Sanibel Music Festival Program Notes from Dr. Richard Rodda for the March 12 Boston Trio Concert
Acclaimed for their superb sense of ensemble and balance, the musicians of the Boston Trio are committed to creating exceptional and daring performances of the standard and contemporary repertoire. Violinist Irina Muresanu, cellist Jonah Ellsworth and pianist Heng-Jin Park each has a distinguished career as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician with major orchestras and premier music festivals and concert series throughout the United States and Europe.
Ms. Park, founder of the Boston Trio and founder and Artistic Director of Halcyon Music Festival, made her solo debut with the Boston Pops at age 15. Ms. Muresanu, who has appeared as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, is the recipient of top prizes at the Montreal International Competition and Washington International Competition. Mr. Ellsworth has performed as soloist with the Boston Symphony, Akron Symphony, Boston Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Johnstown Symphony, as well as appearances at the Verbier and Marlboro music festivals.
During the 2021-2022 season, the Boston Trio performed at the Newport Classical Music Festival, Sanibel Music Festival, Halcyon Music Festival, Community Concerts at Second (Baltimore), Feldman Chamber Music Society (Norfolk, VA), Charleston Chamber Music Society (Charleston, WV) and Park International Center for Music (Kansas City), among others. Other recent highlights include performances at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Maui Classical Music Festival, Virtuosi Concerts (Winnipeg), Clark Memorial Library UCLA, University of Maine at Collins Center, University of Maryland, Flagler Museum (Palm Beach), Chamber Music Society of Williamsburg, Gold Coast Chamber Players (CA), and several performances of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto with the Boston Philharmonic.
The Boston Trio has released several acclaimed recordings. Their latest one, titled Elegy and Blue, was released on the Centaur label. Actively involved in the education of the next generation of musicians, the Boston Trio has held mini-residencies at Dickinson College (PA) and Luther College (IA), coached chamber music at the Tanglewood Institute of Music, Harvard University and MIT, and served as Ensemble-in-Residence at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and New England Conservatory. The Trio is also committed to bringing chamber music to a broader community through outreach activities at public schools and assisted living centers.
The Boston Trio’s individual members serve on the faculties of the New England Conservatory, University of Maryland, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and are in demand as master class teachers throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe.
© Dr. Richard E. Rodda 2023
