March 9, 2024: Curtis on Tour

Curtis on Tour

March 9, 2024

NICHOLS CONCERT HALL

2023-2024

The Music Institute of Chicago is grateful to all its funders and partners, whose generous support helps us to entertain, inspire, and educate through live music performed by both new emerging artists and the most established artists of our time.

Special thanks to these annual institutional funders: Paul Galvin Memorial Foundation, John R. Halligan Charitable Fund, Irving Harris Foundation, ITW, Negaunee Foundation, John D. & Alexandra C. Nichols Family Foundation, Northern Trust, Sargent Family Foundation, and many others.

We acknowledge the generous support of the Illinois Arts Council Agency as well as the support of the Highland Park Community Foundation and the Evanston Arts Council, a city agency supported by the City of Evanston; the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Thank you to our technical sponsor

This program is partially funded by the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Sponsorship opportunities range from concerts and performances, to the annual Gala, special capital projects, and community engagement initiatives. For more information contact the Development Office: 847.448.8327.

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Music Institute of Chicago, a place where generations of families have come for music lessons and classes. Welcome also to Nichols Concert Hall, a premier performance space where we feature world-class artists right here in downtown Evanston.

Tonight, we are pleased to welcome back acclaimed violinist and Music Institute alumnus Benjamin Beilman as part of Curtis on Tour, the Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music.

This concert series is only one part of our mission. As a top-tier, nonprofit community music school, we offer music lessons and classes to thousands of students of all ages and levels each year. We are also deeply committed to making music and music education accessible to people and communities who might not otherwise have access. Quality music education sets the stage for success in all fields and endeavors. You can learn more about lessons and classes, upcoming concerts, or, how to support this concert series, at musicinst.org.

I look forward to seeing you and your friends again at Nichols Concert Hall!

Mark George President and CEO Music Institute of Chicago

CURTIS ON TOUR

Curtis on Tour is the Nina von Maltzahn global touring initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music. Embracing the school’s “learn by doing” philosophy, ensembles are infused with the energy and passion of extraordinary emerging artists performing alongside celebrated alumni and faculty. In addition to performances, musicians engage with local communities through educational and community engagement activities. For 15 years, Curtis on Tour has maintained a presence at top international concert halls, performing more than 450 concerts in over 120 cities, from New York to Berlin and Hong Kong to Santiago.

ABOUT CURTIS INSTITUTE OF MUSIC

The Curtis Institute of Music educates and trains exceptionally gifted young musicians to engage a local and global community through the highest level of artistry. Since 1924, Curtis has provided each member of its small student body with an unparalleled education alongside musical peers, distinguished by a “learn by doing” philosophy and personalized attention from a faculty of world-class musicians and educators. With admissions based solely on artistic promise, no student is turned away due to financial need. Curtis invests in each admitted student, ensuring no tuition is charged for their studies and they enter the profession free from educational debt.

Curtis students hone their craft through more than 200 orchestra, opera, and solo and chamber music offerings each year in addition to collaborative projects within the community to provide arts access and education. This realworld training empowers these extraordinary young artists to become inspiring performers, composers, conductors, creators, and musical leaders, making a profound impact on music onstage and in their communities.

To learn more, visit Curtis.edu.

CURTIS ON TOUR

The Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music

Saturday, March 9 at 7:30 pm

ARTISTS

Benjamin Beilman, violin

Na Hyun Della Kyun, violin

Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, viola

Emad Zolfaghari, viola

Oliver Herbert, cello

Francis Carr, cello

String Sextet from Capriccio, Op. 85

Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

Piano Sonata in B minor, Op. 1 (Trans. By Heime Müller) Alban Berg (1885-1935)

Illuminating Arches

Alyssa Weinberg (b. 1988)

INTERMISSION

String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36

Johannes Brahms

Allegro non troppo (1833-1897)

Scherzo. Allegro non troppo – Presto giocoso

Poco Adagio

Poco Allegro

ONE COMPOSER, ONE COMMUNITY

First launched at the Music Institute of Chicago in 2021, One Composer, One Community (OCOC) focuses on the life and work of a single, often underrepresented BIPOC composer over the course of an academic year.

This year, One Composer, One Community celebrates and explores the music Indian-American composer Reena Esmail. Esmail works between the worlds of Indian and Western classical music, and brings communities together through the creation of equitable musical spaces.

Esmail is the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s 2020-2025 Swan Family Artist in Residence, and was Seattle Symphony’s 2020-21 Composer-inResidence. She also holds awards/fellowships from United States Artists, the S&R Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Kennedy Center. Her music has featured on multiple Grammy-nominated albums, including The Singing Guitar by Conspirare, BRUITS by Imani Winds, and Healing Modes by Brooklyn Rider.

Faculty and Student Showcase Concert

Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 pm

Nichols Concert Hall

Free and open to the public

This year, the Music Institute is pleased to welcome Reena Esmail April 19-21 for a number of student workshops and special events including a free, public showcase concert at Nichols Concert Hall.

BENJAMIN BEILMAN, VIOLIN

Benjamin Beilman is one of the leading violinists of his generation. He has won international praise for his passionate performances and deep rich tone which the Washington Post called “mightily impressive,” and The New York Times described as “muscular with a glint of violence.” The Times has also praised his “handsome technique, burnished sound, and quiet confidence,” and the Strad described his playing as “pure poetry.”

Beilman’s 23/24 season includes his debut with the St. Louis Symphony under Cristian Macelaru, and returns to the Minnesota Orchestra with Elim Chan, the Oregon Symphony with David Danzmayr, and the Pacific Symphony, whom he will play-direct in a program of Vivaldi. The same season will also see six weeks of performances in Europe, including concerts with the SWR Symphonieorchester Stuttgart alongside Elim Chan, a return to the Kölner Philharmonie with the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken, and appearances at the Grafenegg Festival, Festpielhaus St. Pölten, and the Musikverein in Vienna with the Tonkünstler Orchester and Tabita Berglund. Beilman will also return to play-direct the London Chamber Orchestra, and will reunite with Ryan Bancroft in making his debut with BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and with Roderick Cox in returning to Orchestre National Montpellier Occitanie. He will also continue his performances of the Britten Concerto with the Estonian National Symphony.

In April 2022, Beilman became one of the youngest artists to be appointed to the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music, and in 23/24 will lead a Curtis string ensemble in a national tour.

In recent seasons, Beilman’s commitment to, and passion for contemporary music has led to new works written for him by Frederic Rzewski (commissioned by Music Accord), and Gabriella Smith (commissioned by the Schubert Club in St. Paul, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music). He has also given multiple performances of Jennifer Higdon’s violin concerto, and recorded Thomas Larcher’s concerto with Hannu Lintu and the Tonkünstler Orchester, as well as premiered Chris Rogerson’s Violin Concerto (“The Little Prince”) with the Kansas City Symphony and Gemma New.

In past seasons, Beilman has performed with many major orchestras worldwide including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Rotterdam Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Trondheim Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, Taipei Symphony, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Zurich Tonhalle, Sydney Symphony, and Houston Symphony. He has also toured Australia in recital under Musica Aviva, including stops in in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, and Sydney.

Conductors with whom he works include Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Cristian Măcelaru, Lahav Shani, Krzysztof Urbański, Ryan Bancroft, Matthias Pintscher, Gemma New, Karina Canellakis, Jonathon Heyward, Juraj Valčuha, Han-Na Chang, Elim Chan, Roderick Cox, Rafael Payare, Osmo Vänskä, and Giancarlo Guerrero.

In recital and chamber music, Beilman performs regularly at the major halls across the world, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Kölner Philharmonie, Berlin Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall, Louvre (Paris), Bunka Kaikan (Tokyo) and at festivals he has performed at Verbier, Aix-en-Provence Easter, Prague Dvorak, Robeco Summer Concerts (Amsterdam), Music@ Menlo, Marlboro and Seattle Chamber Music, amongst others. He also continues to perform with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

Beilman studied at the Curtis Institute of Music with Ida Kavafian and Pamela Frank, and with Christian Tetzlaff at the Kronberg Academy, and has received many prestigious accolades including a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, an Avery Fisher Career Grant and a London Music Masters Award. He has also recorded works by Stravinsky, Janáček and Schubert for Warner Classics. He perfoms with the ex-Balakovi F. X. Tourte bow (c. 1820), and plays the “Ysaÿe” Guarneri del Gesù from 1740, generously on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation.

NA HYUN DELLA KYUN, VIOLIN

Na Hyun Della Kyun, from Seoul, entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2022 and studies violin with Shmuel Ashkenasi and Benjamin Beilman. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Ms. Kyun is the Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Fellow.

Ms. Kyun has received numerous awards, including second place in the Sungjung Competition, winner of Group B at the 2020 Singapore Violin Festival Online Competition, first place in the Seoul Youth Chamber Music Competition, and second place in the Ewha and Kyunghyang Music Competition. She participated in the 2014 Peabody Preparatory String Ensemble winner’s concert and performed in the 2013 Asian-American Music Society International String Competition winner’s concert at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Kyun has performed as a soloist with the Mostly Philharmonic Orchestra and was featured in the 2021 House Concert July Festival and the 2019 Kumho Prodigy Concert. She has been a member of the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts Ensemble, the Seoul Arts High School Ensemble, the Korea National institute for the Gifted in Arts Symphony Orchestra, and the Yewon School Orchestra and its chamber ensemble.

Ms. Kyun has attended Music Academy of the West in 2023, the Gifu International Summer Camp, the MusicAlp Festival in France, the Belgium International Academy of Arts Summer Festival, and recently participated in a master class with Glenn Dicterow. She studied with Matthew Horwitz-Lee at Peabody Preparatory and Sung-Ju Lee at the Korean National Institute for the Gifted Arts. When Ms. Kyun is not performing, she is an avid reader and enjoys playing sports.

MILENA PAJARO-VAN DE STADT, VIOLA

Violist Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, the founding violist of the Dover Quartet, performed with the Grammy-nominated string quartet until 2022. She has appeared as a soloist with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony, and the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra; has performed in recitals and chamber music concerts throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia including an acclaimed 2011 debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall; and has served on the juries of the Sphinx Competition and the Banff International String Quartet Competition.

With the Dover Quartet she won first prize and every special award at the Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2013, and the gold medal and grand prize in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in 2010. Her numerous awards also include first prize at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, and top prizes at the Tokyo International Viola Competition and the Sphinx Competition.

A violin student of Sergiu Schwartz and Melissa Pierson-Barrett for several years, she began studying viola with Michael Klotz at the Bowdoin International Music Festival in 2005. Ms. Pajaro-van de Stadt graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Roberto Díaz, Michael Tree, Misha Amory, and Joseph de Pasquale. She received a master’s degree in string quartet performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where she studied with James Dunham as a member of the Dover Quartet.

EMAD ZOLFAGHARI, VIOLA

Emad Zolfaghari, from Oakville, Ontario, entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2021 and studies viola with Hsin-Yun Huang and Misha Amory. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Mr. Zolfaghari is the Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams Jr. Fellow.

Mr. Zolfaghari has received many prestigious awards, including first prize at the 2023 Irving M. Klein International String Competition, the François Schubert Grand Prize at the 2022 OMNI Music Competition, second prize at the 2022 Johansen International String Competition, and in 2023 was the first violist to receive first prize at the International Morningside Music Bridge Competition. His other accolades include second prize at the 2021 Ronald Sachs International Music Competition, fourth prize and the Paul J. Bourret Memorial Award for Best Performance of the Test Piece at the 2021 Shean Strings Competition, and first prize at the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Competition.

Mr. Zolfaghari has appeared as a soloist with several major symphony orchestras, including l’Orchestre Métropolitain at the Maison Symphonique in Montréal under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in Roy Thomson Hall, the National Philharmonic in Strathmore Hall, the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, and the National Metropolitan Philharmonic.

Mr. Zolfaghari was member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, often performing as principal viola, and a member of the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists where he studied with Theresa Rudolph, assistant principal viola of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. In May 2023, Mr. Zolfaghari served as principal viola for the Curtis Symphony Orchestra during its West Coast Tour. He has attended summer festivals including the Perlman Music Program, Morningside Music Bridge, Center Stage Strings, and Music from Angel Fire. He currently plays a 1785 Lorenzo Storioni viola on generous loan from Reuning & Sons Violins, Brookline.

OLIVER HERBERT, CELLO

Cellist Oliver Herbert is quickly building a reputation as an artist with a distinct voice and individual style, admired by audiences for his communicative and connective performances. The recipient of a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Oliver has been praised by San Francisco Classical Voice for his “expansive tone, virtuosity, and musical instincts.” Recent appearances include debuts with world renowned ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.

As a chamber musician, Oliver is frequently invited to participate in top music festivals including Caramoor, ChamberFest Cleveland, Krzyżowa Music, La Jolla Summerfest, Marlboro Music, Music in the Vineyards, Nevada Chamber Music Festival, Ravinia, and Verbier. In 2021, Oliver’s trio ensemble with pianist Eric Lu and violinist Alexi Kenney made their debut at the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. In addition, Oliver frequently collaborates with pianist Xiaohui Yang as a recital duo. Together they have performed on tours in both the United States and Greece, and in 2020 released a debut recording featuring the music of Fauré and Janáček. Oliver’s additional recording highlights include a release of Haydn’s D Major Cello Concerto with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony.

Oliver’s awards include a top prize and special prize in the XI Lutoslawski International Cello Competition, first prize and Pablo Casals prize in the 2015 Irving M. Klein International String Competition, and the Prix Jean-Nicolas Firmenich at the 2017 Verbier Festival. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Colburn School, Oliver studied cello performance with Carter Brey, Peter Wiley, and Clive Greensmith.

He currently plays on a 1769 Guadagnini cello that belonged to the great Italian cellist Antonio Janigro, on generous loan from the Janigro family.

FRANCIS CARR, CELLO

English cellist Frankie Carr was born into a family of string players. Following studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School, he performed at festivals across Europe and North America, including Kneisel Hall, Music from Angel Fire, Four Seasons Chamber Music, Loon Lake Live, Stichting Kamermusiek Amsterdam, YPF Amsterdam, the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, and Greenwood.

Mr. Carr’s principal teachers include Colin Carr, Melissa Phelps, Thomas Carroll, Darrett Adkins, Carter Brey, and Peter Wiley. He has also worked with Johannes Goritsky, Joel Krosnick, and members of the Chiara, Emerson, and Juilliard string quartets. Mr. Carr is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music (Cello ’21 and Community Artist Fellow ‘23) and from 2023 to 2025 he will participate in Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect Fellowship program. In his free time, he enjoys long walks and bird watching.

FRIENDS OF THE MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

The Music Institute is grateful for every gift. The following friends made contributions of $5,000 or more between September 1, 2022 and March 5, 2024.

$100,000 and above

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

The Negaunee Foundation

Alexandra C.* and John† D. Nichols

$50,000-$99,999

Mr. John H. Kerhbiel Jr. and Mrs. Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel ITW

Mrs. Barbara Ann Speer

$25,000 - $49,999

John and Pauline Fife

Courtney Holohan* and Wesley Mueller

Illinois Arts Council Agency

KPMG and Scott* and Areta Verschoor

Jim and Kay* Mabie Family

Northern Trust Corporation

Paul M. Angell Family Foundation

John and Kathy Piepgras

Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan

Lee Anne* and Rich Stoddart

Jim Stone*

Zalman* and Karen Usiskin

The Wallace Foundation

Wintrust Commercial Banking

William E. Wolf and Meredith Bluhm-Wolf

$10,000 to $24,999

Anonymous Gifts

Dr. Jim Hsu and Ms. Elisa Barston

Amy Brierly

The Crown Family

Sandy and Roger Deromedi

Janet and Craig Duchossois

Edwardson Family Foundation

Evanston Arts Council

Jim and Karen Frank

Linda and Bill Gantz

Ambassador and Mrs. Ronald J. Gidwitz

Norman and Cynthia Goldring

Mrs. Mona Golub

Dan* and Yoo Mi Hahn

Caryn and King Harris

Horejsi Charitable Foundation

Mrs. Caroline T. and Mr. Charles K. Huebner

J. Thomas Hurvis and Ann Andersen

John R. Halligan Charitable Fund

Anne L. Kaplan

Ethelle Katz

Susan Kiphart

Mrs. Paul Klimstra

LEARN Charter School Network

Tom and Joyce Leddy

Diane vS. and Robert M. Levy

Mr. Ernest Mahaffey

Molex Incorporated

Cathy and Bill Osborn

Renée Parquette*

Timothy Patenode* and Judy Royal

Paul Galvin Memorial Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts

Bill and Cathy Osborn

Ms. Sheila Penrose

Ravinia Festival Association

Andrew and Betsy Rosenfield

Michael and Cari Sacks

Sage Foundation

Scott and Nancy Santi

Sargent Family Foundation

Barbara* and Peter Sereda

Liz Stiffel

The John Taylor Family

The Canning Foundation

UL

Audrey Weaver

Mr. Miles D. White

$5,000 to $9,999

Anonymous Gifts

Rachel Berger

Lavin Family Foundation

BMO Harris Bank

Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bobins,

The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation

Boys & Girls Club of Chicago

Paul* and Katie Brourman

Carlos R. Cardenas*

Lawrence Corry

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Deangelis

Thomas W. Dower Foundation

Thomas L. and Patricia S. Gahlon

Hans* and Denitta Germann

Highland Park Community Foundation

Dr. Erin and Dr. Wellington Hsu

Irving Harris Foundation

Dolores Kohl Education Fund

Dolores Kohn Kaplan

Karen and Mark Koulogeorge

Madigan Family Foundation

Breeda McGrath

Mr. and Mrs. William J. McKenna

Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Moore

Mary P. Murley

Yana Nedvetsky* and Axel Vargas

Ms. Elizabeth O’Connor and Mr. Christopher Thomas

Katherine L. Olson

Mr. Robert Perlmutter

Vikram K. Raghavan* & Shruthi Atmaram

Sidley Austin LLP

Dr. Scholl Foundation

Suzanne T. Smart

Jane Arries Solomon

Jennifer Steans and Jim Kastenholz

Pam and Russ Strobel

Ross* and Emily Parker Updegraff

David and Marilyn Vitale

Catherine M. and Frederick H. Waddell

Audra Wilson*

Florian Zettelmeyer* and Meghan Buss

David* and Eileen Zampa

* Trustee

† Deceased

The Music Institute

of

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

TRUSTEES

Scott Verschoor, Chair

Alexandra C. Nichols, Chair Emerita

Timothy J. Patenode, Treasurer

Barbara Sereda, Secretary

Carlos R. Cardenas, CPA, Vice Chair

Lee Anne Stoddart, Vice Chair

Paul Brourman

Hans Germann

Daniel Hahn

Courtney Holohan

Kay Mabie

Yana Nedvetsky

Renée Parquette

Vikram Raghavan

Jim Stone

Ross Updegraff

Zalman Usiskin

Audra Wilson

David Zampa

Florian Zettelmeyer

Tao Zhu

LIFE TRUSTEES

John J. Berwanger

Mitzi Freidheim

Brooks Morgan

Rachel Barton Pine

Betsey L. Puth

Priscilla F. Richman

William N. Topaz

HONORARY BOARD

Jennifer Koh

Nina Kraus

Deborah F. Rutter

EX-OFFICIO TRUSTEES

Mark George

Christopher Rintz

THE MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO leads people toward a lifelong engagement with music through unparalleled teaching, exceptional performances, and valuable service initiatives that educate, inspire, and build strong, healthy communities.

Since its founding in 1931, the Music Institute’s commitment to innovation, access, and excellence has served as an important community resource and helps to ensure music is available to everyone. Each year, the Music Institute provides personalized music instruction to more than 2,000 students, regardless of age, level of experience, or financial means, across seven Community Music School locations in Chicago, Downers Grove, Evanston, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, and Winnetka, as well as online.

In addition, the Music Institute brings music education, arts curriculum integration, professional development, and music performance and engagement opportunities to thousands in the Chicago area; offers scholarship opportunities to students in its Community School and its Academy, a nationally recognized training center for highly gifted pre-college pianists and string players; and welcomes thousands of visitors annually for performances, master classes, and special events at Nichols Concert Hall. For