10.13.2020 Tuesday Recital Program

BRIDGING THE GAP The Violin and Double Bass Duo of Peter Wilson and Aaron Clay

BRIDGING THE GAP is the highly acclaimed string duo featuring violinist Peter Wilson and double bassist Aaron Clay. Hailed by The Washington Post for “superior arrangements and uncommon musicianship,” this unlikely pair offers a unique voice to many musical genres from classical to jazz, folk to film music, big band to popular song and even funk. Wilson and Clay grew up less than 30 miles apart in West Virginia, but this would be revealed only after they developed a friendship as colleagues in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. They founded the duo in 1997 after providing an outreach performance at a local high school and have gone on to appear in venues from classrooms and private homes to concert halls and stadiums. Known for engaging performances that incorporate humor and audience participation, BRIDGING THE GAP takes its listeners on a musical journey without stylistic boundaries while expanding the perspectives and traditional roles of the violin and double bass. Wilson and Clay have become musical ambassadors and are in demand throughout the National Capital Region, performing regularly at high-profile events for members of Congress, senior military leaders, and at The White House. They have made a lasting impression on audiences of all ages but especially students of public and private schools as well as music camps, where BRIDGING THE GAP continues to enjoy performing outreach programs as part of their concert schedule. During the national quarantining of 2020, they performed many online virtual shows for countless students throughout the United States in an effort to enhance the distance learning that was necessary during such a challenging time. Ultimately, the duo enjoys connecting with audiences and bringing people together through music, blending their different ethnic and musical backgrounds while presenting programs that are both entertaining and educational.

A frequent guest of the “Millennium Stage” at The Kennedy Center, BRIDGING THE GAP also has appeared on the Jazz Series of the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. In 2003, the duo released its critically acclaimed, self-titled debut album, which is available on iTunes, Spotify, and other music download sites. Wilson and Clay were honored in 2004 by their home state when they received the Music Award by the Arts and Humanities Commission of Fairmont, West Virginia in recognition of their “outstanding leadership and devotion to the enhancement of the arts.” In 2005, they were a featured act during a “Salute to Those Who Serve” celebration held at the Verizon (then MCI) Center in Washington, DC, where they received a standing ovation from the over 14,000 military and public safety personnel in attendance. BRIDGING THE GAP has performed several world premieres of works composed specifically for the duo including John Beall’s “Double Concerto for Violin, Contrabass and Orchestra,” Donald Womack’s concert work “Blue Ridge Dreams,” and Elena Ruehr’s “Groovy Doovy.” In addition, the duo performed Bottesini’s “Gran Duo” with the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Barry Green, noted bassist, lecturer, and author of The Inner Game of Music reviewed the duo’s CD in the June 2005 issue of the International Society of Bassists magazine, Bass World: “…the artistry and virtuosity of Wilson and Clay go a long way to enriching the soul of the listener!”

THE PERFORMERS Peter Wilson is an engaging and multifaceted violinist, conductor, arranger, composer, and ambassador of music whose artistry has been noted as “first-class” by The Washington Post. He serves as Music Director of the Richmond Philharmonic and Waynesboro Symphony Orchestras in Virginia and Concertmaster of the American Festival Pops Orchestra in the National Capital Region. Peter is the former senior enlisted musical advisor to The White House, where he performed as a violinist for three decades. He served as String Section Commander of the U.S. Marine Band and upon retiring was awarded the Legion of Merit by The President of the United States. Peter has conducted the National Symphony and National Gallery Orchestras and is a faculty member at George Mason University. He holds music degrees from Northwestern University and The Catholic University of America, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts. Peter began his career as Concertmaster of the Walt Disney World Orchestra and has soloed in many unique venues including the American Embassy in Paris, the Presidential Retreat at Camp David, and the Vatican before Pope John Paul II. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2015 and has appeared as violin soloist with such legendary artists as Rosemary Clooney, Renée Fleming, and Bernadette Peters. He performed Theme from “Schindler’s List” at The Kennedy Center under the baton of Academy Award-winning film composer John Williams, who wrote of the occasion, “[Peter’s] poignant, tender and highly personal reading of the music made clear to all that we were in the presence of a brilliant musical artist.” He also performed at the Library of Congress with Gershwin Prize recipient Stevie Wonder in the world premiere of Wonder’s “Sketches of a Life.” A Cleveland native, Peter began studying violin at age two, later moving to Morgantown, West Virginia, where he became the first musician ever to receive the Governor’s Award for Exceptional Achievement in the Arts. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia national music fraternity honored Peter with the prestigious “Signature Sinfonian” award, while The Strad magazine encapsulated his performances best when it stated, “[Wilson] made music that had the stamp of quality.”

Aaron Clay distinguishes himself regularly as a uniquely versatile double bassist. He commands great respect as a performer in both the classical and jazz worlds of bass playing, but it was The Washington Post that observed, “What sets [Clay] apart is elegant bowing… His melodic lines have a cello-like glow and flexibility….” Aaron grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia and began studying music at age 10 when he taught himself to play the electric bass.

He later pursued classical training on the upright double bass in high school and went on to graduate from West Virginia Wesleyan College, where he studied with Richard Manspeaker. In 1989, he was selected to join the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC, where he served one enlistment. He went on to audition successfully for the Marine Band where he currently serves as Section Leader and Principal Bassist, making regular appearances at The White House performing in virtually every type of musical ensemble that is tasked. Aaron also serves as Principal Bassist of the Alexandria Symphony and Fairfax Symphony Orchestras and has performed in such jazz and pop groups as The Kenny Rittenhouse Quartet, The Peter Fraize Quartet, and First Light. He has appeared with such legendary performers as Aretha Franklin and Joe Williams and is also an active composer, arranger, and soloist. Following a performance with the Lawton Philharmonic, the Lawton Constitution raved “Clay’s graceful performance was thrilling to watch; his execution of the difficult piece resembled the elegant technique of a seasoned cellist.” In addition to writing works for violin and double bass duo, Aaron has developed a reputation as a fine composer of works for various ensembles including classical and jazz trios and quartets as well as those for string orchestra and full concert band. An invitation by the director of the Marine Band to write a work for wind ensemble led to Aaron’s composition “e-volution,” which was premiered by the Marine Band in 2002. His next work, also premiered by the Marine Band, was entitled “Serial Number.” Aaron resides in Fairfax, Virginia with his wife Cindy Crumb and their dog Zoe.