Winterfest: Romantic Revelation

Gloria Chien, piano | Soovin Kim, violin | Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, viola | Edward Arron, cello

Sedona Performing Arts Center
995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336

Chamber Music Sedona’s 7th Winterfest brings together four of today’s most sought-after chamber music artists in an exhilarating program of revelatory works from the Romantic era: Beethoven’s game-changing “Ghost” Trio, Mahler’s auspicious Piano Quartet, and the ever-popular, hair-raising Piano Quartet no. 1, “Gypsy,” by Brahms.

About the artists

Gloria Chien, piano

After making her orchestral debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16, Taiwanese-born pianist Gloria Chien’s talents have expanded to establish her as an outstanding performer, concert presenter, and educator. Chosen as one of the Boston Globe’s Superior Pianists of the Year, she has performed in recent seasons at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the Library of Congress, and other prestigious venues. In 2009, Chien launched String Theory, a chamber music series at the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga—a venture that has evolved into one of Tennessee’s premier classical music presenters. She is a Steinway Artist who also serves as artist-in-residence at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee and as Co-Artistic Director of the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival in Burlington, Vermont, in collaboration with her husband, violinist Soovin Kim.

Soovin Kim, violin

A recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and other coveted awards, Korean-American violinist Soovin Kim has emerged as a mature and innovative artist with a broad musical repertoire, including Bach sonatas, Paganini caprices, and new world-premiere works. Kim was a member of the Johannes String Quartet for 20 years and is now well-known in Korea for his groundbreaking piano quartet ensemble, MIK. He recently launched the exciting Chien-Kim-Watkins Trio with his wife, pianist Gloria Chien, and cellist Paul Watkins of the Emerson Quartet, and founded the Lake Champlain Chamber Music Festival, which has quickly gained accolades in the chamber music world.

Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, viola

Heralded by the Seattle Times as “simply marvelous,” violinist/violist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu is a renowned soloist and chamber musician who has performed at many of the world’s leading venues and festivals. Cindy is the recipient of several awards, including the Milka Violin Artist Prize from the Curtis Institute of Music and third prize at the International Violin Competition of David Oistrakh. As an educator, she has taught violin, chamber music, and string pedagogy at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California and currently serves as Artistic Partner of the Da Camera Society in Los Angeles.

Edward Arron, cello

Recognized for his elegant musicianship and passionate performances, cellist Edward Arron has appeared in recital, as a soloist alongside leading orchestras, and as a chamber musician at preeminent venues worldwide. The 2019-20 season is his eleventh year as the artistic director and host of the acclaimed Musical Masterworks concert series in Old Lyme, Connecticut; he also serves as the artistic director of the Festival Series in Beaufort, South Carolina, as well as co-artistic director of the Performing Artists in Residence series at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Arron is a member of the renowned Ehnes Quartet and has been performing regularly at the Caramoor International Music Festival for over 25 years.

Program

Mahler: Piano Quartet
Beethoven: Piano Trio Op. 70 no. 1, “Ghost”
Brahms: Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor, “Gypsy”