2011/2012 Season

We are delighted to announce the names of the three presenting organizations that have been selected for PiP recitals in 2011/2012. They are: the Melbourne Chamber Music Society in Indialantic, Florida; the Churchill Arts Council in Fallon, Nevada; and the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Garrett Lakes Arts Festival Checks In With PiP

Beth Johnson, GLAF Executive Director in 2006 and currently on the publicity committee, provided this update in June 2010:

Midori and Robert McDonald performed for Garrett Lakes Arts Festival (GLAF) on November 4, 2006. The Partners in Performance-sponsored recital allowed the organization to present these artists and first-rate chamber music in our rural Western Maryland community. It was truly a dream-come-true! For twenty-four years GLAF has endeavored to fulfill its mission of enriching the community with high-quality performing arts and arts education. The organization's primary purpose is to improve the quality and increase the scope of performing arts for local residents and visitors to Garrett County. Midori provided a "boost" to the volunteers, the audience, and the community-at-large....and had an impact at growing our audience base, enough so that 2010 marks the fourth summer for hosting the world-class Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Thank you, Midori...and thank you, Partners in Performance, for making it all possible!

Chamber Music Flourishing in Fergus Falls, MN

In a letter recently received at the PiP offices, A Center for the Arts Executive Director Rebecca Petersen wrote, “Since Midori’s visit [in October 2007], we have done more with chamber music than ever before.” Indeed, it’s true: having continued success with chamber music presentations after Midori & Robert McDonald’s PiP concert, A Center for the Arts recently established the dedicated Chamber Music ff Series, beginning in the 2009/2010 season. Among the artists performing in the inaugural series are the Concordia Wind Quartet, 8th Street Quartet, and the Arsenal Trio. Some of the programs find themselves in atypical concert settings such as the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center and a “musical zoo” for children in a local church. A hope for the future includes summer chamber music concerts in the local parks. Partners in Performance is thrilled to hear these creative, effective developments with one of our past presenters, and proud of the great work they continue to do in promoting classical music in their community.

A Young Artist Residency in Reno

After hosting Midori & Charles Abramovic in the first of their two PiP concerts, the Performing Arts Series at the University of Nevada at Reno has developed a unique and rewarding Young Artist program for October 2009. Co-sponsored by Partners in Performance and a Western States Arts Federation grant, the highly praised Carducci String Quartet will conduct an educational residency in Reno in addition to their performance on October 22. The group will play for and coach string players in the Reno Youth Philharmonic and at the local public high school and elementary school. In addition, the Carduccis will work with UNR musicians in a masterclass on October 20, followed by an on-campus social hour. The Quartet will give lecture demonstrations at two community libraries, one within a Senior Center, both of which are free of charge. PiP is proud to be affiliated this special project and with a presenter who recognizes the importance and effectiveness of musical community engagement. For more information, visit http://www.unr.edu/pas/carducci.htm.

2010/2011 Season

We are happy to announce three presenters of PiP concerts in the 2010/2011 season: the Hot Springs / Hot Springs Village Symphony Guild in Hot Springs, Arkansas; Morehead State University Arts & Humanities Council in Morehead, Kentucky; and the International Performers Series at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. Pianist Jonathan Biss will give a solo recital for Hot Springs; violinist Midori will perform in recital with a pianist at Fort Kent and Morehead.

2009/2010 Season

Three wonderful organizations were selected for the PiP program in the 2009/2010 season: Bay Chamber Concerts in Camden, Maine; Bemidji Concert Series in Minnesota; and the Shenandoah Festival in Woodstock, Virginia. Bay Chamber will present a recital by new PiP artist, pianist Jonathan Biss; Midori will perform at the Bemidji Series and Shenandoah Festival.

This season also marks the official launch of PiP’s Young Artist Program. The Reno Performing Arts Series will present the Carducci Quartet on October 22; Joplin Pro Musica will present cellist Gabriel Cabezas and pianist Andrew Tyson in a recital on December 4.

To read more about these talented young artists, visit their websites:

An Update from Dawson, Minnesota

In October 2007, the Dawson-Boyd Arts Association presented a PiP recital by Midori and pianist Robert McDonald to an enthusiastic audience. Using the ticket proceeds from that memorable concert, the Arts Association planned a special project with a particular focus on the strings students of the local school district: a three-session residency with the Artaria String Quartet. In January and February 2009, the Artaria Quartet spent one full day working with 16 students selected to participate in this “Four Quartets” residency; on March 6, the Artaria and four student quartets performed in a finale concert for the community. The program featured music by Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Schumann. As Luanne Fondell, Performing Arts Director, wrote to PiP before the project: “This will inspire string students to participate in the exhilaration of chamber music.” For more information, visit http://dawsonboydarts.org/.

Jonathan Biss Joins PiP’s Roster of Artists

Photo by Jimmy Katz

We are delighted to announce pianist Jonathan Biss’s participation in the Partners in Performance program, beginning with the 2009/2010 season. Known for innovative concert programs and exceptional technique, Jonathan is an enthusiastic chamber musician and keeps a rigorous schedule of performances all over the world. Jonathan’s involvement in PiP is a true gift to our organization, and we look forward to an enduring collaboration with him.

Get to know Jonathan at his website: www.jonathanbiss.com

Young Artist Program

Beginning with the presenters awarded recitals in the 2008/2009 season, Partners in Performance will launch a new Young Artists Program as a way to enhance and continue our supportive relationship with past PiP presenters. In addition to the originally-given performance by a high-profile musician such as Midori, PiP will co-sponsor a second concert in the following season by a rising young artist. Preference will be given to young artists with a local connection, such as having lived or attended school within the state, but this is not required. A test-run of the Young Artist Program will be conducted in April 2009 with the Southwest Montana Arts Council, which presented a PiP recital by Midori and Charles Abramovic in April 2008. Violinist Korbinian Altenberger, a graduate student at USC’s Thornton School of Music, will give a recital with pianist Jiayi Shi on April 3, in addition to participating in various community engagement activities in the two days prior.