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Sunday, February 4, 2024
— a “hybrid” event —
The Horizon Series
Erica Schwartz, viola
Charles Gleason, violin
Patrick Lin, violin
Lourdes De La Pena, cello
Michael Isaac Ripple, oboe
Zachary West, clarinet
Trailblazing Voices
Program
“Phantasy”, Op.2
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Benjamin Britten’s “Phantasy, Op.2” sets the stage for the evening’s musical journey. Written when Britten was just 19 years old, the Phantasy reflects the composer’s early exploration of intricate textures and poignant melodies. This brief yet captivating piece introduces us to the genius of Britten, foreshadowing the depth and innovation that would characterize his later works.
“Adoration”
Florence Price (1887-1953)
Florence Price, a pioneering African-American composer, welcomes us into a world of warm, intimate contemplation with her “Adoration.” Originally for organ, it will be heard here in an arrangement for oboe and strings. Her unique voice and ability to blend traditional European forms with African-American musical idioms make “Adoration” a gem that resonates with both beauty and historical significance.
String Quartet No. 6 in D Major
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799)
Transporting us to the Classical era, we encounter the remarkable Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a virtuoso violinist and the first composer of African descent to receive widespread fame throughout Europe. His String Quartet No. 6 in D Major demonstrates SaintGeorges’ mastery of form and melody, offering a glimpse into the elegance and grace of 18thcentury classical music.
Quintet, “Souvenir de Voyages”
Bernard Herrmann (1911-1975)
Bernard Herrmann, best known for his iconic film scores for Alfred Hitchcock masterpieces like Psycho, Vertigo, and North by Northwest, was equally as adept in writing music for concert and chamber music settings. His final completed chamber work – a quintet for clarinet and strings titled Souvenir de Voyages – is an achingly beautiful composition filled with the evocative dissonance, long melodic lines, and skillful orchestration that made his film scores such a success.
Concertino for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings
Marion Bauer (1882-1955)
Marion Bauer’s Concertino for Oboe, Clarinet, and Strings epitomizes American neoclassicism. In three concise movements, the work interlaces the expressive oboe and clarinet with a dynamic string quartet, showcasing Bauer’s mastery of form and melody. The piece unfolds with grace, explores introspective moments, and concludes jubilantly – a veritable potpourri of the abilities of this influential female American composer.
Biographies
Violist Erica Schwartz is originally from Albany, New York and resides in Arlington, Virginia. She currently serves as a member of the United States Army Strings, and has appeared as a substitute violist with the National, Baltimore, and Houston symphonies, and the Washington National Opera Orchestra. Erica has appeared at festivals such as the Pacific Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Center, Kneisel Hall, Bowdoin and the Banff Centre Chamber Music Residency. An avid teacher, Erica currently maintains a private studio in Arlington, VA and serves as a head coach for Crescendo Chamber Music. Her primary teachers include Roger Tapping, Dimitri Murrath, Ivo-Jan Van der Werff and Joan DerHovsepian. In her free time, Ms. Schwartz enjoys running, lifting weights, reading and trying out new recipes. She holds a B.M. from the New England Conservatory, a B.A. in Political Science from Tufts University, and a Masters of Music from Rice University
Charles Gleason is an active and versatile violinist based in the DC area. Since 2021, he has been a member of the U.S. Army Band, “Pershings Own,” where he engages in high-profile performances for government and military leaders. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Charles completed his Bachelor’s degree in violin performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with David Updegraff and Joan Kwuon and pursued intensive chamber music studies with Peter Salaff and the members of the Cavani String Quartet. He then studied with Cho-Liang Lin at Rice University, earning his Master’s degree in 2020. Apart from school, he has participated in festivals and workshops that include the Verbier Festival Orchestra, the Lucerne Festival Academy, and the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar. Charles maintains a private teaching studio and freelances in the DMV area with ensembles that include the Baltimore, Richmond, Maryland, and Alexandria Symphonies. He and his wife Inga currently reside in Alexandria, VA with their poodle, Ponyo.
Patrick Lin was born in Buffalo, NY, and grew up in Fargo, ND, where he began studying violin at the age of 7 with Mary Weisser and Jane Linde Capistran. He continued his studies at The Florida State University (BM 2015) with Dr. Benjamin Sung and the Cleveland Institute of Music (MM 2018) with William Preucil.
Patrick currently lives in the Washington, DC region, where he is a member of the U.S. Army Strings. Previously, he lived in Honolulu, HI, where he was a member of the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra and performed with Hawai’i Opera Theatre and Ballet Hawai’i. Patrick has also performed with the Baltimore Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestras and has attended festivals around the country, including the Britt Music and Arts Festival (OR), Lexington Bach Festival (MI), National Repertory Orchestra (CO), and Spoleto Festival USA (SC).
Lourdes De La Pena has been blessed with amazing performance opportunities playing for celebrities, ambassadors, and on world-class stages. Most notably, last summer she was one of three cellists asked to play at the Kennedy Center for John Williams’ 90th Birthday Party Dinner attended by Stephen Spielberg and David Rubenstein, Chairman of the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Board. In 2018, she played for the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Summit’s Private Dinner featuring Kobe Bryant. She has given concerts at the Embassies of Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil, played for private events for former Congresswoman Connie Morella, and at the US Senate to help promote the arts. Her more recent performances range from playing at Carnegie Hall to a Handel’s Messiah Concert in Pennsylvania where she played alongside David Chan, the Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera and Violin Professor at Juilliard.
Michael Isaac Ripple is the Co-Artistic Director of The Horizon Series, as well as an active freelancer, teacher, and clinician in the Mid-South region. Currently based in Memphis, Tennessee, he is attending the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music where he studies with Dr. Michelle Vigneau and holds the oboe chair in the fellowship woodwind quintet. He was the founding oboist of Catharsis Winds, an award winning wind quintet based in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a Teaching Artist with PRIZM Ensemble, an arts education nonprofit based in Memphis, and is a substitute oboist with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He is a past prizewinner of the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and the Manhattan International Music Competition, and has been a finalist in the Delta Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition and Ocala Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition. With Catharsis, Isaac was nominated for the highly esteemed Avery Fisher Prize in 2019, sponsored by the president of Interlochen Center for the Arts. Isaac pursued his undergraduate degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and is also a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Equally at home in both traditional and contemporary ensembles, Zachary West has been heard in performance throughout the United States. A devoted chamber musician, Zachary has collaborated with the award-winning Belka String Quartet and appeared alongside faculty in concerts at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Duxbury Music Festival. As an orchestral musician, he has performed under the baton of many of the world’s finest conductors, including Jane Glover, Kimbo Ishii, Yoel Levi, JahJa Ling, Ludovic Morlot, Robert Spano, and Markus Stenz. In the summer of 2023, Zachary was chosen as one of seven finalists for the ICA Orchestral Audition Competition at the 50th Anniversary International Clarinet Association festival in Denver, Colorado, recognizing those on the cusp of a burgeoning orchestral career. As soloist, Zachary has given performances of the clarinet concerti of Mozart and Crusell with orchestras in Massachusetts and at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. An alumnus of the Sarasota and Aspen Music Festivals, Zachary completed a Master of Music degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with former Israeli Philharmonic clarinetist Eli Eban. Previous to this, Zachary earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he was a student of Franklin Cohen, Principal Clarinet Emeritus of the Cleveland Orchestra. He also holds a Post-Graduate Certificate from the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and was recently appointed as Co-Principal Clarinet of the Capital Wind Symphony in Washington, DC, by renowned wind conductor George Etheridge.
About the Organization
Founded by Co-Artistic Directors M. Isaac Ripple and Zachary West, the Horizon Series re-imagines chamber music excellence in the 21st century through performances that are accessible, diverse, and thematic. You don’t need to be a connoisseur to come to one of our concerts – we’re here to welcome you to this art form with open arms.
We understand that the traditional image of a classical performance – silent audience members in suits and gowns, very serious musicians in tuxedos – can be intimidating to new audience members. At a Horizon Series performance, both audience members and performers are encouraged to wear comfortable street clothes. Performers will introduce the pieces they’re about to play as well as interact with the patrons before, during, and after all shows. All audience members are most welcome to ask questions throughout the program and show their appreciation for the performers by applauding during and between movements!
Diversity – whether it be in the makeup of the audience, performers, or the styles of music being played – is at the very core of the Horizon Series. We believe in a musical community that reflects the universality of our society and concert programs that feature both staples of the repertoire and music written today.
Classical music, with its rich history and timeless masterpieces, has traditionally been perceived as an exclusive and elite-minded art form, accessible only to a select few. However, embracing diversity in classical music is not just about social justice or inclusivity; it is about ensuring the art form’s relevance and vitality in the years to come while continuing to revitalize and engage a broader audience.
Thematic Programming – Our concert programs are carefully organized around a central theme or idea. This principle – called Thematic Programming – plays a crucial role in engaging audiences and providing an enriching musical experience. We use music to tell stories and connect audiences to history, revealing the times and lives of the people who created and performed these works while providing opportunities for musicians and ensembles to present unique interpretations and connections between diverse repertoire, forging a deeper connection between the performers and the listeners.
Organization Website: www.thehorizonseries.org
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