2020–2021
MUSIC AT EMORY
This livestream concert is presented by the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts schwartz.emory.edu/virtual-stage Box Office/Audience Information 404.727.5050 • schwartz.emory.edu
Photographs and Recordings Digital capture or recording of this concert is not permitted. Event and Program Information Available online at schwartz.emory.edu Cover Photo By Mark Teague Acknowledgment Eternal thanks to Donna and Marvin Schwartz for their many contributions.
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 donations from music lovers like you.
ECMSA Emerson Series Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta William Ransom, artistic director
2020 2021
The Bach Bowl–Bach for One
Yinzi Kong, viola; Timothy Albrecht, organ; David Coucheron, violin; and Christina Smith, flute Sunday, February 7, 2021, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Schwartz Center for Performing Arts Virtual Stage
Music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) Preshow music provided by the Vega String Quartet. Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 Prélude Allemande Courante Sarabande Bourrées I & II Gigue Yinzi Kong, viola
Chorale O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort/O Eternity Paraphrase by Timothy Albrecht Timothy Albrecht, organ
Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001 Adagio Fuga Siciliano Presto David Coucheron, violin
Partita in A Minor, BWV 1013 Allemande Corrente Sarabande Bourrée angloise Christina Smith, flute
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Yinzi Kong, viola Violist Yinzi Kong, born and raised in Shanghai, China, is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed Vega String Quartet. Kong began her musical training at age five and gave her first public performances at age seven. After moving to the United States in 1995, Kong received a bachelor’s degree from the Harid Conservatory in Florida and a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Since winning several top prizes at the Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition in France, the Carmel String Quartet Competition, and the Coleman Competition in the United States with the Vega String Quartet, Kong is enjoying a versatile career in both solo and chamber music performance and teaching. She has performed in major concert halls throughout the world including on the stages of Carnegie Hall. Her live performances have been heard on NPR’s Performance Today, the National Radio of China, Shanghai TV, Radio France, France Musiques, and the National Radio of the Czech Republic. Kong has also collaborated with some of the finest musicians of today including Eliot Fisk, William Preucil, David Shifrin, Richard Stoltzman, Charles Wadsworth, and Sarah Chang, among others. Kong lives in Atlanta where the musicians of the Vega String Quartet are full-time artists in residence at Emory University.
Timothy Albrecht, organ New York’s American Organist hails Timothy Albrecht, Atlanta’s Emory University Organist, for his “creative, fertile imagination . . . electric performances . . . Lisztian virtuosity.” His recitals span Alaska to the Andes, Texas to Taiwan. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung cites his “ever-present artistry and virtuosity.” “Unforgettable, because inimitable,” writes the Darmstädter Beiträge zur neuen Musik. Nobel Peace Prize–winner Desmond Tutu wrote him about an upcoming performance, “I am so looking forward to that . . . knowing you will play as if your life depended on it.” He has performed organ music of Olivier Messiaen before the Dalai Lama. Ambidextrous and possessing perfect pitch, Albrecht first studied piano with East European Eugenia Prekosh. Awarded entrance to Phi Beta Kappa while at Oberlin University, he then earned a doctorate and a Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, representing the United 5
States at the sixth International Bach Competition in Leipzig. England’s Cambridge University has conferred Life Membership upon him. At Emory, Albrecht holds a tripartite faculty position and headed the graduate organ degree programs there for a quarter century. Present teaching includes Bach for Pastors and an Introduction to Opera. He has taught master classes across the country for many chapters of the American Guild of Organists, in Europe and Asia, and at the Juilliard School. His discography includes nine solo compact discs and he has composed twelve volumes of published Grace Notes for Organ.
David Coucheron, violin David Coucheron joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as concertmaster in September 2010. At the time, he was the youngest concertmaster among any major United States 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 Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Sendai Symphony Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. Coucheron has given solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Olympic Winter Games (Salt Lake City, Utah), as well as in Belgrade (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 artistic director for the Kon Tiki Chamber Music Festival in his hometown of Oslo, Norway. He is also an artist affiliate at Emory, and 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’s The Lark Ascending, which was released on ASO Media. Coucheron began playing the violin at age three. He has a bachelor of music degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, a master of music degree from the Juilliard School, and a master of musical performance degree 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, on kind loan from Anders Sveaas Charitable Trust.
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Christina Smith, flute Christina Smith is one of the most sought-after flutists in the country as an orchestral player, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. The 2015– 2016 season was Smith’s 25th anniversary season as principal flutist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO), where she holds the Jill Hertz Principal Flute chair, endowed in perpetuity. Smith’s flute solos can be heard on 37 ASO recordings. She has also appeared with the orchestra numerous times as concerto soloist. She graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy and began her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music as a pupil of the legendary Julius Baker. After just two years in Baker’s studio, she won the principal flute chair in the ASO at age 20. Smith has also studied with Jeffrey Khaner, Tim Day, and has collaborated extensively with master teacher and clinician Keith Underwood. Smith has recently appeared as guest principal flutist with orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Vancouver Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony. She earned critical acclaim while performing on the latter ensemble’s 2010 European Tour. Equally passionate about teaching, Smith serves on the faculty at Emory and Kennesaw State University and maintains a busy private studio. She remains highly in demand to teach master classes across the country.
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Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta
Now celebrating its 28th season of excellence, the Southeast’s largest and most active chamber music organization brings together some of the city’s finest resident musicians with internationally known guest artists who are dedicated to performing the most delightful, exciting, and interesting music from the chamber repertoire in some of the most acoustically and visually beautiful spaces in Atlanta. Guests have included Yo-Yo Ma, Richard Stoltzman, Alan Gilbert, Dave Brubeck, William Preucil, Eliot Fisk, Robert Spano, and many others. The mission of the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta (ECMSA) is to create new generations of passionate and educated music lovers who will cherish and support this great art forever. In addition to presenting an Emerson Series, a Family Series, and the Cooke Noontime Concert Series at Emory, the ECMSA tours, participates in recording projects, commissions new works, and supports numerous community outreach activities. Education is an integral part of the ECMSA’s mission, and members teach in a wide variety of ways throughout the university and greater community, coach student chamber music ensembles, and give private lessons. Emory’s String Quartet in Residence program, held by the internationally acclaimed Vega String Quartet, lies at the heart of the ECMSA’s mission to spread this great music throughout the Atlanta community, reaching audiences of all ages. The Vega String Quartet is the first professional string quartet to ever make Atlanta its home base, and as such, it is transforming music education and performance throughout the area. Until further notice, all ECMSA concerts will be presented online only. Concerts remain free of charge, but donations are greatly appreciated. William Ransom, artistic director wransom@emory.edu/404.727.6443 8
More events coming soon to the Schwartz Center Virtual Stage schwartz.emory.edu/virtual-stage Jazz Fest 2021 Schwartz Artist-in-Residence Event February 12–13, 2021 In this virtual event, jazz guitarist Bobby Broom joins Kenny Davis on bass and Gary Motley on piano to kick off a celebration of jazz at Emory. Jazz Fest 2021 is a Schwartz Artist-in-Residence program featuring the trio in concert at 8 p.m. on Friday and a discussion/master class with Broom at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.
ECMSA: Valentine’s Day Concert— Music of Love February 14, 2021 at 4 p.m. What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with music of love? Amy Beach’s Romance for violin; Romances by Robert and Clara Schumann; Brahms’s Intermezzo in A Major; and Dohnanyi’s Romanza for String Trio are performed by members of the Vega String Quartet and William Ransom, piano.
Danish String Quartet Candler Concert Series February 19, 2021 at 8 p.m. The Danish String Quartet’s playing brings a rare musical spontaneity that gives audiences the sense of hearing even treasured canon repertoire as if for the first time. The Quartet’s palpable joy in performing has made the ensemble in-demand on concert stages worldwide. 9
Music at Emory Music at Emory brings together students, faculty, and world-class artists to create an exciting and innovative season of performances and events. In a typical year, Music at Emory presents more than 150 events across multiple Emory venues; however, in this challenging season, we are committed to coming together virtually for a variety of musical offerings. For spring 2021 concerts, we remain steadfast in our mission and continue to present events virtually based on guidance from Emory University and public health officials. Please visit music.emory.edu for the most up-to-date schedule and announcements.
404.727.5050 music.emory.edu