ESU Welcomes the New York Philharmonic to Fine Arts Center

Robert Miller on piano, Fiona Simon on violin, Qiang Tu on violoncello, and Peter Kenote on viola on October 6, 2013. Photo Credit / Rebecca Jasulevicz
Robert Miller on piano, Fiona Simon on violin, Qiang Tu on violoncello, and Peter Kenote on viola on October 6, 2013. Photo Credit / Rebecca Jasulevicz
Robert Miller on piano, Fiona Simon on violin, Qiang Tu on violoncello, and Peter Kenote on viola on October 6, 2013.
Photo Credit / Rebecca Jasulevicz

BY REBECCA JASULEVICZ

SC Web Editor

On October 6, 2013, four musicians of the New York Philharmonic performed in ESU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center for a new installment to the Carter Chamber Music Series.

The Carter Chamber Music Series was established twenty-one years ago with the intent of bringing professional chamber music to East Stroudsburg University and the surrounding community.

The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City that was established in 1842, making it the oldest American symphonic institution in existence today.

The pieces performed were Sonata for Viola and Piano by Rebecca Clarke, Piano Trio in E minor, Op. 90 “Dumky” by Antonín Dvořák, and Piano Quartet in C minor, Op. 60 by Johannes Brahms.

The four musicians who performed were Fiona Simon on violin, Peter Kenote on viola, Qiang Tu on violoncello, and Robert Miller on piano.

Violinist Fiona Simon has been a member of the New York Philharmonic since 1989, and she is currently also a member of the Vanderspar String Trio and the Simon String Quartet. In the past, she has won major prizes in the Carl Flesch and Jacques Thibaud competitions, and she was named London’s Young Artist of the Year for three consecutive years.

The New York Philharmonic’s viola section welcomed Peter Kenote to its ranks in 1983.

Kenote made the decision to perform Sonata for Viola and Piano by Rebecca Clarke, inspired by her compositional skill that was not recognized until after her death. Kenote previously performed with the South Dakota Symphony, and he received his master’s and doctorate degrees in music performance from the Juilliard School.

Qiang Tu joined the New York Philharmonic in 1995. Tu made his debut playing the cello at the young age of 13, and by the time he turned 17, he had been awarded England’s Menuhin Prize with the China Youth String Quartet. He has performed at the Sydney Opera House, Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and numerous other locations throughout his career.

Robert Miller is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music at East Stroudsburg University, and he is also the Artistic Director of the Carter Chamber Music Series. As a guest artist with the New York Philharmonic, Miller appeared in their subscription series at Merkin Concert Hall.

In the past, Miller has performed at Carnegie Hall and at the Salle Cortot in Paris. Miller often plays the piano for the Carter Chamber Music Series.

“I thought that there was a good balance between both all of the scores and all of the musicians,” said Christopher Powers, a junior majoring in marine science.

Mason Buskirk, a communications and literature major with a minor in music, said, “I thought it was a very majestic, tranquil performance…enticing to anyone interested in the performing arts.”

Buskirk also hosts a radio show on 90.3 FM WESS Radio entitled “Symphonic Masterpieces,” which plays classical music every Friday at 1:00PM. Buskirk encourages any who missed the performance to tune in, as the music on his radio show is similar to the music of the Carter Chamber Music Series.

Musicians from the New York Philharmonic typically visit East Stroudsburg University three times per semester. As this concert was the second of the semester, students and faculty should keep their ears open for future performances.

Email Rebecca at: 

rjasulev@live.esu.edu