Blending the shimmering colors of flute and harp, flutist Anna Urrey and harpist Kristi Shade present a program that moves across centuries and styles. A versatile soloist and chamber musician, Urrey has appeared at venues including Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, Le Poisson Rouge, and National Sawdust, and performs regularly with ensembles such as the International Contemporary Ensemble, The Knights, and the American Symphony Orchestra. She is joined by harpist Kristi Shade, Principal Harpist of the Chamber Orchestra of New York, whose career spans orchestral, chamber, Broadway, and contemporary performance. A sought-after collaborator, Shade has appeared with artists ranging from Andrea Bocelli and John Legend to Florence + The Machine, while championing new music through acclaimed chamber ensembles and commissions. Together, they create an intimate and richly textured dialogue between two of the most coloristic instruments in the chamber repertoire.
Praised by the Los Angeles Times for delivering “chamber music as it was meant to be,” the Dorian Wind Quintet is one of the world’s premier and longest continuously active chamber ensembles. Founded at Tanglewood in 1961, the Quintet has toured extensively across the United States and internationally, making history in 1981 as the first wind quintet to perform at Carnegie Hall. Celebrated for both artistry and advocacy of new music, the ensemble has commissioned nearly 40 works from leading composers including Luciano Berio, Joan Tower, and George Perle, whose Wind Quintet No. 4 earned the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Equally known for their artistry across a wide range of repertoire, Aaron Copland said it best: “The Dorian’s performances of music of all periods are an invaluable asset to our present-day musical scene.”
Equally at home at the piano and on the operatic stage, Chelsea Guo is forging a unique path as one of classical music’s most versatile young artists. The first musician ever to win the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in two disciplines, she brings an uncommon perspective to programs that explore the rich relationship between voice and piano. A recent Juilliard graduate, Guo has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Wigmore Hall, and made recent solo debuts at the Kennedy Center and Merkin Hall. Gramophone declared that as both pianist and singer, Chelsea Guo “is clearly a special talent.” In a program featuring Chopin, Viradot, Shumann, and Brahms, Guo offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience the dual artistry that has made her one of today’s most distinctive emerging musicians.
Rubén Rengel, Gabriel Chakarji, and Juan Diego Villalobos come together for an evening celebrating the music of Latin America, from their native Venezuela to the vibrant traditions displayed throughout the region. As versatile performers, the Trio brings to life cherished works alongside original compositions, highlighting both the traditions that shape Latin American music and the performers' unique voice.
From Bach and Stravinsky to Bartók, Vivaldi, and Piazzolla, accordionist Radu Ratoi and violinist Alexandra Tirsu bring together music shaped by dance, folklore, and virtuosity. As winner of the 2024 Young Concert Artists “Susan Wadsworth” International Auditions and recipient of Denmark’s prestigious Léonie Sonning Talent Prize, Ratoi established himself as a pioneer in expanding the accordion’s repertoire. He is joined by internationally acclaimed violinist Alexandra Tirsu, a prizewinner of the 2021 ARD Competition who performs on the 1717 “Reifenberg” Stradivari. Together, the Moldovan-born duo explores an uncommon pairing of violin and accordion, revealing new colors in familiar works.
Closing the Chamber Series season, violinist Njioma Chinyere Grevious brings her “superb” (Chicago Classical Review) artistry to the Recital Hall for a program featuring Bach, Brahms, Mozart, and more. A Juilliard graduate and founding member of the Abeo Quartet, Grevious appears regularly as a soloist and chamber musician at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Concertgebouw, and performs with orchestras such as the Chicago Philharmonic and Sphinx Virtuosi. She is also a committed collaborator and mentor, and currently serves as Artist in Residence with the Chicago Philharmonic.
