Borromeo String Quartet

Borromeo String Quartet | condensed biography / 2005-06 season

Nicholas Kitchen (violin); Kristopher Tong (violin)
Mai Motobuchi, (viola); Yeesun Kim, (cello)
Considered “Simply the best there is” by the Boston Globe, the critically acclaimed
Borromeo String Quartet is one of the most sought after strings quartets in the world, each season performing over 100 concerts of classical and contemporary literature across three continents. Audiences and critics alike have championed the Borromeo Quartet’s revealing explorations of Beethoven, Brahms, Bartok, and Ligeti, and its affinity for making challenging repertoire approachable. They perform at the world’s most illustrious concert halls and music festivals, and continue long-standing residencies at the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum (“one of the defining experiences of civilization in Boston” Boston Globe), the Tenri Cultural Institute (“one of New York’s best kept secrets” N.Y. Sun), Dai-Ichi Semei Hall in Tokyo, and the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival, where first violinist Nicholas Kitchen serves as Artistic Director. With a grant from Chamber Music America, the BSQ continue their innovative multimedia public school residency program, and as faculty Quartet-In-Residence at the New England Conservatory of Music works with the institution’s “Learning Through Music” program. 

    In 2003 the Borromeo made classical music history with its pioneering record label, the Living Archive Recorded Performance Series, making it is possible to order DVDs and CDs of most of its concerts around the world, a feat only previously attempted in rock music. The series promotes the importance and impact of the live performance, and allows listeners the chance to explore in greater depth the music they have just heard in concert, as well as explore new and rarely performed works. This season the Aaron Copland House honors the Borromeo’s commitment to contemporary music by creating the Borromeo Quartet Award, an annual initiative that will premiere the work of important young composers to audiences internationally. In 2000 they completed two seasons as a member of Lincoln Center’s Chamber Music Society Two and served as Ensemble-in-Residence for the 98-99 season of National Public Radio’s Performance Today. Awards include Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award in 2001, Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award in 1998 and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in 1991, as well as top prizes at the International String Quartet Competition in Evian, France in 1990. Additional information may be found at www.Borromeoquartet.com.

“You could have watched as four perfectly ordinary human beings strode onto the stage and created magic.” Naples Daily News

Publicity: Joseph Joaquim Correia / 917-450-1345 / livingarchive@aol.com

The Claremont Trio

The Claremont Trio is one of the most exciting young groups performing today. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, "Their exuberant performance and gutsy repertoire ... was the kind of fresh approach that keeps chamber music alive." They received the first Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award in December of 2003, which will result in an extensive tour of 20 major venues in the nation, including Carnegie Hall. In addition, Arabesque Recordings will release their debut CD in 2004.

After winning the 2001 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the Claremont Trio made its acclaimed New York debut at the 92nd Street Y. The Trio also debuted in Boston at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and in Washington, D.C. at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The Claremont Trio holds the Helen F. Whitaker Chamber Music Chair of Young Concert Artists.

During the 2003-2004 season, the Claremont Trio will make its Kennedy Center debut as part of the prestigious Fortas Chamber Music Series. At Merkin Concert Hall they will premiere a newly commissioned trio written for them by Daniel Kellogg. Return appearances include Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, and Bargemusic. They will also perform at the New School in New York, Beethoven Society in Washington, DC, Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Washington State University, North Dakota Museum of Art, Mayville (ND) State University, Southwest Missouri State University, the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center in Birmingham, Chamber Music Group of Stamford, Corpus Christi Chamber Music Society, Tuesday Musical Club in San Antonio, Vanguard Concerts in Dayton, OH, and Virginia Tech.

The Claremont Trio has performed the Beethoven Triple Concerto with JoAnn Faletta and the Virginia Symphony and with Carl St. Clair and the Pacific Symphony among others. They have also collaborated with many distinguished guest artists including Toby Appel, Martha Katz, Nokuthula Ngweyama, and Richard Young.

In 2002, the Claremont Trio travelled to Serbia, Bosnia, and Slovenia as part of a cultural exchange co-sponsored by the U.S. State Department and Carnegie Hall. The Trio participated in the 2001 Isaac Stern Chamber Music Workshops at Carnegie Hall, and was recently presented by Carnegie Hall on their Alexander Schneider Chamber Music Series. The trio has also appeared at the UCLA Center for the Performing Arts, Columbia University's Miller Theatre, the Harvard Musical Association in Boston, the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, in the British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and at the Lucerne, Ravinia, Bard, Norfolk, Moab, and Great Lakes Festivals.

Committed to expanding the standard repertoire, the Claremont Trio actively seeks out new and unknown works. They have premiered a number of pieces commissioned for them including compositions by Mason Bates, Daniel Kellogg, and Hillary Zipper. The Trio is also extensively involved in music education and has been recognized for their engaging and interactive programs for students of all ages.

The Philadelphia Trio

Formed in 1971, The Philadelphia Trio has developed a reputation for consistently lyrical and sensitive performances. They have presented concerts and workshops throughout the United States and Europe, including frequent appearances for the BBC in London and broadcasts on Spanish National Radio and Television. The Trio has initiated several chamber music series in the Philadelphia area and has made frequent appearances on radio and television. They have recorded for Centaur Records.

Deborah Reeder, 'cellist Philadelphia area native - degrees from Philadelphia Musical Academy - student of Lorne Munroe and Luigi Silva (New York)-Concert Artist Guild award winner-former member of Philadelphia Orchestra, Princeton Chamber Orchestra, Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia-presently 'cellist of Amado Quartet, principal 'cellist of Opera Company of Philadelphia and Mozart Society of Philadelphia-faculty, University of the Arts and Temple University-Co-Director, Music in the Mountains (Eagles Mere, PA).

Elizabeth Keller, pianist Baltimore native - student of Dorothy Maevers at Peabody and Vengerova and Horszowski at Curtis-soloist with National Symphony (finalist in Merriweather Post Competition) and Baltimore Symphony - former faculty member of University of Delaware, Wilmington (DE) and Settlement Music Schools, Curtis, and Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts-presently head of piano department at Baldwin School (Bryn Mawr, PA) and Franklin and Marshall College (Lancaster, PA).

Barbara Sonies, violinist Chicago native-degrees from Eastman and Juilliard - studied with Ivan Galamian and also Franco Gulli (Siena, Italy) - received Artists Advisory Council Award and Farwell Award - numerous solo appearances with orchestra, including Chicago Symphony - former member of Rochester Philharmonic, American Symphony, and 20th Century Consort - presently concertmaster of Opera Company of Philadelphia and Mozart Society of Philadelphia - faculty, Temple University and Swarthmore College-Co-Director, Music in the Mountains (Eagles Mere, PA).

In addition to the standard classical and romantic trio literature, The Philadelphia Trio's repertoire includes numerous 20th century compositions by European and American composers. They present programs of women composers, as well as works with other instruments and voice.

Timothy Bozarth

Since being named a Beethoven Fellow of the American Pianists Association, Timothy Bozarth has concertized in numerous countries on four continents. He is a prizewinner of several international competitions including the Robert Casadesus, Maria Canals, and San Antonio Competitions. At the Casadesus International Piano Competition, he was also awarded the S.A.C.E.M. prize for best performance of a work by a 20th-century French composer. Mr. Bozarth’s teachers have included Paul Schenly, Jerome Lowenthal, Vitya Vronsky Babin and Irma Vallecillo. He has been an invited Artist at the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, performing with principals of the Vienna Philharmonic, and with conductors Michael Tilson Thomas and Yutaka Sado. Mr. Bozarth has worked closely with the composers Toru Takemitsu, Lou Harrison and Tan Dun in performances of their music, including both solo and chamber works. Artists with whom Timothy Bozarth has collaborated include Paula Robison, Doriot Dwyer, Colin Carr, James Dunham, and Laurence Lesser. A recent CD with cellist Alexei Romanenko won First Prize in both the 8th Vienna International Music Competition and 2000 Web Concert Hall International Competition.

Marc Peloquin

Marc Peloquin has received critical acclaim for his performances of both contemporary and traditional repertoire. He has been a featured performer at the June in Buffalo festival, the John Cage Rolywholyover A Circus festival at the Guggenheim Soho Museum, and at the Darmstadt Summer festival in Germany. Mr. Peloquin has premiered the works of Jack Beeson, Jonathan Dawe, Nathaniel Drake, Eric Samuelson, David Shohl, and Nils Vigeland.

Mr. Peloquin has been a guest artist at the Festival de Musica Religiosa in Colombia, South America and has appeared in recital at EAFIT University in Medellin. He was also a featured performer at the XXth and XXIVth FORO Musica Nueva: Manuel Enriquez festivals in Mexico City. Mr. Peloquin has performed at Merkin Concert Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Yale University, The Phillips Collection, The Gardner Museum, the American Academy in Rome, and The Chicago Cultural Center.

In December 1999, Mr. Peloquin appeared at Merkin Concert Hall with pianist Roberto Hidalgo in a performance of music from the United States and Mexico (read the New York Times Review ). In May 2000, Mr. Peloquin and soprano Lynne Vardaman were featured performers at the "Children for Children" festival in Guam. Also in May 2000, Mr. Peloquin appeared at the Kathryn Bache Miller Theatre in New York City as part of the centennial celebration of American composer Otto Luening (read the New York Times Review ). A recording of Mr. Peloquin playing the piano works of Otto Luening was released in February of 2001 on the C.R.I. label.

With a long-standing interest in developing thematic concert series, Mr. Peloquin has programmed and performed several series at New York's Bloomingdale School of Music, including a Henry Cowell series, a series of Latin American piano music, and a series featuring works with water as a theme, including his own transcriptions of Mahler lieder and Bizet arias.

Mr. Peloquin received his bachelor's degree from Boston University and both his master's and doctorate degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. His 1995 doctoral thesis focused on the early piano works of John Cage. Born and raised in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, he resides in Manhattan.