Concerts @ First and Challenge the Stats
Present Trials to Triumph
MLK Day Concert
Trials to Triumph MLK Day Concert
Co-presented with Concerts @ First and Challenge the Stats
Challenge the Stats in Residence at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta
Andrew Brady, Bassoon Elizabeth Pridgen, Piano
Trouble Don’t Last Mark Lomax II Elegy for Innocence Jeffrey Scott (b. 1967)
INTERMISSON
H. Leslie Adams (b. 1932)
My Young Friend Stefan L. Smith (b. 1985) Poem of Love
Native Tennessean Andrew Brady joins The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in the 2022.23 season as Principal Bassoon. Brady comes to Minnesota from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, having served there as Principal Bassoon since January 2016. Prior to the ASO, Brady held the same position for two years with the Louisiana Philharmonic.
As a soloist, Brady has performed concertos by Hertel, Rossini, Mozart, Weber and Zwilich with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Symphony, the Los Angeles Doctor’s Symphony and The Colburn Orchestra. He appears regularly as Principal Bassoonist with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, and he has performed as guest principal with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, as well as at Carnegie Hall and on European tours with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
Brady’s artistry is in high demand and has taken him to South Africa, Korea, China, Mexico and the United Kingdom as well as many destinations within the contiguous United States for both performances and teaching engagements. In past summers, Brady has been a proud member of the Chineke! Orchestra including a performance at the 2017 BBC Proms. The ensemble is the UK’s first Black and ethnically diverse orchestra and seeks to promote diversity and change within classical music by increasing representation and visibility of musicians of color. Andrew is also thrilled to have participated in the “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” concert with the Re-Collective Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl in June 2022. The concert was broadcast live on CNN and marked the first performance of an all-black orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl. The celebration featured such legendary artists as Chaka Khan, The Roots, Michelle Williams and Earth, Wind & Fire.
Enthusiastically involved in music education, Brady has taught as an Artist-in-Residence at Kennesaw State University, and he is sought after for masterclasses and private tutelage. He has also served on the faculties of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, Brevard Music Center, Festival Napa Valley and National Youth Orchestra/NYO2 through Carnegie Hall.
Brady graduated with his Bachelor of Music degree from The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in 2013, where he studied with Richard Beene. Other major teachers and influences include Anthony Parnther, Rick Ranti and Suzanne Nelsen.
AbouttheArtists
Praised for her “big piano presence” (American Record Guide), Elizabeth Pridgen has distinguished herself as a soloist and chamber musician. Recent concerts include appearances at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, the Tilles Center on Long Island, Spivey Hall in Atlanta, and the “Rising Stars Series” at the Ravinia Festival. Ms. Pridgen has also performed at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, and the Kosciuszko Foundation, and in recitals in Washington D.C., Aruba, Curaçao, and throughout the Southeast. She has appeared as soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Rome Symphony Orchestra, and Dekalb Symphony Orchestra. For seven consecutive seasons she has been a featured performer at the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival. This summer, in addition to Amelia Island, she will be performing at the Rome Chamber Festival in Rome, Italy, the Strings Music Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the Madison Chamber Music Festival in Madison, Georgia. Ms. Pridgen collaborates regularly with Elmar Oliveira, Robert McDuffie, Andres Diaz, the Diaz String Trio, and the American String Quartet. She has also performed with Lynn Harrell, Hilary Hahn, Sarah Chang, Rachel Barton Pine, and Mark O’Connor. Ms. Pridgen is a member of Trio RPM with violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti, Director of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and Christopher Rex, Principal Cellist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Pridgen is a Distinguished Artist and Piano Chair at the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University.
Ms. Pridgen received her Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School where she studied with Joseph Kalichstein. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the Peabody Conservatory of Music as a student of Ann Schein. Other teachers include Claude Frank, Pamela Frank, Leon Fleisher, and Ursula Oppens. Ms. Pridgen spent two summers at the Tanglewood Music Center where she was awarded the piano prize and selected to perform with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble and the Mark Morris Dance Group at Jacob’s Pillow. She has also been a participant at the Aspen Music Festival, International Musicians’ Seminar in Prussia Cove, England, and the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau, France. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Ms. Pridgen currently resides in New York City.
AbouttheArtists
Concerts @ First 2022-2023 Donors
Maestro Orchestrator
Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Jones in memory of Margaret Bates Block Eberhard and Ann Voit Underwriter
Douglas and Mary Allvine John Cooke
Margaret H. Murphy in memory of Patrick Michael Murphy Charlotte and Tom Shields Mori Shizuko Benefactor
Jim and Carol Dew in honor of Jens Korndörfer Annika Eichenlaub
Bryan Ford Guerry and Michelle Mashburn
Arthur and Mamie Mendez
Suzanne Shull Mrs. Kenneth Taratus
Gail and David Watson in memory of Cary and Brooks Lide; Bill Minnich
Angel
Sally F George in honor of Concerts @ First Patron
Susan B. Anthony Lisa and Stuart Bondurant in honor of Victoria Shorokhova; in memory of Ned Case Elizabeth Fogartie Margaret Howell Charles Johnson Baker and Deborah Smith
Martha Stringer in memory of Jack Stringer Chis Theodossieu Friend Bland and Monique Byrne Drs. Joseph Bishop and Stuart Noel in memory on June Sanford Jenkins Carol Brantley and David Web
Bland and Monique Byrne William Heymann
LeAnn and Roger Neuenschwander Lee Passarella Anne C. Pritchett
Eddy Walter Romero I n memory of Eduardo Romero
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The Stats in Residency at First Presbyterian Church, please contribute to the Challenge the Stats residency fund via: firstpresatl.org/GIVE
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MusicandArtsStaff
Dr. Jens Korndörfer Director of Worship and the Arts, Organist
Ms. Katie Patterson Director of the School of Fine Arts, Assistant Director of the Arts
Dr. Daniel Bara, Dr. Deanna Joseph Co-Directors of the Choir and Orchestra
Ms. Maya Negishi Mikimoto Administrative Assistant for Music
Mr. Brendan Callahan-Fitzgerald Director of the Children’s choirs
Dr. Ana Baida Director of the Carillon choir
Victoria Shorokhova and Rontray Miller– Music Interns
March 15th, 2023 at Noon
First Presbyterian Church of Marietta
Lunchtime in Lent: Featuring the Challenge the Stats String Quartet
Featuring: Jessica Stinson, Tramaine Jones, Shadwa Mussad, and Alana Bennett - Garcia
Saturday, May 13th 2023 at 7pm
St James United Methodist Church
An Evening of Art with the Challenge the Stats String Quartet
Featuring: Jessica Stinson, Tramaine Jones, Shadwa Mussad, and Alana BennettGarcia
Concerts@First Up next
January 20, February 17, April 21 12:00 P.M.
Bach’s Lunch Series
Co-presented with the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta With members of Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Chamber Players, Vega Quartet
Monday, January 16, 2023 3:00 P.M.
Trails to Triumph: MLK Day Andrew Brady, bassoon Co-presented with Challenge the Stats
Friday, February 10, 2023 8:00 P.M.
An Evening in Vienna Georgia State University Symphony Orchestra
Friday, March 17, 2023 8:00 P.M. Baroque Splendor: An Evening with Bach Ling-Ju Lai, piano and Rachel Ostler, Violin
Sunday, May 21, 2023 3:00 P.M. Atlanta Chamber Players
Saturday, June 17, 2023 8:00 P.M. Challenge The Stats Juneteenth Concert
Full season details and archives available at Concertsatfirst.org
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