Dvořák & Prokofiev

piano

Technically dazzling and intellectually probing artistry exemplify Ran Dank‘s pianism and musicality—captivating audiences and critics alike.

Ran Dank is one of today’s most ardent advocates for contemporary music. In recent seasons, he has performed Kevin Puts’ piano concerto Night, the Tobias Picker concerto Keys to the City, Frederic Rzewski’s The People United Will Never Be Defeated, William Bolcom’s Pulitzer-winning set of Twelve New Etudes. Alongside his wife, pianist Soyeon Kate Lee, Ran debuted the world premieres of Frederic Rzewski’s Four Hands, and Alexander Goehr’s Seven Impromptus.

piano

Since winning his gold medal win at the 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, Haochen Zhang has captivated audiences in the United States, Europe, and Asia with a unique combination of deep musical sensitivity, fearless imagination, and spectacular virtuosity. In 2017, he received the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which recognizes talented musicians with the potential for a major career in music.

Zhang has appeared at many of the world’s most esteemed festivals and venues and with many of the world’s leading orchestras. His engagements have included the BBC Proms with the China Philharmonic and conductor Long Yu; The Philadelphia Orchestra with Yannick Nézet-Séguin; the Munich Philharmonic with Lorin Maazel on a sold-out tour in Munich and China; the Sydney Symphony Orchestra with David Robertson on a tour of China; the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra with Thomas Hengelbrock on a tour of Tokyo, Beijing, and Shanghai; the Mariinsky Orchestra; the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse; the Israel, Japan, London, Los Angeles, New York, Taiwan, and Warsaw philharmonic orchestras; and the London, Frankfurt Radio, San Francisco, Seattle, and Singapore symphony orchestras. His recital engagements have included Spivey Hall, the Cliburn Concerts, and Wolf Trap’s Discovery Series, among others.

viola

Toby Appel has appeared in recital and concerto performances throughout North and South America, Europe, and the Far East. He’s been a member of such renowned ensembles as TASHI and the Lenox and Audubon quartets; a guest artist with the Vermeer, Manhattan, Alexander, and Dover quartets; and a frequent guest with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and jazz artists Chick Corea and Gary Burton. His festival appearances include Mostly Mozart; Chamber Music Northwest; the Seattle Chamber Music Society; Music from Angel Fire; the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival; the Marlboro, Manchester, Colorado College Summer, and Bravo! Vail music festivals; and festivals in England, France, Korea, Germany, Italy, Finland, and Greece.

cello

ensemble

Jeffery Myers, Violin

Ryan Meehan, Violin

Jeremy Berry, Viola

Estelle Choi, Cello

The Calidore String Quartet is recognized as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of a vast chamber music repertory, from the cycles of quartets by Beethoven and Mendelssohn to works of celebrated contemporary voices like György Kurtág, Jörg Widmann, and Caroline Shaw. For more than a decade, the Calidore has enjoyed performances and residencies in the world’s major venues and festivals, released multiple critically acclaimed recordings, and won numerous awards. The Los Angeles Times described the musicians as “astonishing,” their playing “shockingly deep,” approaching “the kind of sublimity other quartets spend a lifetime searching.” The New York Times noted the Quartet’s “deep reserves of virtuosity and irrepressible dramatic instinct,” and The Washington Post wrote that “four more individual musicians are unimaginable, yet these speak, breathe, think and feel as one”.

Flutist Tara Helen O’Connor is a charismatic performer noted for her artistic depth, brilliant technique, and colorful tone spanning every musical era. A highly sought-after chamber musician and soloist, O’Connor is a season artist of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and a regular performer at numerous festivals, including Music@Menlo; Chamber Music Northwest; Mainly Mozart; Chesapeake Music; Summer Music at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity; the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival; Spoleto Festival USA; and Bravo! Vail Music Festival. She and her husband, violinist Daniel Phillips, are the artistic directors of the Music from Angel Fire festival in New Mexico.

clarinet