World Premiere of Nielsen Work
At RCMS Concert Sunday, July 8

Erik Nielsen of Randolph's composition was written in collaboration with his brother, a poet, to celebrate the life of their father.

On Sunday, July 8, the Rochester Chamber Music Society will present a world premiere of an RCMS-commissioned work by Erik Nielsen, and the Vermont premiere of two works by former Vermont resident Devin Arrington. A pre-concert talk by Larry Hamberlin will begin at 3:30 p.m., with the concert at 4 p.m. at the Rochester Federated Church.

The program will include Dvorák’s Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, often referred to as the "Dumky Trio." The featured artists will be Cynthia Huard, piano; Devin Arrington, violin; Sara Traficante, flute; Elisabeth LeBlanc, clarinet; Dan Santelices, viola; Robert Penny, cello; Simon Chaussé, baritone.

Nielsen’s commissioned work entitled "The Falling of Trees" is a song cycle for baritone and piano quartet. Written in collaboration with Erik’s brother Lars, the music is set to four poems honoring their brother Karl, who died of a brain tumor in 1998. The poems contain a range of images and emotions from humor to pathos, from despair to the hopeful and uplifting ending.

Erik Nielsen has been composing for 30 years and his catalog includes works for chorus, orchestra, wind ensemble, solo instruments, chamber music of many configurations, and electronic music. His works have been performed in Canada, Europe, and Australia, as well as many locations in the United States. His most recent commissions include the song cycle to be premiered by RCMS, a new string quartet to be premiered by the Chiara Quartet at The Chandler Center for the Arts in March 2008, and a new work for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano to be premiered by the Vermont Contemporary Music Ensemble in April 2008.

The RCMS will also present two Vermont premieres of works by violinist and composer Devin Arrington. "Jerusalem" a trio for clarinet, violoncello, and piano, was commissioned by the New York Youth Symphony Chamber Music Program, and was premiered in Weill Recital Hall in April 2005. Composed as a musical portrait on the subject of Jerusalem, the work is dedicated to the peacemakers in Israel and Palestine. Arrington’s Piano Quartet in B Major, for flute, violin, viola, and piano was written in honor of his mother, for her 60^th birthday.

Arrington’s music has been performed at Carnegie Hall and as far away as the Great Hall of the Composers in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has been commissioned by the New York Youth Symphony, the Duquesne Contemporary Ensemble, renowned flautist Alberto Almarza, and others.

Santelices is a member of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, the Baroque Artists of Shreveport and was formerly the Instructor of Violin & Chamber Music at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches. He has taught violin and conducted the Chamber Orchestra at the Centenary College Suzuki School in Shreveport since 1991.

Traficante has performed with the McGill Symphony Orchestra, McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble and the Group of the Electronic Music Studio. Newly appointed faculty at Suzuki Music, Ottawa, Ontario, she teaches flute and early childhood music.

Huard has appeared as a pianist and harpsichordist throughout the United States and Europe. She is the artistic director of the summer concert series of the Rochester Chamber Music Society, where she performs with internationally known artists. She frequently performs in recital with vocalists Beth Kaiser and François Clemmons, is a featured performer with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and an adjunct faculty member at Middlebury College.

Penny was born in Singapore and grew up in Australia. A software developer and active musician in the Boston area folk dance community, he performs regularly at the New England Folk Festival, and as a member of the Shandy Hall String Quartet.

Chaussé has sung with opera companies in Canada and United States including McGill Opera Studio, and L’Opéra-Français de New York. Recently he was the Pirate King in "The Pirates of Penzance" conducted by William Metcalfe at the Vergennes Opera House.

LeBlanc received her Bachelor of Music from Julliard School as a student of Ayako Oshima. A Vermont resident, she plays chamber music regularly with pianist Annemieke Spoelstra and bassoonist Rachel Elliott, while continuing to work with Simon Aldrich in Montreal.

The afternoon concert will be a kick-off concert for the Green Mountain Suzuki Institute week, where several of the artists will be in residence. The GMSI Student Chamber Concert will take place Friday, July 13, at 2 p.m. in the Rochester High School Auditorium. On Saturday, July 14, the RCMS will host the Ninth Annual Bach Bash, which will feature an informal evening concert at 7 p.m. in the Hancock Town Hall. For more information call 802-767-9234.

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