NOVEMBER 26, 2011

THANKSGIVING CONCERT

Stephanie Chase violin Scott Woolweaver violo Scott Kluksdahl cello Delores Stevens piano

Stephanie Chase, violin. Praised by Newhouse Newspapers as "one of the violin greats of our era," Stephanie Chase began performing in public at the age of two and made her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the age of eight. Ms. Chase studied at the Juilliard School with Sally Thomas and within a few years embarked on national tours as a soloist and recitalist. Ms. Chase's award-winning performances at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow led to concert performances throughout the world. Renowned as a chamber musician, Ms. Chase is co-founder and Artistic Director of the Music of the Spheres Society which presents chamber music concerts and lectures, exploring the link between music, philosophy and the sciences. Her recording of the Beethoven Violin Concerto (Call Records) was hailed as "one of the twenty most outstanding performances of the work's recorded history".

Scott Woolweaver, viola. A champion of the music of our time, Scott Woolweaver has premiered many new works, including pieces written especially for him. Since 1980 he has been a member of Alea III, a contemporary music ensemble in residence at Boston University. Other current affiliations include the Chameleon Arts Ensemble of Boston and the Grammy-nominated Boston Baroque chamber music orchestra with whom Mr Woolweaver made his debut as viola d'amor soloist on New Year's Eve in 1999. He is also Artist Associate at the prestigious Williams College in Williamstown, MA and Lecturer in Viola and Chamber Music at Tufts University in Medford, MA. He is a regular guest of MVCMS, the Meeting House Chamber Music Series on Cape Cod and Director of the Adult Chamber Music Institute at Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill, ME. Mr Woolweaver plays a Johan Georg Thir viola made in Vienna in 1737.

Scott Kluksdahl, cello. Described by Strings Magazine as "a simply superb cellist, playing with consummate technical ease, a beautiful sound, total conviction, authority and dedication to the music", Scott Kluksdahl made his debut with the San Francisco Symphony. Mr. Kluksdahl has since appeared as an orchestral soloist, recitalist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America and Israel. Also a dedicated teacher, Mr. Kluksdahl is the Theodore and Vennette Askounes-Ashford Distinguished Scholar at the University of South Florida and serves on the faculties of Vermont's Killington Music Festival and California Summer Music. Renowned cellist Zara Nelsova once said of Mr. Kluksdahl's passion for teaching: "It is rare to find a cellist who is equally at home as a concert artist as well as a great pedagogue. In my opinion, Scott Kluksdahl has one of the great talents of his generation".

Delores Stevens, piano. Co-founder of the Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Society and its current Artistic Director, Delores Stevens is recognized as a leading piano soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and abroad. Ms. Stevens has recorded for 16 record labels in all genres of music from Mozart to Hindemith.. Her support of contemporary composers led to the prestigious award from the National Association of Composers for her "achievements as one of the most important artists to further the cause and influence of contemporary music". Her work as Director of Chamber Music for the Young Musicians Foundation, Mount St. Mary's College and as former head of piano studies at California State University ( Dominquez Hills) is testimony to her long-standing commitment to helping young people find their way into the complex world of classical music.