ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES Attacca Quartet
Attacca Quartet is one of the most versatile and outstanding ensembles of the moment – a quartet for modern times. Passionate advocates of contemporary repertoire, the quartet is dedicated to performing new works. Their latest recording project, Orange, featuring string quartets by Pulitzer-prize winning composer Caroline Shaw, won the 2020 GRAMMY® for Best Chamber Music/ Small Ensemble Performance.
Brad Balliett, bassoon
New York Citybased musician Brad Balliett is in high demand as a composer, bassoonist, and teaching artist. A native of Massachusetts, Balliett grew up playing a variety of instruments through the public school program in Westborough, and began composing as soon as he started playing. His longest-standing collaboration is with his twin brother, Doug, with whom he frequently performs, composes, and teaches.
Washington Performing Arts Society Prize. Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Baltacigil received his Artist Diploma and the Jacqueline DuPré Scholarship from The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.
Inon Barnatan, music director & piano
Born in Tel Aviv in 1979, Inon Barnatan started playing the piano at the age of three after his parents discovered he had perfect pitch, and he made his orchestral debut at age 11. His musical education connects him to some of the 20th century’s most illustrious pianists and teachers: he studied first with Professor Victor Derevianko, who, himself, studied with the Russian master Heinrich Neuhaus; and in 1997 he moved to London to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Maria Curcio – a student of the legendary Artur Schnabel – and with Christopher Elton.
Eric Bromberger, lecturer
Benjamin Beilman, violin
David Byrd-Marrow, horn
Benjamin Beilman has won praise both for his passionate performances and deep rich tone which the Washington Post called “mightily impressive,” and The Balourdet String Quartet New York Times described as “muscular with The Balourdet a glint of violence.” The Times has also String Quartet was praised his “handsome technique, formed in 2018 at burnished sound, and quiet confidence,” Rice University in and the Strad described his playing as “pure Houston, Texas. In October of 2019, poetry.” Beilman came to worldwide attention following his First Prize wins in the quartet received the second prize at the 2010 Young Concert Artists the Carl Nielsen International Chamber International Auditions – where he was Music Competition. They will enter the New England Conservatory as the resident also recipient of a People’s Choice Award quartet of the Professional Quartet Program – and the 2010 Montréal International this fall, where they will work with Paul Katz Musical Competition. and other members of the string faculty.
Efe Baltacigil, cello
The Philadelphia Inquirer called cellist Efe Baltacıgil “a highly individualized solo artist” with ”gorgeous sound, strong personality, and expressive depth.” Baltacigil won the 2005 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and was awarded the
performing with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and also performed with the New World Symphony and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s contemporary ensemble, MusicNOW. Eric Bromberger has been program annotator for the La Jolla Music Society since 1983, and he also writes program notes for the Minnesota Orchestra, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, San Francisco Performances, Washington Performing Arts Society, University of Chicago Presents, San Diego Symphony, and others. He lectures frequently for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Upbeat Live series at Disney Hall. Atlanta native David Byrd-Marrow is the solo hornist of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), a new music collective that performs internationally and serves as ensemble-inresidence at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival. He frequently performs at festivals including the Ojai Music Festival, the Tanglewood Music Center, and as faculty at the Banff Music Centre.
Calder Quartet
Hailed as “Superb” and “imaginative, skillful creators” by The New York Times, the Calder Quartet Ethan Bensdorf, trumpet captivates audiences Ethan Bensdorf by exploring a broad spectrum of joined the New York repertoire. Winners of the prestigious 2014 Philharmonic’s Avery Fisher Career Grant, they are widely trumpet section in known for the discovery, commissioning, June 2008. He recording and mentoring of some of received his today’s best emerging composers. Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University in 2007, where he studied with Barbara Butler, Charles Geyer, and Christopher Martin. While a student at Northwestern, Bensdorf spent two years
78 | LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY at THE CONRAD PREBYS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
