What a fabulous experience to record many chamber music works by composer Kevin Lau in early September 2022. Pianist Angela Park and cellist Rachel Mercer were amazing colleagues to collaborate with, and Norbert Kraft provided encouragement from the sound engineer/ producer chair. Picture from von Kuster Hall at Western University:
My last web site update was when I joined the Colburn School in 2018 as Director of Chamber Music. Now my term is ending, and I’ll be officially back in Canada with my family.
I really enjoyed working with the many talented students at Colburn. In particular the Viano Quartet!
And it was thrilling to collaborate with Arnold Steinhardt in directing the Beethoven 250 Festival, where we presented a complete cycle of the String Quartets with the Calidore Quartet, and in faculty/ student combinations.
Things I will miss about Colburn and Los Angeles:
• my amazing studio with a beautiful view of Grand Ave and the Broad Museum.
• The terrific staff at Colburn. The music library! Eating on the Plaza on a nice day.
• Grand Central Market! Espresso at G & B… mmm…
• riding lots of trains on LA Metro, especially the Expo Line when it rises high above the street on the West Side.
• DISNEYLAND (of course!!)
• Exploring LA on foot. Union Station, the Arts District, Historic Downtown, Pasadena, Hollywood, Santa Monica…
Here’s a nice pic of Arnold Steinhardt & I from Marlboro 2019:
Things Julia will miss:
• The colourful halls at Colburn
• The Broad
• The Metro line (and the varieties of fare cards)
• In-person drama & violin classes
• The plaza (café)
• Charlotte & Olivia
Saturday Sept. 16: Korngold Concerto with the London Symphonia:
http://www.londonsymphonia.ca/
Sept. 19 – 23: back in Houston for ROCO on Sept. 23:
I’m joining Ensemble Made in Canada for concerts in Thunder Bay Sept. 30 & Toronto at the RCM Oct. 1: Royal Conservatory Event! And again for Waterloo & Hamilton on Oct. 15.
Oct. 22: String Day at SUNY Fredonia
Oct. 28, 5 pm: Rebelheart Collective starts a new season at Aeolian Hall, London!
Some great musical happenings in early 2017… here’s a quick recap.
In January I was back in NYC to play with Carmit Zori on her terrific Brooklyn Chamber Music Society series. Shai Wosner, pianist, was amazing in Fauré g minor Piano Quartet.
Our 2nd Rebelheart Collective Concert at Aeolian Hall (London Ont.) took place in January, with a bigger crowd in attendance. Erika Raum’s mother, Elizabeth Raum, composed a two-violin duet that went over incredibly well, and I also enjoyed working with the El Sistema Aeolian kids on some Bartok Dances.
Later in January my family traveled to California: Sharon and Julia went north, and I went to San Diego to join the Enso Quartet for several concerts. My mini-career as quartet replacement violinist is going well! It’s such a rush to join a pre-existing group, especially with rep like Ginastera Quartet no. 2.
In February: Musicians From Marlboro Tour! Re-visiting two amazing groups & rep: Fauré Trio and Thomas Adès “Arcadiana” from summer of 2011. One of the best tour stops: Randolph, Vermont! Beautifully restored old-style opera house, and a friendly warm crowd.
Early March brought a project that I was incredibly excited about: an all Canadian program that recreated Harry Adaskin’s recital for the BBC in 1930. Katherine Chi and Rafael Hoekman joined me for the Calgary concert, which included music by Healey Willan, Hector Gratton and Edward B. Manning.
To finish off this post, and the month of March, I was back in Houston for ROCO! What an amazing group, spearheaded by the ball of energy Alecia Lawyer. We did the string orchestra version of Schoenberg’s Verklarte Nacht– a tough piece but extremely satisfying. Also got to know composer Alex Miller who composed “ROCOMOJI”!
Here’s a backstage shot after a vivid Mozart Clarinet Quintet with Richard Stoltzman. A fabulous week as temporary 1st violin of Cecilia Quartet!
