BRATTLEBORO — On Saturday, Oct. 30, the Brattleboro Music Center will present Sophie Shao, one of the leading cellists of her generation, and an ensemble of tremendous virtuosic talent at Centre Congregational Church.
Sophie Shao & Friends, including Daniel Phillips, violin, Arnaud Sussmann, violin, Eric Nowlin, viola, Sophie Shao, cello, and Pei-Yao Wang, piano, will perform the first concert in the BMC's 2010-11 Chamber Music Series. The program includes Ravel's Sonata for violin and cello, Elgar's quintet in a minor for piano and string quartet, op. 84, and Schumann's piano quintet in E-flat major, op. 44.
At 19, cellist Sophie Shao received the Avery Fisher Career Grant, and has since performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Winner of top prizes at the Rostropovich and Tchaikovsky Competitions, The New York Times has applauded her “eloquent, powerful” interpretations of repertoire ranging from Bach and Beethoven to Crumb. She is on the faculty of Vassar College and the Bard Conservatory of Music.
Violinist Daniel Phillips enjoys a versatile career as an established chamber musician, solo artist and teacher. Born into a musical family, he began violin studies at age four with his father Eugene Phillips, a composer and former violinist with the Pittsburgh Symphony. He continued his training at the Juilliard School. He was a winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in 1976, and has performed as soloist with many American symphonies.
Winner of a 2009 Avery Fisher Career Grant, 25-year-old violinist Arnaud Sussmann has performed as a soloist all over the world with many of today's leading artists. Sussmann has won several international competitions and awards.
Second-prize winner of the 2006 Walter W. Naumburg competition, violist Eric Nowlin has performed extensively throughout the United States as well as abroad. Nowlin, an active chamber musician, has participated in festivals such as the Marlboro Music Festival and the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia. He is a regular member of the Jupiter Chamber Players in New York City, and also tours with Musicians from Marlboro and Musicians from Ravinia's Steans Institute.
Pianist Pei-Yao Wang, a chamber musician, made her official orchestral debut with the Taipei Symphony Orchestra at age 8 and has since performed as soloist with the Stamford Symphony, Orlando Symphony, and Taipei Philharmonic.
The concert is the first in the center's 2010-11 Chamber Music Series. For more information, visit www.bmcvt.org.