seattlechambermusic.org 

###

Media contact:

Matt Herman, Managing Director
8VA Music Consultancy
New York | Los Angeles | Berlin
matt@8vamusicconsultancy.com

Michael Repper Celebrates 150 years of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor on NPR

Aug. 15 marked the 150th anniversary of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's birth, a composer who gained prominence in his early 20s with two major successes: the orchestral work Ballade in A minor and the secular cantata Hiawatha's Wedding Feast, both from 1898.

On Aug. 1, conductor Michael Repper, violinist and composer Curtis Stewart, and the National Philharmonic released the album Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Toussaint L'Ouverture ᐧ Ballade Op. 4 ᐧ Suites from "24 Negro Melodies" (AVIE Records), which was specially planned to celebrate the composer's 150th birthday.

“With this project, we aim to preserve and promote the legacy of one of the greatest composers from the turn of the 20th century,” says Repper, who in 2023 became the youngest North American conductor to win a GRAMMY® Award in the Best Orchestral Performance category.

Read Repper’s NPR interview and feature here.

Listen to the new album here.

Searching for an American Sound: The Dover Quartet on NPR

When the Dover Quartet, one of the world’s most in-demand chamber ensembles, asked Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate to compose a new work inspired by Native American traditions, he turned to the woodland creatures venerated by his own Chickasaw Nation. The results, Woodland Songs, is the title work of the group’s new album.

The Dovers and Tate recently appeared on NPR’s Morning Edition. Cellist Camden Shaw describes working with Tate as a "great balance of being very demanding for what he wanted to hear, but also allowing us to be ourselves and feeling like we're all on the same team."

“When you think about what is American and what this music represents, what is the album sort of meant to do?,” asked host Leila Fadel.

“It reminds me of something, Jerod said, which really touched me,” said Shaw. “That all people come from ancient cultures, that there are these long threads of connection in art and thinking and feeling that go way back for all of us. And the desire really as the core of this album was to explore connections between things musically that have existed on this continent for a very, very long time. You can hear references to, like, bluegrass styles...”

The critically acclaimed Woodland Songs also includes Tate’s new string-quartet orchestration of Rattle Songs, by the Indigenous singer Pura Fé, originally for her a cappella vocal group Ulali. Dvořák’s “American” Quartet completes the album, available now via the Curtis Studio label on Apple Classical and all major streaming platforms.

Read the NPR piece and listen to the full conversation HERE.

Stream Woodland Songs HERE.

Jerod Impichcha̱achaaha' Tate; Pura Fé

Musicus Society Announces Musicus Fest 2025

Series of concerts uniting East and West runs Nov. 1 – Dec. 15

Musicus Fest © Musicus Society

Hong Kong, August 27, 2025 — Musicus Society, an organization dedicated to promoting cross-cultural classical music collaborations internationally, announces Musicus Fest 2025, celebrating Musicus Society’s 15th anniversary. The 2025 Musicus Fest features 10 concerts between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15, at various Hong Kong venues, including a special presentation at Shenzhen Concert Hall in mainland China. The festival showcases outstanding local and international artists, among whom is cellist Trey Lee, the artistic director and co-founder of Musicus Society. He is joined by the English Chamber Orchestra—one of the most recorded chamber orchestras in the world—and by Musicus Soloists Hong Kong, comprising some of the best emerging artists from all over the world. Please see below for all program details.

“Musicus has always been a celebration of cultural diversity and the way different cultures come together to perform great music,” says Trey Lee. “This year, we’re delighted to perform with the English Chamber Orchestra, Musicus Soloists Hong Kong, and spectacular guest soloists such as violinists Minna Pensola, Angela Chan and Jacques Forrestier, and the flow artist Chris Lam. We look forward to elevating Musicus as an international meeting point for cultural exchange, celebrating timeless music from the repertoire.” 

Musicus Fest 2025 opens on Nov. 1 with Trey Lee and the English Chamber Orchestra, following their album Seasons Interrupted, last year’s climate change-themed major release on Signum Records that features world-premiere recordings of new arrangements by Trey Lee. It was the Hong Kong-born, Juilliard-trained cellist’s first collaboration with the esteemed ensemble. The concert, at Concert Hall (Hong Kong City Hall), highlights Piazzolla’s vibrant The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, in Trey Lee’s arrangement for solo cello and chamber orchestra, as featured on the album. The program also includes a string version of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” and Tchaikovsky’s “Chant d’automne,” from The Seasons. These works capture the essence of nature and the changing landscapes across the four seasons, inviting audiences on a captivating musical journey. Local students from the Ensemble Training program will perform excerpts from Boccherini’s String Quintet in E and Gustav Holst’s St. Paul’s Suite side-by-side with the musicians of the English Chamber Orchestra.

Trey Lee and Musicus

The performances by Musicus Soloists Hong Kong, the city’s leading chamber ensemble, are a highlight of the festival. Founded and directed by Trey Lee, Musicus Soloists Hong Kong is Musicus Society’s homegrown string ensemble, bringing together international prizewinners on promising career paths around the world. The group brings two programs to Shenzhen Concert Hall (in mainland China, Dec. 5) and Hong Kong City Hall (Dec. 7) under the leadership of the Finnish violinist Minna Pensola. Angela Chan and Jacques Forrestier, the joint winners of the 2024 Joseph Joachim Violin Competition, will join Musicus Soloists Hong Kong in Baroque masterpieces by Locatelli and Tartini for the festival’s grand finale on Dec. 7. The programs include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Vivaldi’s Concerto for Violin and Cello, as well as Satie’s Gymnopedies No. 1 & 3 arranged for strings, featuring the flow artist Chris Lam, who uses crystal balls and eight-rings, fusing visual arts, theater and music in an explosion of movement and emotion.

Musicus Fest 2025 also brings back Marco Polo’s Musical Encounter of East and West, its ever-popular family concert designed to introduce various Chinese and Western musical instruments to children. There will also be educational and outreach activities that include master classes and ensemble training, a series of highly anticipated Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Stories concerts held at unique venues in Hong Kong, and a viola recital by Hoi Yan-lok, the 2025 Musicus Young Artist Audition winner. For more information, please visit musicussociety.org. 

Musicus Fest 2025

—Concert 1: Festival Opening: Trey Lee & English Chamber Orchestra—
Saturday, Nov. 1 | Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

• Tchaikovsky (arr. Paul Sherman): Chant d’automne from The Seasons (for string orchestra)

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral,” for String Orchestra

• Piazzolla (arr. Trey Lee): The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (for solo cello & string orchestra)

Cello: Trey Lee

• Boccherini: String Quintet in E, G. 275, Op.11 No.5, III. Minuetto - Trio (for string orchestra)

• Holst: St. Paul’s Suite, Op. 29 No. 2, IV. Finale (“The Dargason”)

Featuring English Chamber Orchestra playing side-by-side with Ensemble Training students

—Concert 2: Beethoven, Piazzolla and Evening Fantasy by Musicus Soloists Hong Kong—
Friday, Dec. 5 | Shenzhen Concert Hall (Co-presented by Shenzhen Concert Hall and the Leisure & Cultural Services Department)

• Locatelli: Violin Concerto Op. 3, No.12 in D, “Harmonic Labyrinth”

Violin: Angela Chan

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (string orchestra version)

• Satie: Gymnopedies No. 1 & 3 (string orchestra version)

• Piazzolla (arr. Trey Lee): The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires (for solo cello & string orchestra)

Cello: Trey Lee

—Concert 3: Festival Finale: The Devil and the Labyrinth by Musicus Soloists Hong Kong—
Sunday, Dec. 7 | Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

• Locatelli: Violin Concerto Op. 3 No.12 in D, “Harmonic Labyrinth”

Violin: Angela Chan

• Satie: Gymnopedie No. 1 (string orchestra version)

• Tartini: Violin Sonata in G minor, “Devil’s Trill” (version with orchestra)

Violin: Jacques Forrestier

• Satie: Gymnopedie No. 3 (string orchestra version)

• Vivaldi: Concerto for Violin and Cello in F, RV 544

Violin: Minna Pensola | Cello: Trey Lee

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 (string orchestra version)

—Concert 4: Harmonic Hour English Chamber Orchestra—
Sunday, Nov. 2 | Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall

One-hour educational concert featuring works by Beethoven, Telemann, J. Strauss II and Coleridge-Taylor

—Concert 5: Next Generation Virtuosi: Viola Recital by Hoi Yan-lok—
Saturday, Nov. 15 | Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall

Featuring the 2025 Musicus Young Artist Audition winner in works by Prokofiev, Hindemith, Vieuxtemps and Brahms

—Concert 6: Family Concert: Marco Polo’s Musical Encounter of East & West—
Saturday, Dec. 6 | Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

A family concert for ages 3+

—Concerts 7-10: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Project Grant: Musicus Heritage Stories—
December 13-15 | Heritage sites in Hong Kong

Series of community concerts

About Musicus Society
Musicus Society was founded in 2010 to become an international music organization featuring quality performances and world-class homegrown artists, with a mission to promote cross-cultural collaborations. Apart from the annual Musicus Fest, which provides a meeting point for artists from across the world, the Musicus Heritage Community Concert Series brings world-class artists to local heritage sites. Moreover, the Musicus Inspires! educational program aims to nurture aspiring young musicians in Hong Kong, as well as cultivating students from all social backgrounds. Musicus Soloists Hong Kong is a chamber ensemble directed and initiated by renowned cellist Trey Lee, comprising some of Hong Kong’s top next-generation artists.

About Musicus Fest
Musicus Fest is an international partnership for world‐class artists to collaborate, showcasing Hong Kong’s exceptional artists and working with young talents to bring their artistry to new heights. The festival gives Hong Kong artists and students what their counterparts elsewhere have long enjoyed: the chance to elevate themselves to a higher level of artistic excellence through meaningful interaction with distinguished artists from different parts of the world.

Since the launch of Musicus Fest in 2013, over 400 artists from Albania, Australia, Austria, Canada, Mainland China, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Korea, the U.K. and the U.S. have appeared on stage in Hong Kong, including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yuri Bashmet, Noah Bendix‐Balgley and Bruno Canino, among others.