Concerts @ First and
The Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta Present
Bach’s Lunch
Bach‘s Lunch January 22nd, 2021 12:00 P.M The Vega String Quartet David Coucheron, guest first violin; Jessica Shuang Wu, violin; Yinzi Kong, viola; Guang Wang, cello Quartet in C Major, Op. 76, #3 (“Emperor”)
Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809)
Allegro Poco adagio; cantabile Menuetto: Allegro Finale: Presto String Quartet #2 in D Major
Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)
Allegro moderato Scherzo: Allegro Notturno: Andante Finale: Andante
The Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta is supported by the Cherry L. Emerson Endowment, the Rebecca Katz-Doft Chamber Music Endowment, the Ethel Orentlicher Gershon Fund, a generous gift from Dr. John and Linda Cooke, the Friends of Music at Emory, and by ongoing contributions from listeners like you.
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About the Artists The Vega String Quartet Jessica Shuang Wu, violin; Yinzi Kong, viola; Guang Wang, cello The international award-winning Vega String Quartet is on the cutting edge of the new generation of chamber music ensembles. The New York Times raved about its “playing that had a kind of clean intoxication to it, pulling the listener along . . . the musicians took real risks in their music making . . . ” and the Los Angeles Times praised its “triumphant L.A. debut”. Based in Atlanta where they are Quartet in Residence at Emory University, the quartet also tours throughout Europe, Asia, and North America performing in major cities including Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, London, Mexico City, Milan, New York, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Vancouver and Vienna. The quartet is a frequent guest at numerous music festivals including Aspen, Brevard, Mostly Mozart, Rockport, San Miguel de Allende, Highlands-Cashiers, Musicorda, Kingston, and SummerFest La Jolla among others. They have been quartet-in-residence at the Van Cliburn Institute and on the artist roster of Carnegie Hall’s New York City Neighborhood Concert series and Community Concerts Association roster. The quartet is also a member of Young Audiences of Atlanta presenting educational programs throughout the public school system. The quartet’s live broadcast credits include NPR’s Performance Today, the National Radio of China, Shanghai TV, Radio France, France Musiques, German Radio and the National Radio of the Czech Republic. The quartet captured four of the top six prizes at the Bordeaux String Quartet Competition (including the international music critics’ prize), as well as top prizes at the Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition, the Carmel Chamber Music Competition, and the National Society of Arts and Letters String Quartet Competition.
David Coucheron, guest first violin David Coucheron joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as Concertmaster in September 2010. At the time, he was the youngest concertmaster among any major U.S. orchestra. Throughout his career, Coucheron has worked with conductors Robert Spano, Michael Tilson Thomas, Simon Rattle, Mstislav Rostropovich and Charles Dutoit, among others. He has performed as soloist with the BBC Symphony, Bergen Philharmonic, Sendai Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Trondheim Symphony. Coucheron has given solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Olympic Winter Games at Salt Lake City, as well as in Beograd, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Serbia, Singapore and Shanghai. His chamber music performances have included appearances at Suntory Hall as well as Wigmore Hall and Alice Tully Hall. Coucheron serves as the Artistic Director for the Kon Tiki Chamber Music Festival in his hometown of Oslo, Norway. He is also on the artist-faculty for the Aspen and Brevard Music Festivals. An active recording artist, recordings with sister and pianist Julie Coucheron include “David and Julie” (Naxos/Mudi) and “Debut” (Naxos). He is also the featured soloist on the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s recording of Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending, which was released on ASO Media in Fall 2014. Coucheron began playing the violin at age three. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from The Curtis Institute, his Master of Music from The Juilliard School and his Master of Musical Performance from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying with teachers including Igor Ozim, Aaron Rosand, Lewis Kaplan and David Takeno. Coucheron plays a 1725 Stradivarius.
About the Artists Pianist, Artistic Director, master teacher, editor and judge for international competitions, William Ransom appears around the world as soloist with orchestras, recitalist and chamber musician. His performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio and Television in the US, Argentina, Poland and Japan. He regularly collaborates with musicians including Yo-Yo Ma, Richard Stoltzman, William Preucil, Stephen Isserlis, Robert McDuffie, and members of the Tokyo, Cleveland, Juilliard, American, St. Petersburg, Borromeo, Parker, Ariel and Lark String Quartets; the Empire Brass Quintet, Eroica Trio, and the percussion group Nexus among others. As a master teacher, he also performs and gives master classes at numerous schools of music and universities around the world. He has recorded for ACA Digital and Rising Star Records. Ransom is the Mary Emerson Professor of Piano at Emory University in Atlanta and founder and Artistic Director of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta. A graduate of The Juilliard School and the University of Michigan, in the summers, Ransom is Artistic Director of the Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music Festival in North Carolina and for a decade was an artist-faculty member at the Kamisaibara Pianists Camp in Japan. In 2016 he was named Artistic Director of the Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival and also one of Musical America Worldwide’s “30 Musical Innovators”.
Concerts @ First Donors 2020/21 Season Orchestrator
Patron
Underwriter
Carillon Bell Choir in memory of Jack McGaughey
Mr. and Mrs. Baxter Jones in memory of Margaret Bates Block Angel Annika and Tim Eichenlaub Anne C. Pritchett Ann Voit
Elizabeth Fogartie A.M. Haltiwanger in honor of Dr. Jens Korndörfer Margaret Howell Mary and Dick Leslie
Linda and Mason Stephenson Gail and David Watson in memory of Cary and Brooks Lide; Bill Minnich Friend Benefactor
Carton and Cheryl Hughes
Seaborn Jones in honor of Martha Stringer and Giles Myers
Drs. Joseph Bishop and Stuart Noel
Arthur and Mamie Mendez Suzanne Shull
Jeff Chilcutt Nancy Schultz
Concerts @ First presents 2020-2021 Dedication Concerts of First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta’s PEYTON CATER ROBINSON MEMORIAL STEINWAY CONCERT GRAND PIANO Friday, October 23, 2020 8:00 P.M. Atlanta Chamber Players 45th Season Opener World Premiere– David Garner’s Crow and Melt
Friday, October 30, 2020 12:00 P.M. Bach’s Lunch Co-presented with the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta Beethoven 2020 - Violin and Cello Sonatas #2 Christopher Rex, cello - Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin - William Ransom, piano
Sunday, November 8, 2020 2:00 P.M. Chamber Music Showcase Thanksgiving concert featuring David Coucheron, Stuart Stephenson, Maria Valdes
Sunday, December 13, 2020 10:00 A.M. Christmas Concert Rejoice Greatly! Friday, January 22, 2021 12:00 P.M. Bach’s Lunch Co-presented with the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta Vega String Quartet
Sunday, February 21, 2021 2:00 P.M. Piano, Organ, Trombone, and Oboe Concert Julie Coucheron, piano - Jens Korndörfer, organ Elizabeth Koch Tiscione, oboe - Nathan Zgonc, trombone
Friday, March 26, 2021 12:00 P.M. Bach’s Lunch Co-presented with the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta David Coucheron, violin; William Ransom, piano
Sunday, May 16, 2021 3:00 P.M. Atlanta Chamber Players Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Saturday, May 22, 2021 11:00 A.M. Atlanta Opera Studio Educational Tour Bi-lingual Barber of Seville