Mozart & Brahms Masterworks

piano

Pianist Kirill Gerstein’s heritage combines the traditions of Russian, American, and Central European music-making with an insatiable curiosity. These qualities and the relationships he’s developed with orchestras, conductors, instrumentalists, singers, and composers have led him to explore a huge spectrum of repertoire, both new and old. From Bach to Thomas Adès, Gerstein’s playing is distinguished by a ferocious technique and discerning intelligence matched by an energetic, imaginative musical presence that places him at the top of his profession.

violin

The riveting American violinist William Hagen is a seasoned international performer who’s appeared as a soloist with many of the world’s great orchestras, including the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Chicago, Frankfurt Radio, and San Francisco symphony orchestras, among many others. He’s been hailed as a “brilliant virtuoso” and “a standout” by The Dallas Morning News, while the Chicago Classical Review has praised his “glowing tone,” “virtuosic pyrotechnics,” and “poise and maturity” as a player. In 2015, Hagan won third prize in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, making him one of the most successful Americans in that prestigious competition’s history.

violin

viola

Praised by The Strad magazine for having a “lyricism that stood out . . . a silky tone and beautiful, supple lines,” Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt has established herself as one of the most sought-after violists of her generation. In addition to appearances as a soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, and Sphinx Chamber Orchestra, she’s performed in recitals and chamber music concerts throughout the United States, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, including an acclaimed 2011 debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall, which The Strad described as “fleet and energetic . . . powerful and focused.”

cello

Acclaimed for his inspirational performances and eloquent musicianship, Paul Watkins enjoys a remarkably varied and distinguished career as soloist, chamber musician and conductor. He regularly appears as concerto soloist with orchestras throughout the world. Recent highlights include concertos with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Colorado Symphony, Hong Kong and Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestras, and appearances at the BBC Proms as conductor and soloist.

oboe

Nathan Hughes is Principal Oboe of the Metropolitan Opera and a member of the faculty at The Juilliard School.  He previously served as Principal Oboe of the Seattle Symphony and has recorded, toured, and made guest appearances as Principal Oboe with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and San Francisco Symphony.

oboe

Robert Ingliss is principal oboe of the New Jersey Symphony and The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. He’s premiered solo and chamber music works by numerous composers, including Milton Babbitt, Elliott Carter, Marc-André Dalbavie, Henri Dutilleux, and Charles Wuorinen. He’s performed in more than 30 countries on five continents, and, as a soloist, his engagements have included the American Symphony Orchestra, Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, League of Composers/ISCM Chamber Players, New Jersey Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Santa Fe Pro Musica, and the Washington Square Music Festival, among others. Ingliss has taught at Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence College, SUNY Purchase, and the University of Connecticut.

clarinet

Todd Levy is principal clarinet of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. He’s a four-time Grammy Award winner, and he’s performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall and the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York City, with the Israel Philharmonic, and at the White House in Washington, DC.

clarinet

Winner of both the Avery Fisher Career Grant (1987) and the Avery Fisher Prize (2000), David Shifrin is in constant demand as an orchestral soloist, recitalist and chamber music collaborator.

Mr. Shifrin has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras and the Dallas, Seattle, Houston, Milwaukee, Detroit, Fort Worth, Hawaii and Phoenix Symphonies, among many others in the United States, as well as with orchestras in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan.

bassoon

Argentinian-born bassoonist Julia Harguindey joined the Nashville Symphony and The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra as principal bassoon at the beginning of the 2016–17 season. She’s performed with the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and as guest principal bassoon with numerous ensembles, including the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Les Violons du Roy (in Québec).

bassoon

Sue Heineman has been principal bassoonist of the National Symphony Orchestra since September 2000. Prior to joining the NSO, she held positions with the New Haven, Memphis, New Mexico, and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras.

horn

Gregory Flint is an associate professor of horn at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to his UWM appointment, he taught horn at DePaul University and brass chamber music at his alma mater, Northwestern University.

horn

Julia Pilant is assistant principal horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and a horn instructor at the Bard College Conservatory of Music. Before joining the Met, she was principal horn of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra for 10 years. She then returned to New York City, where she frequently performed with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s; Stamford and American symphony orchestras; New York City Ballet, Orpheus Chamber, and New York City Opera orchestras; and orchestras for various Broadway shows.