Hotchkiss Portals Chamber Music
10 Years of Concerts With a View
2013 Opening Concert:
Melvin Chen and 2013 Portals Resident Quartet
Monday, June 24, 2013, 7:30 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION
2013 marks the 10th year anniversary of the Hotchkiss Portals Chamber Music Series, Concerts With a View, June 24-July 20. This incredible concert series features internationally acclaimed musicians who perform in the magnificent Katherine M. Elfers Hall, Esther Eastman Music Center on the bucolic grounds of The Hotchkiss School campus. The concerts are free and open to the public; the hall is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. Throughout the series, student musicians will also offer public performances. Please visit www.hotchkissportals.org for a complete schedule, or phone the concert hotline, (860) 435-3775.
The opening concert on June 24 at 7:30 p.m. will feature Melvin Chen, Artistic Director of the Portals Chamber Music Program, with the 2013 Resident Quartet: Péter Bársony, viola; HyeJin Kim, violin; Clancy Newman, cello; and TienHsin Cindy Wu, violin. The program includes works by Johannes Brahms, Eflat Viola Sonata, Leoš Janáček, Sonata for Violin and Piano, Antonín Dvořák, Piano Quartet in Eflat. This group of professional and internationally acclaimed musicians form the core faculty of the chamber music program and will perform throughout the season with other visiting quartets such as the Miró, Shanghai, and Brentano Quartets.
Melvin Chen, piano, violin
A native of Tennessee, pianist Melvin Chen is recognized as an important artist, having received acclaim for performances throughout the United States and abroad. As a soloist and chamber musician Mr. Chen has performed at major venues in the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Weill Recital Hall, the Frick Collection, Kennedy Center, and Boston’s Jordan Hall, in addition to other appearances throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia. In recent seasons Mr. Chen’s concerts have included solo recitals at Weill Recital Hall, concerto performances with the American Symphony Orchestra, Marin Symphony, Springfield Symphony, and the Paducah Symphony, along with numerous solo and chamber music appearances internationally and in the United States. He was the pianist in Ricky Ian Gordon’s Orpheus and Euridice, which was presented by Lincoln Center and which received a special citation from the Obie awards.
Mr. Chen’s performances have been featured on radio and television stations around the globe,
including KBS television and radio in Korea, NHK television in Japan, and NPR in the United
States.Solo recordings include Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations on the Bridge label, praised as “a
classic” by the American Record Guide, and a recording of Joan Tower’s piano music on the
Naxos label. Recent recordings of the Shostakovich piano sonatas and Gordon’s Orpheus and
Euridice were released to critical acclaim.
An enthusiastic chamber musician, Mr. Chen has collaborated with such artists as Ida Kavafian, Steven Tenenbom, David Shifrin, Pamela Frank, and Peter Wiley; with the Shanghai, Tokyo, Miami, Penderecki, and Miro quartets; and in contemporary music collaborations with the Da Capo Chamber Players and The St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble. Mr. Chen is an alumnus of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Chamber Music Society Two, where he appeared with members of the Chamber Music Society in performance and educational programs for two seasons. A performer in numerous music festivals, he has performed at the Bravo! Vail Valley
Music Festival, Music Mountain, Chautauqua, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Bard Music Festival, and Music from Angel Fire, among others.
Mr. Chen completed a doctorate in chemistry from Harvard University, and also holds a double master’s degree from The Juilliard School in piano and violin, where he studied with Seymour Lipkin and Glenn Dicterow, respectively. At Juilliard, he was the recipient of the U.S. Department of Education Jacob Javits Fellowship, as well as the William Petschek Piano Scholarship and the Ruth D. Rosenman Memorial Scholarship. Previously, he attended Yale University, receiving a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and physics. Upon graduation he was awarded the New Prize by the fellows of Jonathan Edwards College. During his tenure at Yale he studied with Boris Berman, Paul Kantor, and Ida Kavafian.
Mr. Chen was recently appointed as associate professor of piano and deputy dean at the Yale School of Music. Previously, Mr. Chen was on the piano faculty of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, where he was also associate director. He is artistic director of the chamber music program at Hotchkiss Summer Portals.
A native of Tennessee, pianist Melvin Chen is recognized as an important artist, having received acclaim for performances throughout the United States and abroad. As a soloist and chamber musician Mr. Chen has performed at major venues in the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Weill Recital Hall, the Frick Collection, Kennedy Center, and Boston’s Jordan Hall, in addition to other appearances throughout the United States, Canada, and Asia. In recent seasons Mr. Chen’s concerts have included solo recitals at Weill Recital Hall, concerto performances with the American Symphony Orchestra, Marin Symphony, Springfield Symphony, and the Paducah Symphony, along with numerous solo and chamber music appearances internationally and in the United States. He was the pianist in Ricky Ian Gordon’s Orpheus and Euridice, which was presented by Lincoln Center and which received a special citation from the Obie awards.
Mr. Chen’s performances have been featured on radio and television stations around the globe,
including KBS television and radio in Korea, NHK television in Japan, and NPR in the United
States.Solo recordings include Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations on the Bridge label, praised as “a
classic” by the American Record Guide, and a recording of Joan Tower’s piano music on the
Naxos label. Recent recordings of the Shostakovich piano sonatas and Gordon’s Orpheus and
Euridice were released to critical acclaim.
An enthusiastic chamber musician, Mr. Chen has collaborated with such artists as Ida Kavafian, Steven Tenenbom, David Shifrin, Pamela Frank, and Peter Wiley; with the Shanghai, Tokyo, Miami, Penderecki, and Miro quartets; and in contemporary music collaborations with the Da Capo Chamber Players and The St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble. Mr. Chen is an alumnus of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: Chamber Music Society Two, where he appeared with members of the Chamber Music Society in performance and educational programs for two seasons. A performer in numerous music festivals, he has performed at the Bravo! Vail Valley
Music Festival, Music Mountain, Chautauqua, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Bard Music Festival, and Music from Angel Fire, among others.
Mr. Chen completed a doctorate in chemistry from Harvard University, and also holds a double master’s degree from The Juilliard School in piano and violin, where he studied with Seymour Lipkin and Glenn Dicterow, respectively. At Juilliard, he was the recipient of the U.S. Department of Education Jacob Javits Fellowship, as well as the William Petschek Piano Scholarship and the Ruth D. Rosenman Memorial Scholarship. Previously, he attended Yale University, receiving a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and physics. Upon graduation he was awarded the New Prize by the fellows of Jonathan Edwards College. During his tenure at Yale he studied with Boris Berman, Paul Kantor, and Ida Kavafian.
Mr. Chen was recently appointed as associate professor of piano and deputy dean at the Yale School of Music. Previously, Mr. Chen was on the piano faculty of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, where he was also associate director. He is artistic director of the chamber music program at Hotchkiss Summer Portals.
Péter Bársony, viola
Born in Budapest, violist Péter Bársony graduated from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in 2000. He is a founding member of the Akadémia and Somogyi String quartets, was member of the Keller String Quartet. In addition, he has been the solo violist of Concerto Budapest since 2000. An international performer, Bársony’s chamber partners represent the best young European pianists and string players. A frequent participant in international festivals, Bársony has performed at Santander, Ravinia Festival, Amadeo, Mostly Mozart, and Schubertiada, Brionnais. He has been a guest principal violist with the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the
Osaka Century Orchestra among others. A 2004 recipient of an Annie Fischer Grant, he is a passionate advocate for contemporary music, dedicating several concerts annually to new music. He is also a member of the Chamber Ensemble for Contemporary Music. A faculty member at his alma mater Franz Liszt Academy of Music since 2004, Bársony also teaches master classes around the world. His latest compact disc, released in 2010, includes the complete works for viola by Hungarian violinist and composer Jenő Hubay, including the
Concerto for viola and orchestra. In 2013 he will make his Carnegie Hall debut with the American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein.
Hye-Jin Kim, violin
Born in Seoul, Korea, Hye-Jin Kim began studying violin at age eight. At 14 she entered Philadelphia’s famed Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Jaime Laredo and Ida Kavafian. She earned her Master’s at the New England Conservatory (NEC) as a recipient of prestigious Emma V. Lambrose Presidential Scholarship.
Dedicated to engaging local communities with classical music, Kim frequently performs in classrooms, senior citizen or community centers. She has also served as a cultural representative from Korea to Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. A multiple prize winner, Kim won the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition at 19. Five years later she was the winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition where she was lauded for her supremely musical playing. In the 2010-11 season, Kim made her debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as part of the CAG winners series. As a soloist, she has performed
with orchestras in Philadelphia, New Jersey, London, and Seoul. A passionate chamber musician, Ms. Kim's collaborative appearances include Music at Menlo, Madison Chamber Music Festival (GA), Chamber Music at Gretna, Kansas City's Sunflower Festival, and a spring 2011 tour with Musicians from Marlboro.
Born in Budapest, violist Péter Bársony graduated from the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in 2000. He is a founding member of the Akadémia and Somogyi String quartets, was member of the Keller String Quartet. In addition, he has been the solo violist of Concerto Budapest since 2000. An international performer, Bársony’s chamber partners represent the best young European pianists and string players. A frequent participant in international festivals, Bársony has performed at Santander, Ravinia Festival, Amadeo, Mostly Mozart, and Schubertiada, Brionnais. He has been a guest principal violist with the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the
Osaka Century Orchestra among others. A 2004 recipient of an Annie Fischer Grant, he is a passionate advocate for contemporary music, dedicating several concerts annually to new music. He is also a member of the Chamber Ensemble for Contemporary Music. A faculty member at his alma mater Franz Liszt Academy of Music since 2004, Bársony also teaches master classes around the world. His latest compact disc, released in 2010, includes the complete works for viola by Hungarian violinist and composer Jenő Hubay, including the
Concerto for viola and orchestra. In 2013 he will make his Carnegie Hall debut with the American Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Leon Botstein.
Hye-Jin Kim, violin
Born in Seoul, Korea, Hye-Jin Kim began studying violin at age eight. At 14 she entered Philadelphia’s famed Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Jaime Laredo and Ida Kavafian. She earned her Master’s at the New England Conservatory (NEC) as a recipient of prestigious Emma V. Lambrose Presidential Scholarship.
Dedicated to engaging local communities with classical music, Kim frequently performs in classrooms, senior citizen or community centers. She has also served as a cultural representative from Korea to Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. A multiple prize winner, Kim won the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition at 19. Five years later she was the winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition where she was lauded for her supremely musical playing. In the 2010-11 season, Kim made her debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as part of the CAG winners series. As a soloist, she has performed
with orchestras in Philadelphia, New Jersey, London, and Seoul. A passionate chamber musician, Ms. Kim's collaborative appearances include Music at Menlo, Madison Chamber Music Festival (GA), Chamber Music at Gretna, Kansas City's Sunflower Festival, and a spring 2011 tour with Musicians from Marlboro.
Clancy Newman, cello
Cellist Clancy Newman has a dual career as both performer and composer. As a cellist, he has performed as soloist in most of America’s major cities, and has been a member of Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center and Musicians from Marlboro. He is currently a member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians and the WeissKaplanNewman Trio. As a composer, he has been featured on the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s “Double Exposure” series and the Chicago Chamber Musicians’ “Freshly Scored” series, and has received numerous distinguished commissions.
Competitions Mr. Newman has won include Gold Medal for Strings at the Dandenong Youth Festival in Australia, the Juilliard School Cello Competition, the National Federation of Music Clubs competition, and the Astral Artists National Auditions. Under Astral’s auspices, his String Quartet (2002), Sonata for Cello and Piano (2004), and “Four Seasons” for cello and chamber orchestra (2005) received their world premieres. He premiered his Four Pieces for Solo Cello (2003) at the Violoncello Society in New York City. He has received commissions from Astral Artists, the Barnett Foundation, the Carpe Diem String Quartet, and the UBS Chamber Music Festival of Lexington.
Upon receiving a Master of Music Degree from The Juilliard School, he became one of the first students to complete the five-year exchange program between Juilliard and Columbia University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, violin
Violinist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu enjoys a versatile career as a soloist and a chamber musician. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where she received the Milka Violin Artist Fellowship, and a 2010 graduate of Thornton School of Music at the University of California, Wu has performed extensively in Taiwan, Europe and North America, at such prominent venues as Carnegie Hall and Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. In the spring of 2009, she appeared as guest violist with the Orion String Quartet during their tour of Asia. Her summer festival appearances include Marlboro Music Festival, Sante Fe Chamber Music Festival, and La Jolla
Music Society Summerfest. She has also served as a chamber music coach at the ENCORE School for Strings. Wu is currently an adjunct professor of violin and chamber music at the Thornton School of Music.
The Hotchkiss School is located at 11 Interlaken Road in Lakeville, Connecticut. Visit www.hotchkissportals.org for more details or call (860)435-3775 for concert information.
Cellist Clancy Newman has a dual career as both performer and composer. As a cellist, he has performed as soloist in most of America’s major cities, and has been a member of Chamber Music Society Two of Lincoln Center and Musicians from Marlboro. He is currently a member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians and the WeissKaplanNewman Trio. As a composer, he has been featured on the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s “Double Exposure” series and the Chicago Chamber Musicians’ “Freshly Scored” series, and has received numerous distinguished commissions.
Competitions Mr. Newman has won include Gold Medal for Strings at the Dandenong Youth Festival in Australia, the Juilliard School Cello Competition, the National Federation of Music Clubs competition, and the Astral Artists National Auditions. Under Astral’s auspices, his String Quartet (2002), Sonata for Cello and Piano (2004), and “Four Seasons” for cello and chamber orchestra (2005) received their world premieres. He premiered his Four Pieces for Solo Cello (2003) at the Violoncello Society in New York City. He has received commissions from Astral Artists, the Barnett Foundation, the Carpe Diem String Quartet, and the UBS Chamber Music Festival of Lexington.
Upon receiving a Master of Music Degree from The Juilliard School, he became one of the first students to complete the five-year exchange program between Juilliard and Columbia University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.
Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, violin
Violinist Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu enjoys a versatile career as a soloist and a chamber musician. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where she received the Milka Violin Artist Fellowship, and a 2010 graduate of Thornton School of Music at the University of California, Wu has performed extensively in Taiwan, Europe and North America, at such prominent venues as Carnegie Hall and Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. In the spring of 2009, she appeared as guest violist with the Orion String Quartet during their tour of Asia. Her summer festival appearances include Marlboro Music Festival, Sante Fe Chamber Music Festival, and La Jolla
Music Society Summerfest. She has also served as a chamber music coach at the ENCORE School for Strings. Wu is currently an adjunct professor of violin and chamber music at the Thornton School of Music.
The Hotchkiss School is located at 11 Interlaken Road in Lakeville, Connecticut. Visit www.hotchkissportals.org for more details or call (860)435-3775 for concert information.
RSS Feed