Chamber Music Kelowna 2007 - 2008 Concert Series

Marina Hoover, cello
Patricia Tao, piano

Both musicians have established international careers as soloists and chamber musicians. Ms. Hoover was the founding cellist of the St. Lawrence String Quartet and was artist in residence at Stanford University. Since than she has earned her M.A. from Yale University and coaches chamber musicians in Chicago. She regularly performs with her duo partner Patricia Tao. Pianist Patricia Tao studied at Harvard and earned her doctorate from the State University of NY. In 2002 she was appointed Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Alberta. Mrs. Tao performed for ten years with Guild Trio in the U.S. Now these two veterans of the chamber music world have joined forces to explore the great cello-piano repertoire.

"passionate but rock solid approach ...discretion and generosity." - National Post, Toronto

"Lauded for her ability to "make the written work real,alive ...great sensitivity and feel for the composer's intentions." - New Canaan

Geoff Nuttall, violin
Scott St. John, violin
Lesley Robertson, viola
Christopher Costanza, cello

Having walked onstage together over 2000 times in the past seventeen years the St. Lawrence String Quartet (SLSQ) has established itself among the world-class chamber ensembles of its generation. In 1992 they won the Banff International String Quartet Competition and the Young Concert Artists Auditions which launched them on a performing career across the Americas, Europe and Asia. They were privileged to study with the Emerson, Tokyo and Juilliard String Quartets, and are themselves passionate educators. since 1998 they have held the position of Ensemble in Residence at Stanford University, collaborating with many faculties and using music to explore a myriad of topics. For the past 12 years they have been visiting Artists at the University of Toronto. The players maintain a strong desire to share the wonders of chamber music with their listeners.

"No quartet in North America combines precision, passion and virtuosity as convincingly as this renowned Canadian ensemble." - The New Yorker

"...the St. Lawrence are remarkable not simply for the quality of their music making, exalted as it is, but for the joy they take in the act of connection." - The New Yorker

"Ian Parker, a technically assured and enthusiastic young Canadian pianist, was the soloist in Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue...(he) offered a well-thought-out approach projected with extraordinarily cleanly etched textures." - Washington Post

"It was a show-stopping performance from Parker and the LPO..." - Times-Picane (New Orleans)t

Magnetic, easy-going and delightfully articulate, Canadian pianist Ian Parker captivates audiences wherever he goes. He has won many prizes including the Grand Prize at the Canadian National Music Festival and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition. An enthusiastic recitalist, Mr. Parker has performed in the United States, Western Europe, Israel and throughout Candada with Debut Atlantic and Jeunesse Musicales du Canada. He has made guest appearances with symphony orchestras across North America. He made his Lincoln Centre recital debut at the Walter Reade theater in 2004 and currently he moderates a new recital series in Vancouver for the introduction of young artists. Ian Parker holds a Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School where he was a student of Yoheved Kaplinsky.

Jonathan Crow, violin
Matt Haimovitz, cello
Lorna McGhee (Trio Verlaine), flute
Heidi Krutzen (Trio Verlaine), harp
David Harding (Trio Verlaine), viola

Coming together from across the country for this special performance are five of Canada's most distinguished chamber musicians. all five artists are masters of their instruments and acclaimed recitalists, symphony soloists, chamber musicians and recording artists. The awards, honours and recognition these musicians have collectively garnered make a truly impressive list.

They have collaborated with musicians, ensembles and festivals such as Leonard Rose, Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, Yehudi Menuhin, James Ehnes, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, Triskelion, Penderecki Quartet, Tafelmusik, Tokyo String Quartet, Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, and the Banff Festival. The friendship and passion they share for exploring the tremendous range of exciting instrumental combinations have brought these musicians together for a limited West Coast tour.

We welcome Lorna McGhee, david Harding and Jonathan Crow back to our stage form previous seasons, and are honored to introduce Heidi Krutzen and Matt Haimovitz to our Okanagan audiences. CMK is privileged to present such an intriguing and innovative group of artists.