A program combining the little-known classical string trios by Haydn and Boccherini alongside Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G Minor.
The salon will last just over an hour and will be followed by a light reception, to which all are invited.
Join us on Friday, March 14th at the historic A.D. White House at 5pm. This event is free and open to the public, co-sponsored by The Society for Humanities.
About the artists:
Andrew Willis
Pianist Andrew Willis (andrewwillispianist.com) explores the historical development of keyboard instruments and their performance practice, maintaining a commitment to the study, performance, and teaching of the widest possible range of repertoire. Keenly interested in the history of the piano, he contributes frequently to conferences, festivals, and concert series. He was a past president of the Southeastern Historical Keyboard Society and a Trustee of the Westfield Center for Historical Keyboard Studies, having served as a juror for the latter’s International Fortepiano Competition.
As Covington Distinguished Professor of Music in the UNC Greensboro School of Music, Willis taught performance on instruments ranging from harpsichord to modern piano. He directed the biennial UNCG Focus on Piano Literature for over a decade and inaugurated a student Historical Performance Consort. For the Albany, Bridge, Claves, Centaur, and CRI labels he has recorded solo and ensemble music of three centuries on pianos linked historically to the chosen repertoire.
Willis received the D.M.A. in Historical Performance from Cornell University, where he studied fortepiano with Malcolm Bilson, the M.M. in Accompanying and Chamber Music from Temple University under Lambert Orkis and George Sementovsky, and the B.M. in Piano from The Curtis Institute of Music, where his mentor was Mieczyslaw Horszowski.
The Vivaldi Project
Elizabeth Field (violin), Allison Edberg Nyquist (violin), Stephanie Vial (cello)
Praised for its brilliant and expressive playing, The Vivaldi Project, co-directed by Cornell alumnae Elizabeth Field and Stephanie Vial, is dedicated to presenting innovative programs of Baroque and Classical string repertoire that combine scholarship and performance to both educate and delight audiences. The period instrument ensemble takes its name from the virtuoso violinist and innovative composer Antonio Vivaldi, recognizing his pivotal position between earlier Baroque and later Classical composers. The Vivaldi Project can be heard on radio stations around the world, including live performances and interviews for Washingtond’s WETA, North Carolina’s WCPE and WUNC, Indiana’s WBAA, and Minnesota Public Radio. The Vivaldi Project has produced a number of educational videos and held workshops and residencies at music schools around the country, including the University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, the Boston Conservatory, and the Curtis Institute of Music. The ensemble recently released the fourth volume in its critically acclaimed series, Discovering the Classical String Trio (MSR Classics), described by Gramophone as "captivating" and "highly recommended."
